Ducks Unlimited Honors 2026 Wetland Conservation Leaders

The annual awards recognize individuals and organizations making significant strides in North American habitat restoration and waterfowl protection.

• By Jesse Jacobs
• April 03, 2026

Ducks Unlimited announced the recipients of its 2026 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards during the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. The awards honor those who have advanced wetland and waterfowl conservation through policy, science and on-the-ground restoration.

The 2026 honorees represent a broad spectrum of conservation partners, ranging from federal officials to private landowners. Among the winners is U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, who was recognized for defending more than $10 billion in conservation funding within the Farm Bill. This funding supports essential programs like the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, which helps protect wetlands on private farmland.

Other notable recipients include:

• Federal Agency: Karen Woodrich, USDA-NRCS deputy chief for programs, for her 25-year career supporting voluntary conservation programs for farmers and ranchers.
• State Official: South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who oversaw the conservation of 229,000 acres and recently announced a 62,000-acre easement in the Pee Dee Basin.
• Research: Dr. Siobhan Fennessy of Kenyon College, a globally recognized scientist whose work has shaped international wetland policy.
• Private Conservation: Larry Maxwell, an Oregon rancher who integrated flood irrigation practices to support migratory waterfowl on his working lands.
• Nonprofit: The California Rice Commission, for its work maintaining rice fields as surrogate wetlands that provide half of the state’s waterfowl food resources.

The organization also presented the James C. Kennedy Wetland Conservation Legacy Award to Mike Casazza of the U.S. Geological Survey and Dean Smith of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. This high honor recognizes a lifetime of service and scientific leadership in the field.

Wetland conservation remains a critical priority for environmental resilience, as these ecosystems absorb floodwaters, improve water quality and provide essential habitat for hundreds of animal species.