Mission

Founded in 1994, The Wetlands Initiative envisions the Illinois River Valley and other Midwest floodplain areas as ecological and economic models for wetland restoration nationwide. We believe that high-quality wetlands restored on floodplains can provide a solution to systemic water-quality problems while reducing flood damage, enhancing biodiversity and wildlife habitat and creating recreational opportunities. We foresee policymakers and ecosystem managers throughout the country adopting strategies, such as nutrient farming, that provide financial incentives for reducing contaminants in our nation's waterways and coastal estuaries. We also foresee the development of programs that provide financial encouragement for private landowners to participate in wetland restoration.