Director of Operations, Western Region
Ducks Unlimited
Bio:
Jeff McCreary is the Director of Operations for Ducks Unlimited’s Western Region. His career spans over two and a half decades of wetlands conservation across the Western U.S. while cutting his teeth in the marshes of Great Salt Lake. Jeff leads a team of practical conservationists implementing on-the-ground wetlands and waterfowl habitat conservation in the nine western most states. Jeff received a bachelor’s in wildlife biology from the University of California at Davis and a master’s in wetland ecology from Duke University.
Title: Ducks Unlimited Conservation Vision
Abstract: Great Salt Lake is a landscape of hemispheric importance for migratory waterfowl, yet its long‑term ecological health is increasingly threatened by declining water levels and watershed degradation. Ducks Unlimited (DU) presents a 10‑year, $100 million conservation vision aimed at restoring and protecting wetlands and associated habitats essential to maintaining a vibrant, resilient lake ecosystem. Building on nearly four decades of conservation work DU now seeks to expand our impact through a renewed, collaborative, and community‑driven Great Salt Lake Initiative. Our vision aligns with the Utah Commissioner’s Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan and calls for broad partnerships across private, philanthropic, and governmental sectors. Implementing this conservation strategy will strengthen waterfowl habitat, support Utah communities and economies, and ensure that the Great Salt Lake remains a thriving ecological and cultural asset for future generations.
