Water in the West: Snowpack, Alaska, and Duck Conservation (Ep 766)

Water drives everything in the western United States — and right now, it’s increasingly scarce.

In this episode, Ducks Unlimited's senior waterfowl scientist, Dr. Mike Brasher, sits down with Jeff McCreary, director of operations for the Western Region, to discuss waterfowl conservation across the Pacific Flyway. From declining snowpack and drying wetlands to competing water demands from agriculture, people, industry, and fish, Jeff breaks down the realities DU faces — and the solutions they’re working toward. He also introduces the new Alaska Initiative and how it will inform the future of conservation in the Pacific Flyway's most important area for breeding waterfowl.

The conversation spans the Central Valley of California, Klamath Basin, Great Salt Lake, and Alaska, highlighting how DU operates in some of the most complex and water‑limited landscapes in North America.

In this episode:

• Why snowpack is the single most important driver of wetlands in the West
• How declining snow and rising temperatures affect ducks, farms, and cities
• Current wetland conditions in California’s Central Valley and Klamath Basin
• Botulism risk and innovative water management solutions in Klamath
• Why rain helps short‑term but snowpack determines fall habitat
• The drying trend across the western U.S. and climate implications
• Great Salt Lake: why it matters to millions of birds and people
• DU’s $100 million Great Salt Lake Initiative explained
• Controlling “the thirsty three” invasive plants: phragmites, tamarisk & Russian olive
• Alaska’s outsized role in producing Pacific Flyway waterfowl
• DU’s new Alaska Initiative – Born to Fly
• Working with native corporations, agencies, and industry in Alaska
• Why conservation in Alaska is about understanding — not restoration
• Surprising work DU does on endangered fish recovery
• Keeping the Junior Duck Stamp program alive in Washington State

This episode offers a rare behind‑the‑scenes look at how DU operates where water is most precious — and why collaboration, science, and community matter more than ever.

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Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.

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