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Arson attacks paralyze French high-speed rail network hours before start of Olympics, the Obamas endorse Harris for President; A NY county creates facial recognition, privacy protections; Art breathes new life into pollution-ravaged MI community; 34 Years of the ADA.

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Harris meets with Israeli PM Netanyahu and calls for a ceasefire. MI Rep. Rashida Tlaib faces backlash for a protest during Netanyahu's speech. And VA Sen. Mark Warner advocates for student debt relief.

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There's a gap between how rural and urban folks feel about the economy, Colorado's 'Rural is Rad' aims to connect outdoor businesses, more than a dozen of Maine's infrastructure sites face repeated flooding, and chocolate chip cookies rock August.

ND Shares in Wetland Restoration Funds for 'Prairie Pothole' Region

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Friday, March 17, 2023   

Funding priorities under the federal Inflation Reduction Act continue to roll out, and they include a new effort for North Dakota and surrounding states to restore and rebuild wetland areas.

The Interior Department has announced $120 million in investments for key segments of America's wildlife management systems. For the Northern Plains, it means protecting Prairie Potholes, which are shallow wetlands where duck populations and other wildlife have been threatened.

Ben Romans, Great Plains region communications coordinator for Ducks Unlimited, said it goes beyond trying to help a single species.

"We're looking to protect waterfowl and keep 'em in the sky," Romans acknowledged. "We're also in the business of preserving natural grasslands. A lot of these places around wetlands are nesting habitats for birds, deer."

He pointed out the areas have faced threats from development, as more farmers sell their land. Some $23 million has been earmarked for landscape conservation and restoration in parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Montana. The investment comes at the same time the Endangered Species Act turns 50.

Christy Plumer, chief conservation officer for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, said much of the investment will quickly go to landowners who want to protect sensitive, low-lying wetlands on their property, but still use the upland sections for growing crops, ranching and other needs.

"So, you know, I think a program like this provides that blend of opportunities for willing landowners to do great conservation work, while also thinking long term about the economic vitality of their farms and their ranches," Plumer noted.

In addition to restoring habitat and increasing land resilience, Plumer emphasized the Prairie Potholes project will also mean environmental justice for historically disadvantaged communities. Nationwide, the money aims to address climate adaptation for species and provide more data collection in making landscapes more resilient.

Disclosure: The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Endangered Species and Wildlife, Environment, and Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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