The Mississippi Flyway Chapter of Waterfowl U.S.A. was charted over 20 years ago. The chapter is located in Northern Western Illinois and performs waterfowl conservation work in the counties of Carroll, Whiteside, and Rock Island. They have also performed projects in the counties of Clinton, Scott and Jackson in the state of Iowa.

They are partnered with the Iowa DNR, Illinois DNR, Clinton County Conservation Board of Pheasants Forever, and D.U. to help purchase many additional wetlands in their area. The biggest project was the Millroad Marsh which was bought with chapter funds and the Illinois State Migratory Bird Stamp Funds. The farm ground portion was idled and many nesting structures were installed.

The chapter has worked with several area Boy Scouts to help them make their Eagle Scout Merit through nest building projects. The FFA from West Carroll School has been regularly tapped to build floating goose nests and wood duck houses for the Mississippi Flyway Chapter. The chapter has a nesting project where they clean and check wood duck houses and maintain floating goose nests in the Mississippi River and many private areas. They regularly hand out goose nests and wood duck nests to anyone who asks for them.

At their banquets, they focus on promoting today’s youth into the sport of waterfowling and hunting. Each year the chapter gives away an average of 21 guns. This helps immensely in the attendance of kids at their banquets.

The Mississippi Flyway Chapter has a Shallow Water Wetland Grant and makes funds available to landowners who apply thru a local NRCS office to build wetland structures. Landowners use the chapter funding to help them pay their portion of the cost share when working with state agencies to build wetlands on their property