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Mission

The Wetlands Initiative is  dedicated to restoring the wetland resources of the Midwest to improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and reduce flood damage.

Featured News


  • hh lake vista ftd news

    Dixon Refuge to be a Ramsar site

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the Initiative's Dixon Waterfowl Refuge a Wetland of International Importance, in accordance with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands ... more.

  • scaup flapping wings ftd news

    New projects to take root in 2012

    More wetlands in more places for more benefits for more people and wildlife. That's the goal of the Wetlands Initiative's effort to expand its project portfolio during 2012 ... more.

  • bill at nff event for ftd news

    TWI helps set 10-year Midewin vision

    The Wetlands Initiative has been part of creating a new 10-year plan for restoration at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, which the National Forest Foundation unveiled in October ... more.

  • new boardwalk trail ftd news

    Boardwalk trail opens at Dixon Refuge

    On September 10, the Wetlands Initiative opened the first phase of a new boardwalk trail to increase public access at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes  ... more.

  • room for wetlands ftd news

    Making room on the farm for wetlands

    When three out every four acres in a watershed are used for farming, there's not a lot of room for large wetland restorations. Rather, many smaller projects are needed on private land ... more.

Get Involved


  • green fire ftd event

    Green Fire and Restoration Discussion

    Join us February 29 at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago for a free screening of Green Fire, the Aldo Leopold documentary, followed by a discussion of restoration work in Illinois ... more.

  • midewin_location_map

    Explore the vast Midewin landscape

    Visitors to the Forest Service's Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie can hike, bike, or horseback-ride where grasses and wildflowers stretch to the horizon, and old Army bunkers still stand ... more.

  • dixon_refuge_location_map

    Experience the Dixon Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes

    Climb the observation tower, hike a boardwalk trail, paddle through a marsh, or enjoy excellent bird-watching at the Sue and Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge ... more.