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Ducks Unlimited Canada benefits from Quesnel family’s generosity
April 9, 2010, Quesnel, B.C—Rick and Debbie Sales gave a very important gift to wetland conservation in the Cariboo last year – their land. Through Environment Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program, the Sales donated 40 acres of shoreline habitat on Dragon Lake to Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). The property, part of a historic farm operation now known as Sales Marsh, is located on the lake’s western shore, approximately five kilometres southeast of Quesnel.
“We donated this property to DUC because we just wanted it to stay in a natural state,” Rick Sales recently said. “We thought DUC was a good fit because of all the wildlife that lives there – not only all the different ducks, but also hawks, moose and deer. The area also provides quite a filter for run-off entering the lake.”
“Eco-gift donations are a win-win for landowners and conservation organizations like Ducks Unlimited,” says Brad Arner, conservation manager for Ducks Unlimited Canada in B.C. “For the landowner, eco-gifts maximize their tax benefits and provide a tremendous sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing their donation is helping to create an environmental legacy now and for the future.”
“For DUC, as a not-for-profit challenged with limited resources and many competing interests for the land, to achieve our goal of no net loss of wetlands we appreciate every bit of help we get.”
“For every conserved wetland hectare, countless are being lost to urban expansion or intensive agricultural practices. When loss occurs, we are not only losing their value as waterfowl and wildlife habitat but also the ecological services they provide such as improved water quality and supply to community watersheds, carbon sequestration and flood water control.”
From DUC’s perspective, this area is a waterfowl haven. Dragon Lake provides both nesting and staging habitat to many species including barrow’s goldeneye, bufflehead, lesser scaup, redhead, ring-necked duck, scoters, common loon, red-necked grebe and American coots. Common snipe and sora rail frequent the shoreline along with a variety of other songbirds and shorebirds. Swans and endangered American white pelicans have been observed during spring and fall migration. The lake is also home to a diverse community of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates which support its larger, more visible wildlife critters.
Given the property’s relatively natural state, DUC anticipates having to direct few resources to sustain the health of the marsh, although fences will be maintained and upgraded as required.
For the past 30 years, Ducks Unlimited Canada and other conservation partners have been very active in the Cariboo region, undertaking wetland restoration and enhancements on private and Crown-owned lands. The eco-gift donation by the Sales’ family furthers these conservation efforts and helps to sustain the ecological integrity of the Dragon Lake ecosystem while contributing to the recreational value of the lake, touted for its trophy trout fishing.
For more information, contact:
Wendy Thatcher,
w_thatcher@ducks.ca
Marketing and Communications
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Phone: 604-312-4632
