In late May, The Conservation Fund and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, announced the recipients of year 2008 grants from the Northeastern Illinois Wetlands Conservation Account (NEIWCA). In the 11th year since its inception, over $250,000 in grants have been 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 restore, enhance, create, or protect over 6,000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands.   These funds were leveraged by groups working on over 100 individual projects in Illinois' six northeastern counties--Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will. Using settlement funds from several corporate wetlands infractions, 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 NEIWCA account to provide matching grants to local groups committed to the conservation of wetland ecosystems.

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

"The quality of these funded projects was exceptional. Our only regret this year is that for lack of funds," commented Mike Sands, NEIWCA Project Director for The Conservation Fund

John D. Rogner, Field Supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Chicago Illinois Field Office 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 1 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 3 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 1 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.