Marathon Petroleum and Ducks Unlimited partner in Utah habitat restoration
Community News
Foundation, sustainability
With a shared vision to restore natural habitat across the state of Utah, Marathon Petroleum has partnered with Ducks Unlimited (DU) to complete on-the-ground restoration and management projects that will maximize use of limited water resources and improve water quality and quantity across Utah.
To give the newly formed partnership a jumpstart, awarded DU a $100,000 grant to support its conservation efforts in Utah. The grant is in direct alignment with Marathon Petroleum’s environmental sustainability and conservation priority.
“Marathon Petroleum has a strong commitment to conserve and sustain our environmental resources,” said VJ Smith, Marathon Petroleum Manager of Stakeholder Engagement. “We are honored to be a lead supporter of Ducks Unlimited’s Utah projects, which will make a tremendous, long-term impact for the water resources in the state.”
DU has a long history of partnership with leaders in the petroleum industry and the organization says they are excited for the opportunity to partner with Marathon Petroleum to protect and restore critical wetland habitat.
“With the continued drought and significant water threats facing Utah, DU is prioritizing our conservation efforts to protect and restore the state’s key wetland areas and the water resources needed to preserve the Great Salt Lake ecosystem,” said DU Utah Director of Development Jessop Boden. “We are very grateful for this grant from Marathon Petroleum and the impact it will have for the three to four million waterfowl that utilize Utah’s wetlands and the more than two million people who live near the Great Salt Lake.”
In Utah, DU has made substantial conservation gains restoring, enhancing and protecting more than 28,000 acres in the Great Salt Lake ecosystem over the past 15 years.