More Than $250,000 Awarded to Improve Wetlands Throughout Northeast Illinois

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In its Eleventh Year, Northeast Illinois Wetlands Conservation Account Provides Matching Support for Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will Counties

May 8, 2008

Contact:
Vanessa Vaughan, The Conservation Fund, 703.525.6300
Lauri Lindquist, The Conservation Fund, 269.426.8825

Chicago, Illinois - Today The Conservation Fund and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, announced the recipients of this year’s grants from the Northeastern Illinois Wetlands Conservation Account (NEIWCA). In this grant cycle, more than $250,000 in grants were provided for the restoration, enhancement and creation of wetlands in northeast Illinois.

NEIWCA funds the restoration of wetlands and natural habitats throughout the Chicago area through an innovative partnership program. Since 1997, the conservation account has contributed over $4 million to groups working on more than 100 individual projects in Illinois' six northeastern counties--Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will. Utilizing settlement funds from a corporate wetlands infraction, The Conservation Fund, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Justice, created the conservation account to provide matching grants to local groups committed to the conservation of wetland ecosystems.

“The dedication of our local partners and the important work represented by these projects will benefit the Chicago region for generations to come,” said Margaret A. Kohring, Midwest director for The Conservation Fund.

"The quality of these funded projects was exceptional,” said Mike Sands, NEIWCA project director for The Conservation Fund. “Our only regret this year is that for lack of funds, we were not able to fund more projects that also had exciting prospects.”

John D. Rogner, field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Chicago Illinois field office (located in Barrington) and chair of the regional conservation consortium known as Chicago Wilderness, said, "Healthy fish and wildlife habitats add much to the quality of life in the region. It is a privilege to be able to support the fine wildlife habitat restoration work of our local partners and enhance the Chicago area's livability."

Projects are selected on a competitive basis depending on the quality of their plans to restore and conserve degraded wetlands and their ability to provide matching support.

The following projects received funding in 2008:

• The McHenry County Conservation District will restore 113 acres of agricultural land to sedge meadow, marsh, fen and upland prairie at the 350-acre Nippersink Canoe Base Conservation Area.
• At the 165-acre Spring Creek Headwaters area of the Spring Lake Forest Preserve, Audubon Chicago Region, in partnership with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, will restore 33 acres of wetland and enhance 127 acres of surrounding wetlands and uplands.
• The Forest Preserve District of Kane County plans to restore 30 acres of agricultural land to wet prairie, mud flats and shallow emergent marsh, and enhance an additional 30 acres of surrounding uplands in the 750-acre Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve.
• The Friends of the Forest Preserves hope to benefit amphibian populations and restore a wetland complex by restoring one acre of previously isolated wetlands and enhancing 21 acres of wetlands and uplands in the Salt Creek Nature Preserve.
• Ten acres of wet prairie and sedge meadow, and three acres of upland prairie in the 60-acre Churchill Woods Wet Prairie will be improved by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.
• The Chicago Park District will enhance one acre of degraded wetland located in Humboldt Park and will seek to increase community awareness and appreciation of the park’s wetlands through its Volunteer Stewardship Program.
• At the Schaumburg Park District’s Spring Valley Nature Center, 2.25 acres of degraded wet/mesic prairie will be enhanced by volunteers and park staff.

About the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas.

About The Conservation Fund

The Conservation Fund is the nation's foremost environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting America's land and water legacy for current and future generations. Seeking innovative conservation solutions for the 21st century, the Fund works to integrate economic and environmental goals. Since its founding in 1985, the Fund has helped its partners safeguard wildlife habitat, working landscapes, community “greenspace” and historic sites totaling more than 6 million acres. With 1% fundraising costs and 97% program allocation, The Conservation Fund is recognized as the nation's top-rated environmental nonprofit by both the American Institute of Philanthropy and Charity Navigator.

http://www.conservationfund.org