MEMPHIS, Tenn.  - Officials from Ducks Unlimited announced the winners of DU's 2004 Conservation Achievement Awards and the State Grant Awards at the 69th Annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Spokane, Washington on March 19th.

DU's Conservation Achievement Awards recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the restoration and protection of North America 's wetlands and waterfowl habitats. The awards are presented in six categories. This year's winners are:

Category - Winner

Federal Representative - Congressman Norman Dicks, 6th District, Washington State
Federal Agency - Carey Smith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
State/Provincial - Richard Bishop, Chief, Wildlife Bureau of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Research/Technical - Stephen P. Havera, Illinois Natural History Surveys' Forbes Biological Station
Private Citizen - William R. Ireland, Sr., Alabama
Communications - Robert A. Drieslein, Editor, Outdoor News, and host of KFAN Radio Saturday Morning Outdoors Show

DU also announced the three recipients of its State Grant Awards, which recognize state agency partners who have reached significant milestones in their contributions to conserve waterfowl breeding habitat in critical areas of Canada. These funds are matched by DU, matched again by the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and finally put on the ground together with Canadian funds, ultimately leveraging the State dollars more than four to one.

The recipients of DU's State Program Awards are:

Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which has been a DU partner since 1973. This year they provided over $50,000, surpassing the milestone of $1 million in contributions to waterfowl habitat in Canada. For its contributions, the Department received DU's Gold State Grant Award.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which has been a state grant program partner since 1985. Their contribution of $100,000 this year advanced them above the $1 million donation level. For its contributions, the Department received DU's Gold State Grant Award.

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, which has been a partner in the program since 1977. With their grant of $60,000 this year, they exceeded the $500,000 level, earning the Department a Silver State Grant Award.

Dr. Alan Wentz, DU's Group Manager for Conservation Programs, presented the awards. "Each of these individuals and agencies have made a significant, positive difference in the effort to conserve North America's waterfowl habitats," said Wentz. "It is both a privilege and a pleasure to recognize such outstanding partners in conservation."

Photos and more information on award recipients will be available soon at www.ducks.org. With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation group. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature's most productive ecosystems - and continues to lose more than 100,000 wetland acres every year.

Look for Ducks Unlimited on the World Wide Web at www.ducks.org. Tune in to The World of Ducks Unlimited Radio Network, and watch, Ducks Unlimited Television on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN).