HomeFederal Government Program Funds Local Wetland Restoration 
Saskatoon SK, November 16 – Today Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) gave tours of two of its newest projects to community members. DUC recently purchased 157 acres of land - known as the Nienaber Project - near Muenster, Saskatchewan in a cost-sharing agreement with Saskatchewan Environmental Resource Management and restored the on-site wetlands with funding from the federal government's Millennium Partnership Program.
Located some 20 kilometres away is the Range Slough Fish Barrier which is a fish enhancement project connected to the nearby Range Slough Heritage marsh, located on Ranch Creek.
The Nienaber Project involved five distinct segments including 43 acres of idle tame pasture, 56 acres of idle native parkland and 32 acres of idle native pasture, all of which will be idled for nesting cover for waterfowl and other wildlife. There is also over 25 acres of wetland which will be managed using fixed water control structures.
According to Bob Santo with Ducks Unlimited Canada in Saskatoon, "This project meets an important local need by providing essential habitat where little exists. Funding from SERM enabled us to purchase the property to ensure its use by wildlife in perpetuity while monies from the Millennium Fund enabled us to make the enhancements necessary to the project. In this way, the project is a model of multi-agency co-operation."
"The Nienaber and Range Slough projects are prime examples of Ducks Unlimited's important work to conserve and enhance wildlife habitat at the turn of the millennium," said the Honourable Herb Gray, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for the Government of Canada's millennium initiative. "The Government of Canada is proud to support Ducks Unlimited through a program called Natural Legacy 2000, which is aimed at conserving natural spaces in Canada. We have contributed $10 million to Natural Legacy 2000 through our Canada Millennium Partnership Program."
The Canada Millennium Partnership Program funds up to one third of the eligible costs of millennium projects that meet its criteria. With communities, non-governmental and governmental organizations and the private sector, the partnership program supports initiatives that raise awareness of our history, support our youth and our arts and culture, and enhance our environment and the development of our communities.
