Comment from Johnson, Sam

In regards to FWS-R6-ES-2026-2641: I’ve been a Duck Hunter for most of my life hunting with my dad in the NE Arkansas area on both federal and state public lands. During that time I’ve seen many negative decisions that have affected the landscape of the area and the welfare and health of the duck population. Most of these decisions if not all of them affected water management in some way or another. I can personally attest to the fact that there are far fewer migrating ducks in the area because of these bad decisions. My group of friends, family, and I don’t hunt to simply put numbers up, we enjoy the entire culture around it, and have always been proud that we’re helping to support the welfare of duck populations of many different species. Together we have spent thousands and thousands of dollars out of state. Reducing the water levels in the prairie potholes region by more than a couple of inches will effectively eliminate more than half of the habitable areas for these ducks. We’ve spent thousands of dollars supporting waterfowl management through the purchases of our federal duck stamps and other licensing fees over the years, not to mention the many hours we’ve put in to make the areas that we hunt along their flyways safe refugees for most of the ducks that come through except for the ones that we harvest. I strongly oppose this recommended change for the definite negative effects it will have on future generations of waterfowl and of waterfowl hunters and our families.