Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has reportedly completed the largest conservation land purchase in Manitoba’s history with the acquisition of East Meadows Ranch. The conservation group said this sprawling 8,167-acre (3,108-hectare) tract of coastal marsh, wetlands and grassland habitats will be known as the Kennedy Field Station at East Meadows. DUC will reportedly steward the property on Lake Manitoba’s Marshy Point.
The acquisition was reportedly funded through contributions from public and private donors including Cox Enterprises, local philanthropists and the Government of Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program.
The non-profit said the ~$9 million purchase marks a once-in-a-generation achievement in wetland conservation – protecting a place where waterfowl science, community tradition and conservation history converge.
“This property is a living legacy where generations of people and wildlife have been connected through the land,” said Pat O’Connor, Board chair, Ducks Unlimited Canada. “This project celebrates Manitoba’s conservation roots and secures a future for the wetlands, grasslands and across one of Canada’s most storied natural landscapes.”
A Landmark for Conservation
Situated 80 kilometers northwest of Winnipeg, the Kennedy Field Station at East Meadows encompasses a mosaic of wetlands, uplands and tallgrass prairie, including over 800 acres of DUC’s historic Marshy Point wetland project. The site lies within a globally recognized Important Bird Area (IBA), supporting up to 43 breeding duck pairs per square mile and sustaining western grebes, trumpeter swans, lesser yellowlegs, least bittern, Franklin’s gulls, pelicans, herons, bobolinks and other species that rely on its freshwater marshes and meadows.
“This project represents an incredible opportunity for landscape-level conservation and a major step toward sustaining Manitoba’s wetlands for waterfowl, wildlife and communities alike,” said Pat Kehoe, acting CEO, Ducks Unlimited Canada. “It delivers on our strategic plan to conserve and restore healthy, sustainable landscapes that support biodiversity, climate resilience and water management.”
A Leading Contribution
Among these supporters, a lead investment came from corporate partner Cox Enterprises, which in 2024 announced a $100 million gift to the Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) land trust, Wetlands America Trust (WAT). The gift, focused on conserving North America’s prairie region, was made in honor of Jim Kennedy, chairman emeritus of Cox Enterprises and chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation. A portion of the historic contribution was reportedly provided to make this land purchase possible. The property will be named Kennedy Field Station at East Meadows in recognition of Kennedy’s significant role in its protection.
DUC said Jim Kennedy’s connection to the Ducks Unlimited mission spans decades, first volunteering through his local Atlanta, Georgia chapter nearly 55 years ago, and later serving as the founding president of WAT. He has generously supported many of DU and DUC’s highest-priority initiatives.
“Marshy Point is a special place that shows conservation at its best. Its wetlands and grasslands provide important habitat for waterfowl and wildlife while giving people the opportunity to explore and connect with the outdoors,” said Kennedy. “Protecting this landscape forever is something my family and our company are proud to do, and we are pleased that it will remain a place future generations can enjoy and learn from.”
Images courtesy Ducks Unlimited Canada and Bass Pro
