Date: April 14th, 2021

To: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Conservation Department

From: Briley Lawrimore
Subject: Saving the Wetlands
Reference: The dwindling waterfowl habitat
Action Required: Respond if interested in participating in solutions
Distribution: Conservation Department

Good Afternoon. I am writing this memo to address the ongoing wetland and waterfowl habitat
loss that is occurring in our state and around the nation and what we are going to do to combat it.
Even though duck populations are on the rise the loss of their homes is also escalating.
Continuing development, pollution, and wetland drainage have attributed to the decline of
suitable areas for ducks to live, feed, and breed. If action is not taken immediately, we could see
duck populations start to trend in the downward direction and possibly become endangered as
they once were in the early 1900s. Without ducks there is also no duck hunting, a pastime that
brings thousands of dollars of revenue to our state and that many families have enjoyed for over
a century. This is why we will be making specific efforts in our department to see to it that this
tradition is preserved.

Summary

Wetlands are vital for the survival and wellbeing of all waterfowl species. Ducks feed on small
aquatic invertebrates as well as aquatic vegetation such as millet and milfoil and wetlands are
full of those. The grass, trees, and reeds that grow on the out skirts of these swamps and marshes
also act as the perfect place for ducks to breed and nest. Through the solutions that are explained
below we can stop the loss of wetlands and waterfowl numbers will flourish again. To save the
wetlands we must increase our efforts to gain support, push for protective legislature, and
increase spending for refuges.

Figure 1: A drained wetland ready to be developed.

Solutions for Wetland Loss

Gaining Support

In order to get the ball rolling on the following solutions, and to be successful in general, we
must first garner an adequate amount of support. First,I propose we will create both articles and
advertisements that will raise awareness to pressing issue. These articles can will be published in
magazines such as South Carolina Wildlife, South Carolina Game and Fish, and our own
Carolina Sportsman. As for the advertisements, short public service announcements can will be
filmed and aired on all local broadcasting stations. Radio ads should will also be produced and
aired.

Protective Legislature

Once we have enough support from our ads, we canwill then turn our attention to slowing the
loss of wetlands. To do that we must our legal team will push and lobby for the passing of
legislature that makes it harder to develop wetlands, preserve existing wetlands, and generate
revenue for conservation efforts. By conviencing legislature to passing laws that require special
permitting and restrictions, developers will be unable to proceed in their plans as quickly as they
previously could, and it would will also require them to have a legitimate reason to destroy a
wetland. Also, more legislation, such as the duck stamp act, should will be implemented to
produce revenue that could will be spent on further conservation efforts.

Increase Spending

Once these legislations are implemented, we can will then focus on spending the revenue
generated from them. We can will use these dollars to purchase land that we should will then
transform into refuges so that these birds always have a place to thrive in. Also, this money
should will be used to clean up polluted wetlands and restore wetlands that have been drained or
destroyed by natural disasters. This money can will also be used to finance waterfowl research so
that we can continue to learn how to protect these amazing birds.

Figure 2: A group of mallards widgeon and gadwall feeding in a thriving wetland.

Conclusion

As you can now tell protecting wetlands is a much larger task than it seems to be. It will require
a great deal of effort and willingness to act. However, these things must be done if we are to
protect the tradition of hunting and preserve the lifestyle that surrounds it. I appreciate your
attention to this matter and strongly urge you to partner with me reform to the best of your ability
inso we can succeed in this important undertaking. Thank you for your time and I believe that
together we save the ducks!hope to hear from you soon.

Recommendations

I know everyone feels just as strongly as I do about this matter and will stop at nothing to see it
through. I expect to see everyone at the meetings every last Friday of each month to discuss our
progress. Also, if any groundbreaking progress is made between meetings I would like to be
notified immediately. Finally, do not be afraid to offer any recommendations or ideas that you
might have. If we are going to succeed, we have to do this together. I look forward to working
with you all. If you do have interest in partnering with me, I would love to hear your
recommendations this matter. I know that together we can succeed at saving the wetlands and
making them the best possible environment for waterfowl to thrive. Please contact me or my
team by the end of the month with your answer and any ideas you may have that will contribute
to this cause.

References

Rijke, Victoria De. Duck. Reaktion Books, 2008.

Yaich, Scott. How Duck Hunters Can Change History. Ducks Unlimited,
www.ducks.org/conservation/national/how-duck-hunters-can-change-history#:~:text=With
%20Darling's%20support%2C%20the%20Migratory,conserved%20more%20than
%205.2%20million.