Swamp milkweed pods are quietly dramatic against the snow in January at the South Patrol Road Restoration. This site, one of the Wetlands Initiative's first projects with the Forest Service at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, is now thriving. Photo by Iza Redlinski.

In March, more than 3,000 migrating Canvasback ducks stopped over to rest and feed at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes. Ornithologist Doug Stotz called it "more Canvasbacks in one place than I've seen in my life." Photo by Gary Sullivan.

In spring 2011, TWI began the first stage of drain tile removal on our Grant Creek Restoration Project at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Drain tiles are buried clay pipes that carry water quickly off the land (commonly used throughout Illinois to allow farming). Removing them is a critical step to restore natural hydrology. Photo by Iza Redlinski.

Four weeks later, the results of the drain tile removal are evident on the Grant Creek project site. A flock of blackbirds rises above much wetter areas where wetland plants are returning. Photo by Iza Redlinski.

In May, TWI ecologists collected purple loosestrife beetles from other areas in Illinois and released them on the few purple loosestrife plants present at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge. The beetles are a natural means of controlling the population of this noxious invasive plant. Photo by Iza Redlinski.

In summer 2011, the Local 150 Operating Engineers training center, which neighbors Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, contributed to TWI's Grant Creek Restoration Project by conducting earthmoving work to restore hydrology. Here two operators work to smooth out an old railroad berm that was restricting natural water flow. Photo by Iza Redlinski.

Local 150's contribution yielded excellent results. In June, water can already be seen meandering slowly across the landscape, recreating wetland areas. Photo by Gary Sullivan.

On TWI's "Restoration in Progress" tour in June at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, attendees saw projects in the "before," "during," and "after" stages of restoration. Gary Sullivan, TWI senior ecologist, led the tour along with Forest Service ecologist Bill Glass. Photo by Iza Redlinski.

As part of the Wetlands Initiative's "Growing Wetlands for Clean Water" study, we are using computer modeling tools to map potential areas where landowners could voluntarily restore wetlands to reduce pollution in the Big Bureau Creek Watershed, a heavily agricultural watershed in north-central Illinois. Map by Jim Monchak.

Over the summer of 2011, TWI hosted two student interns through the Associated Colleges of Illinois' Conservation Careers Internship program. While helping with field restoration activities, they made many other unexpected discoveries, like this snapping turtle. Photo by Iza Redlinski.

In June, volunteers work together to plant plugs (seedlings) of native species on the Grant Creek Restoration Project as part of TWI's annual corporate volunteer day, co-hosted by the Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Photo by Vera Leopold.

In July, a family of state-endangered Common Moorhen enjoys the rich marsh habitat at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge. The refuge is recognized as an Important Bird Area and a Wetland of International Importance, in part for the breeding populations it supports of rare wildlife. Photo by Gary Sullivan.

In 2011, TWI began a new project at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge to restore 120 acres of rare wet meadow and associated habitats by removing invasive woody growth. A crew of restoration technicians worked hard all year to cut aggressive saplings (background) and treat the stumps to prevent resprouting (foreground). Photo by Gary Sullivan.

TWI Executive Director Paul Botts speaks at "A Restoration Celebration" at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge September 10. Botts officially took the helm at the Wetlands Initiative in April, 2011. Photo by David Miller.

In September, the first segment of a new half-mile boardwalk trail opened at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge. The public trail leads visitors through some of the refuge's highest-quality wetlands and prairie. Upon its completion in 2012, it will connect the observation tower with the boat launch parking lot. Photo by David Miller.