As Environmental Challenges Mount, Illinois Wetlands Need Increased Protection Submitted by The Nature Conservancy in Illinois For centuries, Illinois wetlands have played a critical role in maintaining healthy wildlife habitat, mitigating flood impacts, providing clean drinking water and so much more. Now, their future-and the future of the people and wildlife who depend on them-are facing a new threat. The Supreme Court recently decided to limit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority to protect critical wetlands. The ruling in Sackett v. EPA restricts the standard for what kinds of waterways fall under the protection of the Clean Water Act. "This decision will make it harder for the United States to meet the goal of the Clean Water Act, which is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters," explains Michell Carr, Illinois Director for The Nature Conservancy. "This is an additional blow to our wetlands, which already face the combined threats of habitat loss and climate change." Illinois may be known the as Prairie State, but expansive wetlands also covered more than 8 million acres in Illinois, or 23 percent of the land. These marshes, bogs, fens, sloughs, ponds, floodplain forests and swamps teemed with life, providing habitat for hundreds of species of insects, fish, waterfowl and other wildlife. They collected storm and flood waters, allowing the water to trickle through slowly, cleaning it before it reached and restored an underground aquifers. When their waters receded, they revealed rich soils that were ideal for farming. The food and freshwater they provided supported hundreds of generations of Native Americans as they developed new and increasingly complex ways of life. But this abundance came at a cost. As European settlers moved into the region, they began to drain the land extensively for farming and development. As a result, 90 percent of Illinois' original wetlands have been lost. Like Illinois, Ohio only retains about 10 percent of its historic wetlands. Roughly half of Michigan's and Wisconsin's wetland acreage has also been lost. Together, these habitats sit in a unique location at the doorstep of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, where they safeguard two of the country's greatest freshwater resources. But the combined environmental challenges they now face inhibit their ability to do so, meaning the recent Supreme Court ruling has the potential to impact not only Illinois, but the entire Midwest. Nature hikes are among the most popular activities for Emiquon visitors. Recreational opportunities at Emiquon also include boating, fishing, and hunting, O Laura Stocker "The loss of federal protection for wetlands is coming a time when we need them more than ever," says Carr. "Historically, they've kept our lakes and rivers clean and reduced flooding impacts. We also know that they hold significant amounts of the world's soil carbon. This means they are essential not only to helping us adapt to impacts of climate change, such as more severe storms and flooding, but to fighting the rise of global temperatures." Pelicans take to the sky at Emiquon Preserve. Emiquonis home to hundreds of thousands of migratory and resident birds, including American bald eagles and numerous species of ducks, geese, herons, egrets and shore birds. Laura Stocker The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve runs along the linois River southwest of Peoria, inois. Wetlands are active and The Nature Conservancy and partner organizations are working to restore and protect these important habitats at places like Emiquon, one of the dynamic places, each uniquely adapted flora and fauna of the area. © Todd Winters largest floodplain restoration projects in the Midwest. Located near Peoria, Emiquon once was the jewel of the Illinois River, nurturing diverse and abundant communities of native plants and animals within its complex system of backwater wetlands and lakes. After it was drained for farming for about 80 years, The Nature Conservancy and many local, state and federal partners saw an opportunity to return water to the floodplain. Today, Emiquon is once again home to thriving habitats and wildlife communities, while also providing a scientific model for bringing Illinois' historic wetlands back to life for future generations. To learn more about the importance of wetlands and the work taking place in Illinois and the Midwest to restore them, visit nature.org/MidwestWetlands. As Environmental Challenges Mount , Illinois Wetlands Need Increased Protection Submitted by The Nature Conservancy in Illinois For centuries , Illinois wetlands have played a critical role in maintaining healthy wildlife habitat , mitigating flood impacts , providing clean drinking water and so much more . Now , their future - and the future of the people and wildlife who depend on them - are facing a new threat . The Supreme Court recently decided to limit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ( EPA ) authority to protect critical wetlands . The ruling in Sackett v . EPA restricts the standard for what kinds of waterways fall under the protection of the Clean Water Act . " This decision will make it harder for the United States to meet the goal of the Clean Water Act , which is to restore and maintain the chemical , physical , and biological integrity of the nation's waters , " explains Michell Carr , Illinois Director for The Nature Conservancy . " This is an additional blow to our wetlands , which already face the combined threats of habitat loss and climate change . " Illinois may be known the as Prairie State , but expansive wetlands also covered more than 8 million acres in Illinois , or 23 percent of the land . These marshes , bogs , fens , sloughs , ponds , floodplain forests and swamps teemed with life , providing habitat for hundreds of species of insects , fish , waterfowl and other wildlife . They collected storm and flood waters , allowing the water to trickle through slowly , cleaning it before it reached and restored an underground aquifers . When their waters receded , they revealed rich soils that were ideal for farming . The food and freshwater they provided supported hundreds of generations of Native Americans as they developed new and increasingly complex ways of life . But this abundance came at a cost . As European settlers moved into the region , they began to drain the land extensively for farming and development . As a result , 90 percent of Illinois ' original wetlands have been lost . Like Illinois , Ohio only retains about 10 percent of its historic wetlands . Roughly half of Michigan's and Wisconsin's wetland acreage has also been lost . Together , these habitats sit in a unique location at the doorstep of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River , where they safeguard two of the country's greatest freshwater resources . But the combined environmental challenges they now face inhibit their ability to do so , meaning the recent Supreme Court ruling has the potential to impact not only Illinois , but the entire Midwest . Nature hikes are among the most popular activities for Emiquon visitors . Recreational opportunities at Emiquon also include boating , fishing , and hunting , O Laura Stocker " The loss of federal protection for wetlands is coming a time when we need them more than ever , " says Carr . " Historically , they've kept our lakes and rivers clean and reduced flooding impacts . We also know that they hold significant amounts of the world's soil carbon . This means they are essential not only to helping us adapt to impacts of climate change , such as more severe storms and flooding , but to fighting the rise of global temperatures . " Pelicans take to the sky at Emiquon Preserve . Emiquonis home to hundreds of thousands of migratory and resident birds , including American bald eagles and numerous species of ducks , geese , herons , egrets and shore birds . Laura Stocker The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve runs along the linois River southwest of Peoria , inois . Wetlands are active and The Nature Conservancy and partner organizations are working to restore and protect these important habitats at places like Emiquon , one of the dynamic places , each uniquely adapted flora and fauna of the area . © Todd Winters largest floodplain restoration projects in the Midwest . Located near Peoria , Emiquon once was the jewel of the Illinois River , nurturing diverse and abundant communities of native plants and animals within its complex system of backwater wetlands and lakes . After it was drained for farming for about 80 years , The Nature Conservancy and many local , state and federal partners saw an opportunity to return water to the floodplain . Today , Emiquon is once again home to thriving habitats and wildlife communities , while also providing a scientific model for bringing Illinois ' historic wetlands back to life for future generations . To learn more about the importance of wetlands and the work taking place in Illinois and the Midwest to restore them , visit nature.org/MidwestWetlands .