Long known for the restoration of lost wetlands, the Wetlands Initiative (TWI) is now also a leader in the practice of farm-based constructed wetlands that reduce nutrient pollution in agricultural runoff. This is an important conservation practice for our home state because the Illinois River Watershed is one of the largest contributors to the “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico, primarily through excess fertilizer that eventually flows down the Mississippi River. But the same fertilizer runoff also creates smaller dead zones closer to home.
This efficient and effective way to naturally improve water quality needs to be adopted on a large scale to really make a difference, and TWI has found the perfect partner in Ducks Unlimited (DU) to spread the practice in Illinois. Through a new formal partnership announced in March 2022, TWI and DU will be working together to build these “smart wetlands” throughout the state’s rich and productive Farm Belt.
“Working with our ag-sector partners these last few years, TWI has learned how to make these tile-treatment wetlands work successfully within the context of productive row-crop farms,” said Dr. Jill Kostel, TWI’s senior environmental engineer and the project manager. “Pairing our expertise with DU’s broad reach and strong farmer relationships creates exciting new opportunities to grow this conservation practice.”
To read the full press release from TWI and DU about our new partnership, click here.