Return to the
FWS Mountain Prairie Region
Home Page

THE
NORTH AMERICAN
WATERFOWL MANAGEMENT PLAN

In 1986, an idea became reality.  Canada, the United States and Mexico united to form the NORTH AMERICAN WATERFOWL MANAGEMENT PLAN.

The Plan as it called, brought together individuals, organizations, and agencies of the three countries in an unprecedented effort to conserve wetlands and increase waterfowl and wetland bird populations.

As we enter the 21st Century, the legacy continues as the Plan's vision expands and links with other migratory bird conservation activities and programs.   The Plan is a model for international conservation and its spirit of partnership and cooperation.

The Mountain-Prairie Region is host to four "joint ventures", the working groups of the Plan.

U.S. Prairie Pothole Joint Venture
Intermountain West Joint Venture
Rainwater Basin Joint Venture
Playa Lakes Joint Venture

More About
the North American Waterfowl Management Plan

Prairie Pothole Joint Venture

The premier joint venture of the Plan is the PRAIRIE POTHOLE JOINT VENTURE.   It encompasses prairie wetlands from Montana through North and South Dakota into Minnesota and Iowa.

These prairie wetlands support over 300 species of migratory birds and are the primary breeding areas for the continent's waterfowl.  The most important activity of this joint venture is the protection, restoration and enhancement of prairie wetlands and grasslands on private and public lands.

Partnerships with private landowners is well expressed by RAY HEUPEL, MEDINA, NORTH DAKOTA farmer, when he says: "We're pretty proud we are still on the farm. We thought we could do something to help wildlife now..."

Intermountain West Joint Venture

One of the largest of the joint ventures, the INTERMOUNTAIN WEST JOINT VENTURE, stretches from Canada to Mexico with focus areas in eleven western states.

Each state has designated locations where wetland and/or riparian areas are of prime importance.This joint venture has successfully been organizing and building on the concept that broad partnerships can generate the financial resources necessary to restore thousands of acres of wetland habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds and song birds.

 

Rainwater Basin Joint Venture

Sometimes known as the "hourglass", the RAINWATER BASIN covers 4,200 square miles within 17 counties of south-central Nebraska.

Millions of ducks, geese, cranes and shorebirds funnel through this "hourglass" during the spring migration.  This area provides critical migration habitat for the endangered whooping crane.  Working with landowners in the Rainwater Basin, joint venture partners are restoring, enhancing and protecting wildlife habitat in a largely agricultural landscape.

Playa Lakes Joint Venture

The PLAYA LAKES JOINT VENTURE takes in more than 25,000 wetlands known as "playas" across the southern High Plains of the U.S.  Most of these 10 to 100 acre shallow, circular basins are found in the Texas Panhandle and southern plains, with about 200 playas identified in southeastern Colorado.

Depending on the season, these basins can be concave discs of clay or shimmering pools of water, providing habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, cranes and other migratory birds.  Most playas are privately owned and landowner participation in the joint venture is crucial to protecting the playas.