Michigan (October 9, 2025) – The conservation of Michigan’s wetlands, critical for the health of birds and communities across the state, will receive vital funding in the FY26 Michigan state budget.
“The return on investment for wetlands conservation is profound. Wetlands support some of our most vulnerable birds while protecting Michigan communities from costly and damaging flooding—an issue that is only expected to intensify in the coming years,” said Brian Vigue, Policy Director for Audubon Great Lakes, “While funding fell short of the historic $3 million investment made last year, we’re pleased to see that the protection of wetlands remained a priority for state lawmakers.”
The FY26 budget includes $1 million for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to acquire and conserve wetlands throughout the state for the benefit of birds, other wildlife and communities. The program secured an inaugural $2 million in funding in 2024, and $3 million in 2025. Audubon advocated for it to be fully funded in the FY26 budget.
Michigan has lost 50 percent of its historic wetlands. Great Lakes birds such as the Least Bittern and Pied-billed Grebe rely on them as places to rest during their long migration journeys, and to nest and feed their young. As a result of wetlands loss, many marsh bird populations have experienced steep declines, including the state-endangered Black Tern that has lost nearly 99 percent of its state population since 1966. Protecting and conserving wetlands is key to helping vulnerable species recover.
Wetland restoration is also an opportunity to address the costly issue of flooding, which is becoming a bigger problem Michigan due to more extreme and unpredictable precipitation events caused by a changing climate. Just one acre of wetland, one foot deep, can store up to 1.5 million gallons of water.
Wetlands can tackle several environmental problems at once. In addition to providing wildlife habitat and flood protection, Great Lakes wetlands also store carbon pollution and act as natural water purifiers helping to keep Michigan’s water clean.
Across Michigan, Audubon Great Lakes is working to directly restore 12,500 acres of high-priority wetlands in areas such as Eastern Lake Michigan, St. Mary’s River and the Straits of Mackinac, Saginaw Bay, and Detroit River and the St. Clair Flats regions. Over the next decade, Audubon aims to positively impact 142,000 acres across the state in partnership with various stakeholders.
“We thank Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature for passing a state budget that will continue to help restore wetlands across the state,” said Vigue.
About Audubon Great Lakes
Audubon Great Lakes is a regional office of Audubon, learn more at gl.audubon.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety
