ROSEMOUNT, Minn. – Ducks Unlimited (DU) is the beneficiary of a new $75,000 gift from Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery to help protect, restore and enhance habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife in Minnesota. The gift is the latest commitment from Flint Hills Resources in a long-term partnership in conservation with DU.
Flint Hills Resources and Ducks Unlimited have been working together since 1985. This includes more than $750,000 in contributions, the annual underwriting of raffle tickets at the Minnesota event, and sponsoring print production. Flint Hills also supports DU's Living Lakes Initiative, which focuses on bringing life back to shallow lakes and marshes.
"Flint Hills Resources is crucial to the success of Ducks Unlimited events across Minnesota," said Brian Ross, DU Minnesota state chairman. "And their ongoing support of Living Lakes is indicative of their understanding of Minnesota's unique landscape and its value."
Ducks Unlimited has identified the prairie pothole region of Minnesota as a level one conservation priority. Plans for wetland acquisitions, enhancements, restorations and engineering survey and design are underway to optimize the productivity of this valuable waterfowl habitat.
The recent generous gift from Flint Hills will help DU leverage more than $2 million in public grants and an additional $500,000 in private funds provided by DU members and philanthropists. These projects will help improve and protect a series of managed shallow lakes and wetlands throughout Minnesota that provide high-quality aquatic food and habitat resources for migrating and breeding waterfowl.
"Our partnership has stood the test of time because we believe in the work Ducks Unlimited does in preserving and protecting our state's natural habitat," said Heather Rein, community affairs director at Flint Hills Resources. "We are very proud of our 30-year association with Ducks Unlimited, and we're thankful for everything they've accomplished on behalf of all us who enjoy the outdoors in Minnesota."
In 2014, Flint Hills Resources' Living Lakes support helped Ducks Unlimited restore or enhance 25 shallow lake and wetland basins in Minnesota totaling 10,313 acres, acquire nine properties totaling 486 acres, protect 70 acres on Lake Christina through a DU conservation easement, and manage 102 northern Minnesota wild rice lakes totaling 27,344 acres.
Flint Hills Resources, LLC, through its subsidiaries, is an industry leader in refining, chemicals and biofuels, with operations primarily in Texas and the Midwest. Its manufacturing capability is built on six decades of refining experience, and the company has expanded its operations through capital projects and acquisitions worth more than $11 billion since 2002. Flint Hills Resources' subsidiaries produce and market gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, ethanol, biodiesel, liquefied natural gas, olefins, polymers, intermediate chemicals, as well as base oils, corn oil and dried distillers grain. The company is based in Wichita, Kan., and its nearly 4,900 employees strive to create value for customers and society. More information about the company is available at www.pinebendrefinery.com.
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DucksUnlimited, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/DucksUnlimited and watch DU videos at www.youtube.com/DucksUnlimitedInc.
Media Contact:
Gregg Powers
(901) 758-3774
gpowers@ducks.org
