Great Lakes / Atlantic Region Indiana 2012 Conservation Report • celebrating Ducks unlimited’s 75th anniversary

NORTHEAST POTHOLES PROGRAM A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS For more than a decade, the Northeast Potholes Program has been one of Ducks Unlimited’s most successful conservation programs in the state of Indiana. In partnership with many other conservation entities, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Pheasants Forever, DU has successfully restored more than 1,210 acres of native prairie grasslands and 288 acres of emergent, scrub-shrub and forested through 170 individual projects. The overwhelming majority of these restorations have occurred in Elkhart, LaGrange, Steuben, Kosciusko, Noble, DeKalb, Whitley and Allen counties in northeast Indiana. Due to the widespread success of the Northeast Potholes Program, in 2012 DU and its conservation partners will be expanding the focus area to include St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton counties. The new 11-county focus area will allow DU and its partners to restore and enhance even more high-quality wetlands and grasslands across northern Indiana.

Funding for the Northeast Potholes Program has been provided by DU major sponsors, two North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grants, the NiSource Environmental Challenge Fund, the SportDOG Brand Conservation Fund and conservation partner funds. Upon completion of the most recent NAWCA grant, DU and its partners will apply for a third grant to continue the successful conservation of wetlands and grasslands important to nesting and migrating waterfowl. If the grant is secured, DU and its partners will begin the next phase of Northeast Potholes projects in spring 2013.

Northeast Indiana was historically dotted with countless small wetlands surrounded by large expanses of native grasses, combining to offer high-quality nesting and brooding habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. Much of this habitat has been cleared and drained to facilitate agriculture and other developments but remains available for restoration. In cooperation with conservation-minded private landowners, DU and its partners have been able to return productive wildlife habitat to the landscape.

Emergent wetlands and native prairie grasslands restored through the Northeast Potholes Program

Ducks Unlimited • Great Lakes/Atlantic Region 1 Habitat happenings DU SUPPORTS PATOKA RIVER NWR EXPANSION Ducks Unlimited has been a proud supporter of the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for nearly two decades and in that time has partnered on numerous occasions with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to protect and restore and upland habitats located within Patoka River NWR. Over the years, DU and the USFWS have acquired thousands of acres of wetlands and uplands and restored and reforested thousands more.

In 2011, with funding provided by other conservation partners, DU combined its resources with the USFWS to acquire three additional properties for inclusion in Patoka River NWR. The largest of these acquisitions was the 93-acre Howe Tract, a large forested wetland bordering the Patoka River and containing many of its remnant oxbows. This large complex of emergent, scrub-shrub and forested wetlands provides quality migration and wintering habitat for numerous species of waterfowl and other migratory birds. The other two acquisitions include the 80.5-acre Bryant Tract and 30-acre Loveless Tract. Each of these tracts is composed of a mixture of forested, emergent and scrub-shrub wetlands and former agricultural fields. Following the of the agricultural fields to bottomland hardwoods, these tracts will provide additional breeding and migration habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. As part of Patoka River NWR, each of these new acquisition properties is open to public recreation.

A bottomland hardwood forested wetland permanently protected at Patoka River NWR PRAIRIE CREEK RESERVOIR ENHANCEMENT COMPLETED Located in Delaware County, Prairie Creek Reservoir provides excellent habitat for a variety of wildlife and fish.However, a 20-acre wetland located southwest of the reservoir had become degraded due to high turbidity and a lack of wetland vegetation. In 2011, a carp-exclusion grate was installed along County Road 461 to prevent invasive common carp from entering the wetland. During spawning season, the carp increase the turbidity of the wetland and uproot plants important to other wildlife and fish species. The carp-exclusion grate was designed to allow other less-destructive fish species to pass through the grate while still maintaining a productive wetland for other wildlife species, including migrating waterfowl. Ducks Unlimited completed this enhancement project in partnership with several conservation entities, including Indiana American Water, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Delaware County Highway Department, Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District, Muncie Parks and Recreation Department, White River Watershed Project, FlatLand Resources, Ball State University and Robert Cooper Audubon Society.

A shallow wetland enhanced at Prairie Creek Reservoir by the installation of a carp exclusion grate.

2 www.ducks.org Habitat happenings DU AND PARTNERS CONTINUE BOTTOMLAND CONSERVATION As part of an ongoing conservation partnership between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Duke Energy and Ducks Unlimited, 30 acres of bottomland forest were restored and 8 acres of emergent wetlands were enhanced on the Cousert Tract at Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Following the purchase of the 32-acre tract in 2010, Duke, USFWS and DU planted 12,500 hardwood seedlings to begin reforestation. Through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, the USFWS enhanced an additional 8 acres of wetlands by removing field drain tile and installing small earthen levees. These enhancements will provide new seasonal wetlands on the property for waterfowl and other wildlife. In 2012, DU will transfer ownership of the Cousert Tract to the USFWS for inclusion in Patoka River NWR and re-invest those funds in other land-protection efforts in the area.

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS AT DEEP RIVER HEADWATERS In fall 2011, after nearly a decade of planning due to delays in securing state-level clearances and project funding, construction began on the Deep River Headwaters wetlands restoration project. Located at the Lake County Parks Department’s (LCP) 260-acre Beaver Dam Area, this 90-acre project involves the restoration of three individual wetland units through the creation of earthen levees, removal of field drain tile and installation of a water control structure. Ducks Unlimited provided the engineering design and construction management services for the project, with funding provided by LCP and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. An additional 100 acres of native warm-season prairie grasslands and oak savannah interspersed among the three wetlands will also be restored by LCP. Upon completion, this project area will contain a splendid 190-acre complex of emergent, scrub-shrub and forested wetlands and native prairie. The benefits for breeding and migrating waterfowl and other wildlife, including A drained wetland basin which is being restored at Beaver Dam Wetland federal and state endangered species, are expected to Conservation Area be immediate and widespread. FIELD B RESTORATION COMPLETE In spring 2009, Ducks Unlimited and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources identified a new wetlands restoration opportunity at Goose Fish and Wildlife Area. Referred to as Field B, this wetland basin was drained with ditches, field tiles and culverts to facilitate row-crop agriculture. DU, in partnership with the IDNR, National Wild Turkey Federation and Duke Energy, removed the culverts and installed a water control structure at the site. The IDNR will utilize the restored wetland as a managed waterfowl impoundment, with a mixture of moist-soil vegetation, emergent wetland and some flooded grain for the benefit of migrating and wintering waterfowl and other wildlife. To assist in the completion of this project, DU and its partners were awarded a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant to augment partner funds. Utilizing these funds, the IDNR finished the construction on this project in summer 2011. The newly completed project will provide an additional 200 acres of wetland habitat and increased waterfowl opportunities at Goose Pond.

Ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes using the Field B wetland the first year following its restoration.

Ducks Unlimited • Great Lakes/Atlantic Region 3 Habitat happenings CROPLIFE AMERICA ENHANCEMENTS UNDERWAY Through Ducks Unlimited’s former CropLife America Program, DU partnered with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources on a multi-year project to enhance approximately 250 acres of waterfowl habitat at Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA), and with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to enhance approximately 120 acres of waterfowl habitat at Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Thanks to two separate gifts from Dow AgroSciences through the CropLife America Program, 300 gallons of Rodeo herbicide were donated to the IDNR and 75 gallons of Crossbow herbicide were donated to the USFWS for woody invasive and herbaceous weed control in the two management areas. To date, the IDNR has enhanced 75 acres of emergent and scrub- shrub wetlands at Kankakee FWA and the USFWS has enhanced 30 acres of forested wetlands and upland nesting habitat. Both agencies plan to treat the remaining acres in 2012. The enhanced wetland and upland habitats will provide increased benefit to breeding and migrating waterfowl and other migratory birds at both ends of the state.

A portion of the Kankakee FWA which has been treated and enhanced with donated CropLife America herbicide INAUGURAL VOLUNTEER TOUR A SUCCESS As Ducks Unlimited continues to evolve as the world’s leading wetlands conservation organization, new outreach efforts are being made to further educate and involve DU’s volunteers and supporters in our on-the-ground conservation efforts. The first of these outreach efforts in Indiana was held in November 2011. DU volunteer leaders and major sponsors from throughout southwest Indiana were invited to join DU and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service staff on a half-day tour of DU’s completed, current and future projects at Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Highlights included site visits to DU engineering projects, major-sponsor- funded acquisitions and projects funded by North American Wetlands Conservation Act grants. Featured stops included the Dillin Moist Soil Units, Clements Tract and Evans Tract. During the interactive tour, participants learned about DU’s longstanding conservation partnerships at the Patoka River NWR, and what DU is doing on the ground to conserve waterfowl breeding, migration and wintering habitat in southwest Indiana. DU hopes to build upon the success of this inaugural tour with similar tours in other areas of the state.

DU volunteers and supporters touring the Clements Tract at Patoka River NWR

4 www.ducks.org conservation summary

Ducks Unlimited Projects completed featured

Note: Project points may represent more than one project.

Expanded NE Potholes Region

Field B Restoration 2011 Accomplishments

20 completed projects

569.5 acres conserved

Patoka River NWR 5,911 acres of Expansion technical assistance

$479,741 invested

Meet Your Indiana biologist Michael Sertle has directed wetland, and endangered and deer hunter, and enjoys Ducks Unlimited’s species research. Michael fishing and playing rugby. conservation programs holds a bachelor’s degree in in Indiana and southwest Zoology from Western Illinois Contact Information: Michigan since May 2007. University, and a master’s Michael Sertle Michael previously worked degree in Wildlife Management Regional Biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey from Southern Illinois [email protected] in North Dakota where University – Carbondale. 734-623-2000. he conducted waterfowl, Michael is an avid waterfowl

Ducks Unlimited • Great Lakes/Atlantic Region 55 supporting the vision

North American Wetlands Conservation Act in 2012

Ducks Unlimited has contributed a strong voice for wetlands conservation across for 75 years, and works as a voice for waterfowl protections in national and state public policy.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is the most significant federal program that DU partners with to protect and conserve habitat for North America’s migratory bird populations. This program provides grants to partner groups—private landowners, local companies, conservation organizations, and more—who have matched the grant funds by raising money from non-federal sources. These funds are then used to impact wetlands that are in need of protection, and competition for these funds means the match is typically 2-3 times the grant amount.

2012 will be critical for NAWCA in two ways. First, NAWCA requires reauthorization every five years, with the current bill expiring in 2012. DU is seeking congressional support for bills in the Senate and the House that would reauthorize the program until 2017. This would allow the Congress to fund these wetland grants.

Second, federal budgets are lean this year and funding for programs such as NAWCA are at risk. NAWCA brings in more money to the federal treasury than it cost. It also creates thousands of jobs each year, and creates business for hotels, restaurants, plant nurseries, construction companies, and many others. This program is an incredibly valuable tool for natural resource protection in this country. It deserves strong, active support from DU supporters.

Please help by visiting www.ducks.org/nawca or by calling your Senators and House member to express your support for NAWCA.

A gift of real estate is an excellent way to support Ducks Unlimited and take advantage of significant tax deductions. You have several options when donating real estate, each with unique benefits for both you and DU. Giving options: • Outright gift of real estate. Real estate that you no longer use or wish to own, but is owned outright and readily marketable can be gifted to DU. Gifts of habitat lands are especially important to our mission. • Gift of real estate with retained life use. You may gift your principle residence to DU and retain the right to continue to live and use the property for the rest of your life. Such a gift is deductible in the year the gift is made, not at the end of the retained life interest. • Gift of real estate through CRT. For landowners who wish to continue to gain income from their property, there is an option called a Charitable Remainder trust, or CRT. The owner transfers the property to the trust, the trust sells the property, usually avoiding capital gains taxes (check with your tax advisor) and then the proceeds of the sale are invested to provide income to the owner for their life. The owner should receive a tax deduction for the gift and DU receives the balance of the trust after their death. There are a number of options available, please visit DU’s gift planning website at: http://www.ducks.org/conservation/land-protection/donations-or-gifts-of-land

6 www.ducks.org supporting the vision

Celebrating 75 years of conservation success By Dale Hall Ducks Unlimited CEO

This year marks a very special time for Ducks Unlimited. On Jan. 29, 1937, the More Game Birds in America organization transitioned into what would become the greatest wetland and waterfowl organization in the world! Throughout this year, we will be celebrating our 75th anniversary, and we have a great deal to celebrate.

From our beginnings in Manitoba at Big Grass with a project that impacted 100,000 acres, to our current partnership with the Pew Charitable Trusts to conserve 1 billion acres in the vast boreal forests, our work has been based on the simple principle of cooperation with others. During DU’s first years, struggling farmers were DU’s best partners; the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression were in full swing and significant acres of wetlands were being converted to farmland. The partnership with farmers was based on “water on the ground, ducks in the air,” and immediately elevated DU’s status as a group of people who wanted to roll up their sleeves and solve problems.

The very first volunteers to answer the call were hunters. Hunters seemed to intuitively know that in order to have enough ducks to enjoy our passionate and recuperative pursuit, there had to be healthy habitats. In 1934, when the depression had more people in bread lines and westward caravans than were gainfully employed, duck hunters lobbied Congress to require them to pay to go hunting! This was followed in 1937 by another tax lobbied for by hunters, as well as the firearm and ammunition industries, to place a tax on these items to be used only for conservation. This law is still in place today and supports state fish and wildlife agencies. Also in 1937, Ducks Unlimited Incorporated and Ducks Unlimited Canada were born.

With DUC as the original mechanism to deliver projects on the ground in Canada, our partnership has been long and rich with science- based decisions and volunteer-driven passion. Until the 1980s, all work done by DU was in Canada. Then science began to unveil the importance of migratory and wintering habitat. DUI has continued its partnership with DUC to conserve valuable nesting grounds, but has expanded to include projects in all 50 states. We are rapidly closing in on 13 million acres conserved in Canada and the United States, with a target of 750 million to 1 billion more acres conserved in the boreal forests of Canada. What an accomplishment to celebrate!

But as we celebrate these great successes along with our numerous partners, we must not become complacent and think the job is done. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we are still losing more acres than we are able to conserve each year in the United States, and the pressures to convert valuable waterfowl habitat to other uses is greater than ever. In Canada and Mexico, those pressures are equally formidable.

Our challenges are great, but with the continued dedication of our volunteers, members and professional staff, Ducks Unlimited WILL NOT FAIL! I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible over the next 12 months as we celebrate 75 years of phenomenal accomplishment. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, DUCKS UNLIMITED!

Ducks Unlimited • Great Lakes/Atlantic Region 7 friends of ducks unlimited KANKAKEE FWA PRIDE DEDICATION In September 2011, Ducks Unlimited recognized 21 major sponsors and their families with a site dedication and bronze cairn unveiling at Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area’s (FWA) Kiwani Marsh. In attendance at the event were numerous DU volunteers, conservation partners and members of the media. Indiana DU Major Gifts Chairman Tom Quarandillo gave remarks recognizing the value of conservation partners and DU major sponsors in effectively delivering valuable habitat. He also discussed the Indiana PRIDE program (Putting Resources Into Ducks Everywhere) and the potential for local protection and restoration efforts.

Kiwani Marsh had been drained and ditched for agricultural use at the beginning of the last century. Recent efforts focused on restoring the once- thriving wetland to high-quality habitat. The area has become a destination for birders who enjoy viewing a diverse list of species.

“The nice thing about working at Kankakee is that we’re continuing to add productive acres for wildlife and people to enjoy,” DU Regional Biologist Mike Sertle said. “We’ve been working here for years, slowly restoring the area to what the Grand Kankakee Marsh once was.”

DU partnered with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Waterfowl USA, Indiana Grand Kankakee Marsh Restoration Project (IGKMRP) and the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (NAWCC) to restore Kiwani Marsh, the last three of which provided additional funding for the project. DU completed the engineering design for the IDNR construction of the wetland. GET INDIANA PRIDE Indiana PRIDE (Putting Resources Into Ducks Everywhere) is a major gift campaign developed by Ducks Unlimited to secure major sponsors in support of habitat conservation and our waterfowling heritage. Indiana PRIDE offers DU major sponsors the option of directing their gift toward the statewide Indiana Conservation Program, a specific Indiana Conservation Priority Area or other continental DU priorities. Donors also have the option to fulfill their pledge over a five-year period and receive cumulative credit for past DU contributions. In turn, PRIDE donors are recognized at a DU project in Indiana.

PRIDE dollars are leveraged by DU conservation staff against other funding sources, such as federal grants and conservation partner funds, to effectively turn each PRIDE dollar into four or more for conservation in Indiana! To learn more about Indiana PRIDE, contact your local DU regional director, Indiana’s major gift chairman, the Indiana director of development or the Great Lakes/ Atlantic Regional Office. DU Indiana License Plate What is it? A specialty plate for passenger cars, trucks up to 11,000 pounds, motorcycles and recreational vehicles, which features the Indiana Ducks Unlimited logo What is it for? All proceeds generated from the sale of Indiana Ducks Unlimited license plates support wetland habitat conservation in Indiana. DX 75 How much does it cost? The cost of the Ducks Unlimited license plate includes vehicle registration fees and taxes, a group fee of $25 and an administrative fee of $15. That means for every plate purchased, $25 goes to Indiana projects. Can I get one now? Yes. Indiana DU license plates are available through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles website or at BMV offices. You don’t even have to wait until your plate renewal date: you can renew at any time. What is the BMV website address? http://www.in.gov/bmv/3030.htm Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 23,000 acres in Indiana with the support of the state’s more than 10,000 members. The Indiana Ducks Unlimited license plate is another great way to support local conservation.

Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also 1220 Eisenhower Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 benefit other wildlife and people. 8 734.623.2000 • 734.623.2035 (Fax)