Today, the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) is a major factor in the production of North American waterfowl. This region of expansive farmlands, grasslands and millions of shallow depressions, known as prairie potholes, serve as prime breeding habitat for millions of waterfowl every season.

These shallow potholes were at one-time extremely rich in both plant and aquatic life. However, due to a lack of management, land drainage and changes in agricultural production throughout the region, there has been a major loss of prime breeding habitat. Additionally, predators that are not indigenous to the PPR, such as raccoons, have also had a dramatic impact on the success rate of waterfowl production. These factors need to be addressed today in order to maintain or increase waterfowl production.

The PPR is a major breeding area for the waterfowl that use the North American flyways that include the Mississippi River Flyway and the Central Flyway.  The number of waterfowl participating in the fall migration through these flyways is directly dependent upon the existence of waterfowl breeding habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana.