HUMBOLDT 鈥� A fundraiser to support an organization that preserves local wetlands and grasslands was sold out.
Darcy Leonew, the president of the Humboldt Ducks Unlimited committee, said while his group was still determining how much was raised at the banquet and fundraising auction Feb. 23, they know it was a success.
Dave Atamanchuk, a conservation specialist with Ducks Unlimited, said over the past year the group has been working on projects around Humboldt aimed at protecting habitat.
鈥淧eople still see 鈥� and society still sees 鈥� a big value to preserving habitat, to be able to go hunting on and hiking on and birdwatching on,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have lots of animals on our projects where people enjoy them.鈥�
For example, there鈥檚 the Young conservation easement located between Bruno and Plunkett. At 23 quarters, it鈥檚 one of Ducks Unlimited鈥檚 biggest projects to date.
The Engele project west of Humboldt has seen drained wetlands restored to their natural state, while higher land has been seeded with grasses.
Soon it will be in such a state that it not only helps wildlife, but local ranchers, Atamanchuk said. 鈥淎 lot of our projects people like because we graze them, so we have a management use to them.鈥�
Atamanchuk sets up long-term grazing plans that allow nearby ranchers access in a sustainable manner. In dry years, they鈥檒l tender the grasses for hay.
The Reineke project, which is made up for four quarters, is a example of a project where ranches access it for grazing.
There鈥檚 also the Schikosky project, where Ducks Unlimited planted nesting cover in the uplands, something that helps a lot of different kinds of animals.
Atamanchuk said most of the time the land for the projects is sold by conservation-minded people who want to see wildlife habitat preserved so local animals can maintain a sustainable population into future generations
鈥淯sually they contact me to see if there's any program we could do with them, and then I look at their land, see if it meets their biological requirements, and then we start negotiating the details, the price, see if they like what the program is, then the agreements get drawn up and we sign the project,鈥� he said.
Anyone interested in a Ducks Unlimited project can contact the Humboldt office at 306-682-1650.
听
