President
Utah Wetlands Foundation
Bio:
Jeff Richards is lifelong waterfowl hunter and conservationist. His passion for wetlands started at a very young age hunting ducks at the North Point Duck Club with his father. Those early experiences shaped his life. Today he spends time with his two sons at the duck club who share that passion. Jeff graduated from Utah State with a joint degree in wildlife and political science with an emphasis on environmental law and policy. He later graduated with a law degree from the University of Utah. He spent his career as an energy lawyer but still finds time to be involved in promoting wetland conservation and waterfowl hunting policy issues. He founded the Utah Waterfowl Association and is the current President of the Utah Wetlands Foundation. He also serves on the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council and is on the board of directors of the North Point Duck Club.
Title: The Utah Migratory Bird Production Area Act—Protecting Private Wetlands
Abstract: In 2009 the Utah Legislature passed the Migratory Bird Production Area Act. This law provide the framework allowing private landowners to designate privately owned and managed wetlands as migratory bird production areas for the protection of habitat and bird production. This was the first and may be the only law of its kind that affords broad protections for landowners committed to protecting lands for migratory bird habitat and protections.
