Comment from Wilson, Terry

As a duck hunter, I strongly support the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's current wetland easement drain tile setback rule in the Prairie Pothole Region and urge the US Fish and Wildlife Service to keep this rule. Wetlands are an incredibly important part of sustaining a healthy ecosystem here in the US for more than just waterfowl. That ecosystem specifically benefits migratory waterfowl which serves as an important part of American tradition and has been a natural phenomenon since well before me writing this today. The Prairie Pot Hole Region is most important to waterfowl as it serves as a KEY breeding habitat. Without this region we could see a species in crisis with serious decline in production. Beyond waterfowl and hunting, wetlands provide protection to farmers and communities by storing excess water and preventing flooding of agricultural areas allowing farmer to mitigate crop loss. Speaking of water, wetlands serve as areas to provide clean water, breakdown harmful toxins and offer some of the most beautiful scenery in America. By getting rid of or changing these pristine landscapes we would be doing ourselves a major disservice, not just today, but for the future. The Prairie Pothole Region of North America is known as the "Duck Factory" because it produces more than half of the continent's migratory waterfowl. These wetlands provide essential breeding and feeding habitat for ducks and countless other wildlife species. The current rule helps ensure that nearby drain tile installations do not drain or degrade voluntary National Wildlife Refuge System wetland easements that Americans have already paid to conserve. For more than 60 years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has upheld the terms of voluntary conservation easements that prohibit wetland drainage. The current rule simply reinforces that long-standing commitment. It protects critical habitat, honors the original easement contracts, and continues a conservation approach that has been supported by Republican and Democratic administrations alike. Hunters, anglers, and conservationists have invested billions of dollars in these wetlands through Duck Stamp purchases, hunting licenses, and Pittman-Robertson funding. Since 1937, Pittman-Robertson excise taxes on firearms and ammunition have generated more than $31 billion for wildlife conservation, while Duck Stamp sales have generated more than $1.3 billion for wetland conservation since 1934. These funds represent a voluntary investment by sportsmen and women in the future of waterfowl, wildlife habitat, and America's outdoor traditions. The current rule is also fair to landowners. It provides individualized, science-based setback determinations and regulatory certainty through safe harbor protections for those who follow them. Weakening these standards would result in the widespread drainage of voluntarily protected wetlands and the loss of habitat that supports waterfowl populations across the Prairie Pothole Region. At a time when waterfowl populations are under pressure and hunting seasons could face increased restrictions, we should be protecting and expanding conservation investmentsnot weakening them. Without the habitat protected by these voluntary easements, recent drought conditions could have had even greater impacts on waterfowl populations and hunting opportunities, possibly resulting in restrictive waterfowl seasons. I respectfully urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to maintain the current drain tile setback rule, uphold more than six decades of precedent, protect hunters investments in voluntary conservation easements, and ensure that future generations of Americans can enjoy healthy waterfowl populations and our nation's hunting traditions. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Terry Wilson