JUNE 2018 Edition
SPOTLIGHT PICTURE
Long-time Washington state Ducks Unlimited member and major sponsor Bill Driscoll was presented the Bronze Mallard Award on April 12, 2018 at the Tacoma Art Museum for DU's Fourth Annual Night at the Museum. Bill is the founder of the event, which is is a true partnership of shared ideals and values of conservation, as well as an appreciation of the beauty and love of the great Northwest and its heritage. 
 
Photo (L to R): Washington State Chair Scott Eisenhauer and Bill Driscoll.


For more Information on any of the following stories, please contact:

Devin Blankenship
Ducks Unlimited - Western Region Communications
916-851-5311
dblankenship@ducks.org
Doug Federighi
Ducks Unlimited mourns the April passing of longtime DU volunteer and dear friend Doug Federighi, who left an indelible mark on wetlands conservation in California.

Doug was a giant when it came to preserving wetland habitat and spent years promoting solutions in the state and conservation issues affecting his beloved Grasslands.
Legislative News
Congressman Recognizes DU
The Placerville Ducks Unlimited Chapter received an award from Congressman Tom McClintock for 40 years of raising money for conservation. Congressman McClintock understands the value of raising money for the ducks and highlighted that while presenting the award to Chapter Chair Jeff Thompson.

California State Chair Jon Wills was there to support and offer his congratulations as well. Placerville DU hosts one of the Presidents Top Elite events in the country. A well-deserved recognition for a worthy chapter. 

Circle of Life Reception
Ducks Unlimited was proud to support its partner in habitat conservation, the California Rice Commission, at the annual Circle of Life Reception, highlighting the economic and wetlands conservation benefits California’s rice farmers bring to the state, and to waterfowl.

DU & CRC work together to help maintain winter flooded rice, which provides up to 60% of food resources for wintering waterfowl in California’s Central Valley, a Level 1 priority landscape. 


News from Around the Region
ALASKA
VOLUNTEERS RAISE MONEY TO UPDATE NEST BOXES
The Anchorage Spring BBQ chapter allocated funds they raised through Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s Auction Tag program to purchase rough cut spruce and other building materials to replace over 50 nest boxes that have been taking part in a waterfowl study the last 20 years.

DU AWARDED 2018 SPIRIT OF CONSERVATION GRANT
ConocoPhillips Alaska recently awarded Ducks Unlimited with a 2018 SPIRIT of Conservation contribution to help study the 2018 impact of rising goose numbers in Alaska and California.

CALIFORNIA
POWERHOUSE SCIENCE CENTER BREAKS GROUND
Sacramento’s long-anticipated Powerhouse Science Center, of which Ducks Unlimited is a title sponsor and has provided input on a special “California Water” exhibit, broke ground on Thursday, May 31 in front of local, state, and national leaders.

(ABOVE) Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Powerhouse Director of Marketing and Development Shahnaz Van Deventer, and Ducks Unlimited Director of Development for Northern California/Hawaii Anne Hansen celebrate the Powerhouse Science Center's groundbreaking ceremony.
SJ VALLEY NAWCA
Ducks Unlimited and several partners were awarded a $1 million North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant in late April to conserve wetlands within the northern San Joaquin Valley.

SOUTH BAY RESTORATION NAWCA
Ducks Unlimited was recently awarded $8 million from the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, providing the final funding for Phase 2 of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project.



IDAHO
Sam and Aline Skagg's award was accepted by their children, Mark and Mindy Skaggs.
DU MEMBERS RECOGNIZED FOR LIFETIME OF CONSERVATION WORK
Ducks Unlimited announced the winners of the 2018 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards, including Sam and Aline Skaggs, whose lifetime of incredible generosity led to the conservation of more than 2,500 acres of high-value habitat within Idaho’s Snake River watershed.
DU WORKS WITH IDAHO POWER & BEAVERS
Ducks Unlimited, in partnership with Idaho am and Aline Skagg's award was accepted by their children, Mark and Mindy SkaggsPower, completed construction work at the mouth of the Bruneau River, near the C.J. Strike Reservoir, to repair dikes and drainage channels that will eventually benefit wetlands in the Bruneau Delta.
NEVADA
'18 LAS VEGAS CONTINENTAL SHOOT
The 2018 Las Vegas Continental Shoot was another rousing success with 383 shooters from 28 U.S. states and Canada raising money for waterfowl conservation.
OREGON
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF CONSERVATION AT SUMMER LAKE
Ducks Unlimited recently celebrated its 30th year of conservation work at Summer Lake in Oregon, where DU's very first Beaver State project was completed in the fall of 1987. Since 2003, DU has completed six more projects benefiting more than 6,300 acres in the Summer Lake Basin, which is a lush paradise for waterfowl, other wildlife, nature lovers, birdwatchers, campers, and sportsmen. Ducks Unlimited looks forward to a continued partnership with Summer Lake!
WASHINGTON
BOB MARTIN: Sponsor In Perpetuity
Ducks Unlimited recently presented a Major Donor Plaque to Bob Martin at the Burien Dinner. Bob completed his commitment at the Sponsor In Perpetuity level. 

Photo (L to R): Scott Eisenhauer , State Chair; Bob Martin , John Tierney , Regional Director NW Washington.