Water, Nature & Community: Inside DU’s Evolving Partnership with Dow (Ep 769)

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Ducks Unlimited and Dow have partnered for decades to deliver real conservation outcomes — but this relationship is now entering a new and innovative phase.

In this episode, host Dr. Jerad Henson is joined by Dr. Amy Beasley, Sustainability Director for Water and Nature at Dow, and Dr. Ellen Herbert, Ducks Unlimited’s Sustainability Director, to explore how a long‑standing corporate conservation partnership has expanded beyond traditional project delivery into a strategic, science‑driven collaboration. The discussion traces the 70‑year history between Dow and Ducks Unlimited, highlights milestone conservation achievements, and then digs into how the two organizations are now working together to help Dow evaluate land assets, water and nature risks, and community connections in ways that benefit wildlife, the environment, and long‑term business resilience.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Dow’s journey into sustainability and why water and nature are inseparable
• A 70‑year partnership between Dow and Ducks Unlimited
• Early landmark conservation investments tied to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan
• Wetland restoration projects in Michigan’s Shiawassee Basin
• Canadian Prairie Pothole and parklands forage programs benefiting ranchers, ducks, and water security
• How DU’s science and geospatial expertise supports corporate land‑use decisions
• The shift from project delivery to strategic conservation planning
• Why watersheds, habitat, and community access matter to both conservation and industry
• Real‑world examples, including Dow’s Carrollton, Kentucky facility
• Measuring impact, building a business case for conservation, and scaling success
• How private industry can reduce water risk while improving habitat and community outcomes

This episode offers a rare, transparent look at how conservation organizations and global companies can work together — not just to restore habitat, but to create long‑term resilience for people, wildlife, and communities.

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