Why It Matters: Each national wildlife refuge has specific purposes that should guide its management. On refuges established to support waterfowl, funding should directly support active, science-based management that improves habitat and sustains hunting opportunities where authorized. Maintaining water control infrastructure equips refuge managers to deliver those conservation benefits.
Highlights:
- Water control structures allow refuge managers to seasonally flood and drain managed wetlands to support waterfowl.
- Deteriorating infrastructure can prevent managers from achieving habitat management objectives.
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) supports prioritizing investments that directly improve waterfowl habitat and hunting opportunities.
Investments in national wildlife refuges should prioritize active, science-based habitat management and the infrastructure needed to carry it out. For waterfowl, maintaining water control structures gives managers essential tools to provide food and resting areas that sustain birds and support quality hunting opportunities.
CSF has emphasized this connection in its support for the America the Beautiful Act. In its strong support for the legislation, CSF highlighted provisions supporting refuge projects such as water control structures that sustain waterfowl populations while providing hunting access.
Across managed refuge wetlands, productive habitat can reflect months of work before opening day. Drawing down wetlands exposes soil where seed-producing native plants can grow. Reflooding those areas later makes food available to waterfowl. Functioning water control structures allow managers to adjust the timing and depth of water based on habitat conditions, seasonal needs, and available water.
Deteriorating infrastructure can limit that work, reducing managers’ ability to establish suitable water levels and maintain productive feeding areas. Prioritizing repairs to water control structures helps ensure that refuge funding directly supports habitat management and the waterfowl populations that depend on it.
Those investments should be guided by the best available science and tied to clear habitat objectives. Giving refuge managers the tools to respond to changing water conditions, manage native vegetation, and evaluate habitat response supports more effective management over time. For hunters, the benefit extends beyond having a place to go: active, science-based management helps sustain the habitat and bird populations that make quality waterfowl hunting opportunities possible.
CSF will continue advocating for investments in critical refuge infrastructure and science-based habitat management that support waterfowl conservation and sustain hunting opportunities consistent with each refuge’s purposes