NATURE CONSERVANCY OF UTAH.

Moab -- The NATURE CONSERVANCY OF UTAH has received a $100,000 grant from a pipeline subsidiary of Oklahoma-based Williams Energy. The grant is being used for reclamation activities at the Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve near Moab, where more than 180 species of birds have been sighted.

Sue Bellagamba, stewardship director for the Moab project office, says, "The Nature Conservancy's mission is to preserve plants, animals and natural communities by protecting the lands and waters they need in order to survive. Contributions from private donors like Williams Energy allow us to conduct research, purchase additional acreage, and plant native trees that enhance the natural habitat."

Wetlands are places where land and water meet. They can take the form of a marsh, bog or a flooded bottomland like the Matheson Preserve where the Colorado River brushes against the desert.