E-Newsletter ■ February 2008

Nutrient Farming receives more national and local press

	Bud Grieves (Photo by David Zalaznik, Peoria Journal Star)

“The Wetlands Initiative is a think tank that translates theory into reality,” wrote reporter Clare Howard in the January 13th edition of the Peoria Journal Star. The two-page feature article explained in detail the nutrient farming strategy and its potential benefits to central Illinois -- improving water quality, restoring lost wetland habitat, and providing additional income for local landowners. The article prominently featured the project’s support by Bud Grieves, former mayor of Peoria, businessman, landowner, vice chairman of The Nature Conservancy in Illinois, and life-long Illinois River conservationist.

“I’ve hunted at Goose Lake [Pond] since I was 12. I know the area very well. I hate to see degradation of our backwater lakes. I don’t see how this proposal can do anything but help,” said Grieves.

Published the same month, Zoogoer, a bimonthly publication by Friends of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, featured The Wetlands Initiative in a story on global efforts to restore our lost wetland landscapes. The article profiled three wetland sagas: a California couple leading an effort to re-water a half-million acres of former marsh in Southern Iraq between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; the World Bank’s efforts to restore a portion of the dewatered Aral Sea in Kazakstan, and; TWI’s strategy to bring nutrient farming to Illinois and other degraded watersheds in the United States. TWI’s efforts “may one day serve as a model for the rest of the world,” wrote reporter Brendan Borrell.

Local community learns about Goose Pond Pilot Project

Mallards and other ducks will benefit from the restoration at Goose Pond.

This winter, The Wetlands Initiative hosted two informational sessions for communities near the pending Goose Pond Nutrient Farming Pilot Project. Many local residents gathered in Henry and Hennepin, Illinois, to voice questions and concerns about the pilot project—a proposed wetland restoration, research, and demonstration project on the Illinois River 40 miles north of Peoria. The 1,300-acre project is currently awaiting approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal and state regulatory agencies. TWI has applied for a construction permit, to be issued by the Corps under the Clean Water Act.

At the February meeting, the public was invited to review charts and posters (now available on the TWI web site) and talk directly with experts concerning several key topics: duck habitat and history, sedimentation and flooding, water quality and nutrient contamination, and overall project objectives, benefits, and research agenda. Staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were also in attendance to listen to residents’ questions. TWI has compiled questions and answers about the project, which also are available on TWI’s web site.

Since 2005, TWI has been working to implement a nutrient farming pilot project on the Illinois River to create a demonstration and research site where scientists can assess the potential for large-scale floodplain restoration to improve water quality. This strategy, called “nutrient farming,” would use restored wetlands to “harvest” excess nitrogen and phosphorus from our rivers and streams as well as sequester carbon. Local landowners at the Goose Pond site have partnered with TWI to implement the project.

Collateral Channel restoration to break new ground

	This degraded channel on the South Side of Chicago will soon be restored.

Engineers are working to finalize design details for the innovative “active capping” and wetland restoration project at Collateral Channel on the South Side of Chicago at 31st and Kedzie. “We’re looking for new ways to capture the gases that are produced by the organic-rich sediments on the channel floor. This type of approach has never been attempted in urban wetland restoration,” said Jill Kostel, The Wetlands Initiative’s senior environmental engineer.

Kostel led the team in completing the construction permit application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Patrick Engineering is due to complete the final engineering design this spring and construction could begin later this year.

“We’re creating a unique collection design that will actually pull the gas through the geotextile fabric system that helps to cap the contaminated sediments in the degraded channel. Once the sediments are contained and the gas is safely vented, we can create wetlands in the channel to improve water quality and create some needed green space in an industrial neighborhood of the city,” Kostel said. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, who owns the channel, is partnering with TWI to complete this demonstration project, aimed at finding new solutions for transforming degraded urban waterways, like the Chicago River.

The Collateral Channel project is funded in part by the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The Prince Charitable Trust, and Boeing.

Illinois named #1 contributor to Gulf “Dead Zone”

Of 31 states evaluated by a recent U.S. Geological Survey study, Illinois was ranked as the highest contributor of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution to the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River Basins. Nitrogen and phosphorus are known to be the key nutrients fueling the growth of the “Dead Zone” in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Nutrient pollution is now widely viewed as a national environmental problem. Nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich fertilizer from the farm fields of the Midwest have for many years drained down the Mississippi and into the Gulf. The nutrients fuel the growth of algae off the Louisiana and Texas coast and, as the algae decomposes, life-sustaining oxygen is removed from the water.

Donnelley blends Hennepin memories with Aldo Leopold

	Sire, the Donnelley's favorite family hunting hound, circa 1950

In our latest Wetland Matters essay series, philosopher and conservationist Strachan Donnelley muses on how his early years as a budding duck hunter and naturalist in the marshes near Hennepin, Illinois, have shaped his adult conservation ethic. Like Aldo Leopold, his early youth prepared him to feel compelled to be part of the larger biotic community and to embrace human stewardship ethics.

Al Pyott retires as chairman; Christopher Kerns elected

Al Pyott

The Wetlands Initiative welcomes Christopher Kerns as chairman of the board, effective February 12th. Al Pyott, TWI’s co-founder and longtime chairman, will remain an active member of the board. Kerns is founding partner of Kerns, Frost & Pearlman in Chicago and has been a member of the TWI board since 2004.

In 1994, Al Pyott and Donald Hey founded The Wetlands Initiative, after identifying a need for a niche organization to promote and conduct wetland restoration. Pyott has been a significant force behind many of The Wetlands Initiative's key projects, including restoration of a 2,600-acre drainage and levee district for the Hennepin & Hopper Lake Project, partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to restore Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, and development of the Goose Pond Nutrient Farming Pilot Project. Prior to his work at The Wetlands Initiative, Pyott was director of the The Nature Conservancy in Illioins for 7 years. A lifelong Chicagoan, he previously had a long career at Inland Steel Company.

Save the dates

Plan now to join The Wetlands Initiative for two events in 2008. On Saturday July 19th, come enjoy the Sue & Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge in all its natural splendor at our Field Day in Hennepin, Illinois. In addition to a fresh-grilled BBQ, we’ll have canoes available to paddle the lakes and nature guides for prairie and wetland walks for all skill and endurance levels.

Moving indoors in the fall, we’ll host our 3rd Annual An Evening with The Wetlands Initiative on Thursday, October 16th at the Arts Club of Chicago. Support The Wetlands Initiative by attending this festive gathering at one of the city’s most unique venues.

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