Williams is partnering with Ducks Unlimited (DU) to enhance critical wetlands and enrich visitor experience at two wildlife refuges in southwest Louisiana.
Williams has committed $200,000 to support wetlands restoration and habitat management at Cameron Prairie and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges in southwest Louisiana. DU is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the projects.
“This multi-year, multi-phase effort to enhance wetlands and management infrastructure on two important southwest Louisiana refuges will enhance habitat, improve public recreation opportunities, and boost community resilience while bolstering the area’s economy,” said DU Director of Conservation Programs Cassidy Lejeune. “These refuges get 85,000 visitors annually, which drives a lot of spending in the Parish.”
The effort will repair, replace, and build infrastructure features such as levees, electric pumps, water control structures, and leveling of fields to enable better water and salinity control within the units, which is how managers improve habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species. Additionally, habitat enhancement projects like this help coastal communities by providing ecosystem benefits such as water quality improvement and floodwater storage during storm events.
These public land projects provide opportunities for fishing, crabbing, and crawfishing year-round, with hunting opportunities permitted seasonally. Other recreational activities available to the public include kayaking and canoeing, wildlife viewing, and walking trails.
A DU partner since 2015, Williams has supported on-the-ground conservation efforts in multiple states, including wetlands enhancement in Texas, Kansas, North Carolina, Virginia and Louisiana.
“Williams’ long-standing partnership with Ducks Unlimited underscores our commitment to environmental stewardship and protecting wildlife habitats,” said Laura Creekmur, president of the Williams Foundation. “These critical conservation projects at two refuges will not only benefit the state’s biodiversity but serve as a treasure for the citizens of Louisiana and visitors for generations to come.”
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