Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $10.4 Million For Wildlife Conservation in Illinois

Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $10.4 Million For Wildlife Conservation in Illinois

The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved $815,000 for acquiring additional land to expand the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge and more than $9.5 million to support the Great Lakes Mallard II project

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $10,407,776 in funding for two Illinois wildlife conservation projects - the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge and the Great Lakes Mallards II project. The funding for Illinois' wildlife refuge and wetland conservation project was approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC), which is made up of congressional members, including U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and John Boozman (R-AR), as well as the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator.

"Illinois is home to a vast range of landscapes, from the Chicago cityscape to the oak-hickory forests in Carbondale and the wetlands in between. Our state's natural beauty is worth preserving, and I'm grateful that my colleagues in the Senate, Senators Heinrich and Boozman, recognized that. With this major investment from the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge will be able to expand and the Great Lakes Mallards II project can better protect native ducks' habitats," Durbin said.

"We are not the only ones who call Illinois home-we share our environment and wetlands with countless creatures and precious wildlife who rely on us to protect them," said Duckworth. "I'm grateful Senators Heinrich and Boozman worked in a bipartisan way to deliver this nearly $10 million investment to our state's ecosystems. With this funding, we can continue to protect and preserve essential wetland habitats, native waterfowl and a healthy future for our children."

The MBCC approved $815,000 for the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge to support the refuge in securing an additional 76 acres to expand the protected area and enhance Illinois' habitat for migratory waterfowl. This is the first time a proposed land acquisition at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge has come before the MBCC. The land acquisition will provide land-based access to an additional 98 acres of existing refuge lands that are currently reachable only by water via the Spoon River. Funding allocated by MBCC, including for this land acquisition, is mainly sourced from revenue generated by the sale of Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps-more commonly known as Duck Stamps.

The Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, located within the Mississippi Flyway along the Illinois River, was established in 1993 to conserve wetlands of national importance. The Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge is home to a number of migratory waterfowl, including the mallard, the Northern Pintail, the Green-winged Teal, the Gadwall, and the American Wigeon.

Read more about Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge's funding from MBCC here.

Additionally, the MBCC approved a total of $44.79 million in North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) funding, and this funding was matched with more than $88.98 million in private partner funds for 16 projects across 16 states. The Great Lakes Mallard II project-which spans Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin-will receive a $3 million grant in addition to $6,592,776 in matching funds for a total of $9,592,776 in new funding.

The Great Lakes Mallards II project aims to restore the mallard population in the Great Lakes region which has been impacted by the widespread loss of grassland and wetland productivity. To revive the mallard population, the project aims to conserve, restore, and enhance 3,689 acres of land while supporting the Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture's priority efforts of mallard breading in the region. Protecting these habitats improves nest success and duckling survival, benefiting other waterfowl species like the Wood Duck, the Blue-winged Teal, and the Canada Goose.

Illinois counties within the boundaries of the Great Lakes Mallard II project include:

• Champaign County
• Cook County
• DuPage County
• Ford County
• Grundy County
• Iroquois County
• Kane County
• Kankakee County
• Lake County
• Livingston County
• McHenry County
• Trempealeau County
• Vermillion County
• Will County

Read more about the Great Lakes Mallard II project here.

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