Illinois Wetlands
You've seen them on the road or near your neighborhoods: swamps, bogs, marshes. Let's face it: wetland areas in the United States don't tend to invoke the same kind of admiration as say, lakes and rolling meadows or mountain regions. But they are a crucial resource for the health of our waterways, flora and fauna and human health. Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil all year or for certain times during the year, including the growing season. They are also defined as areas where the presence of water determines most of the biological, physical and chemical characteristics of a site.
Wetland areas occur all over the state of Illinois. The effects of climate change and the threat of urban development are putting wetland areas at increased risk of contamination and death. At the 3000-acre Sue and Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge, a small staff of scientists and caretakers fight to protect the area from invasive species and increasingly unpredictable periods of rainfall. In the Quad Cities, Tim Pressly is waging a battle to protect the wetland he's owned for years from being contaminated by the inevitable runoff from a gas station being built at the edge of his property. A major hurdle, Pressly says, is educating local politicians and city council members about what wetlands do.
Known as "nature's kidneys", wetland areas clean the runoff riddled with waste and chemicals from farm fields. Near larger bodies of water like the Mississippi, wetlands act as natural overflow sites during flooding events. They also act as nesting and feeding grounds for thousands of migratory birds every year.
Nahant Marsh lies just a few miles from Tim Pressly's property across the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa. The area started as a gun range and hunting club. After a massive cleanup by federal and state entitles, Nahant is now a thriving example of a healthy wetland. Rare and formerly endangered species of birds visit the area regularly and make their homes there. Nahant is expanding yearly: buying up farmland to turn back into wetlands. The marsh is a research center for local university students. And its robust educational programs draw local kids and adults yearly. Executive Director Brian Ritter says educating the community about the importance of wetlands is perhaps their most important mission.
Nina Struss, Community Outreach and Education Coordinator for Prairie Rivers Network, says the best way to get involved in the protection of wetlands near you is to familiarize yourself with the rules – or lack thereof – protecting these areas. Visiting and volunteering at wetland areas is another great way to get involved.
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