The Habitat Enhancement Now Act establishes two competitive grant programs administered by the Interior Department to boost populations of migratory waterfowl across North America. The first program provides grants to states, tribes, nonprofits, and individuals to install and maintain "hen houses"—cylindrical nesting structures placed in prairie potholes (small wetlands)—primarily in the prairie pothole region where most North American ducks breed. The second program offers grants specifically for developing breeding habitat in California, including establishing nesting cover, creating brood ponds, and providing incentives to private landowners willing to participate in these conservation efforts. The legislation allocates $3.5 million annually for each grant program from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with the Interior Department required to establish both programs within 180 days of the bill's enactment. These initiatives aim to complement existing habitat conservation efforts by using cost-effective tools to increase waterfowl nesting success, which experts have identified as the key factor in sustaining healthy duck populations.
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