2004 TENNESSEE CONSERVATION REPORT
Chris Cole, Director of Conservation Programs
Tennessee Partners Project – The Tennessee Partners Project is making tremendous progress. Since the last report, 28 landowners requested an assessment of just under 2,500 acres. From these assessments, 20 new projects resulted. When completed, these projects will provide 700 acres of migrating and wintering habitat. As an effort to ensure compliance, TPP staff made phone calls and / or site visits to participating landowners to remind them of their commitment to provide winter habitat for waterfowl and other migrating wildfowl by holding water on enrolled fields. Most landowners appreciated the reminder.
TPP staff supported the state’s grass-roots fundraising effort by attending several banquets to discuss conservation accomplishments in Tennessee and to discuss programs with volunteers and interested landowners.
Staff met with representatives of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to discuss developing a shallow water impoundment on the Milan Experiment Station as a demonstration site for the upcoming field day. Field Station personnel are exciting over this possibility, and as a result have invited the TPP biologist to be a presentor at this year’s field day event.
TPP staff made several presentations since the last update. Two more notable outtings were at UT-Martin. The first was on the environmental and economic benefits of DU’s programs, presented to landowners and producers attending the West Tennessee Agricultural Expo. The other presentation was to attendees of the Tennessee State Chapter of the Wildlife Society on the value of partnerships and how DU works with various partners to accomplish its mission.
Public land Projects – Several staff and volunteers met with TWRA’s Waterfowl / Wetlands Biologist to get an update on MARSH-supported projects across the state, and to discuss state fund obligations and allocations over the next few years. Overall, the meeting was highly productive. So productive, that the group discussed to make this type of meeting an annual happening.
During the aforementioned meeting, a lengthy discussion occurred over the Lick Creek project in Greene County. The group was apprized of the various obsticles encountered thus far by the State. It was pleasing to hear that most of them have been resolved, and that efforts are underway to address remaining issues. I’m confident that development of the area will begin in the very near future.
State Convention – The Tennessee State Convention has been set for June 11 – 13, 2004 at the Cool Springs Marriott in Nashville. Conservation staff will be making a presentation during the Saturday morning business session entitled “Where were the ducks?”. This is a presentation assembled by DU’s newly formed Outreach Communication Team that addresses many of the factors affecting migration and local distribution of waterfowl.
NAWCA projects - Ducks Unlimited has obligated $250,000 in support of three NAWCA grants in Tennessee over the next 4 years. Two of these grants were written to support wetlands work in the alluvial valley, and one was for wetlands restoration on two wildlife management areas in middle Tennessee. NAWCA grants are an excellent use of DU dollars, and we are always excited over partnering opportunities associated with this highly important funding source.
Tennessee Habitat Projects
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 Tyson Foods, Inc. Donates $65,000 to Wetlands Restoration Project
Open Letter to Tennessee Sportsmen
Tennessee Partners Project: Awarded for Excellence
Tennessee Partners Project: 2005 Annual Report
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