Illinois Wetlands Reserve Program

Illinois Wetlands Information

• Map of Project Locations

Overview

Illinois has generally focused its' Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) efforts in the Southern portion of the state, with the approach of clustering many easements together to form large contiguous blocks of land.  In the INAHGEH (in-na-gah) Project Area a unique partnership was formed between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the American Land Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service.  This unique project has resulted in 6,700 acres under easement and has restored the area to a more natural Mississippi River floodplain.  The Cache River has been declared "wetlands of international importance" by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.  This designation puts the Cache River wetlands into the same class as more well known U.S. wetlands such as the Florida Everglades.  In this project area a multi-disciplined partnership was established to acquire and restore approximately 9,570 acres of previously drained, marginal agricultural land.

WRP easements have also been clustered along the Kaskaskia River, particularly in the Carlyle Reservoir watershed in Fayette County, near the confluence of the Rock River and Mississippi River in Whiteside County, and the lower Ohio River in Hardin and Gallatin counties.

Since 1994, Illinois has enrolled approximately 32,000 acres in WRP.  The program's successes  have created enormous landowner interest.  Presently, Illinois has a backlog of 164 eligible applicants who have offered over 12,500 acres.  Landowners have expressed various reasons for their interest in the program.  However, most landowners state that the program has provided financial compensation for removing their high risk acreage from agriculture production.  WRP funds are subsequently used to reduce debt or invest in more productive land.  Many landowners receive additional compensation by selling the residual fee title or leases to sportsmen who are interested in the recreational opportunities created by WRP.

Restoration efforts are targeted at improving migratory bird habitat. A diverse habitat, having various components, attracts the most wildlife.  Shallow water areas are created by constructing low level berms, plugging ditches and breaking tiles.  Water control structures are designed to reduce water levels to encourage emergent vegetation growth.  When compatible, a forest component or prairie component is added to increase diversity.  Additional wetland functions obtained through WRP include flood storage, sediment reduction and erosion reduction.

Benefits

Many landowners are interested in WRP because of the economical incentive to remove marginal fields from production to offset farm debt and re-invest the easement payment in more productive land and farm equipment.  Although landowners' initial interest in WRP is primarily economic,  many have found a renewed interest in wildlife after the project is restored.  It is encouraging to receive messages from excited landowners detailing the progress of a pair of Mallards raising a family on the WRP project area.  Similarly, communities in project areas were concerned about the removal of agricultural land and subsequent decreases in tax revenue.  Agricultural support services, such as farm equipment and fertilizer dealers, were also concerned about the decrease in the agricultural base.  These concerns have been offset by the increase in revenues generated through recreational interests and activities that have entered into the communities.

Partnerships

The Illinois WRP involves a variety of partners who aid in the delivery of the program.  The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is a financial partner in the Cache River Project whereby all restoration costs are funded by IDNR.  Additional funding and support for this project are received through the Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Shawnee Resource Conservation and Development Area, and local interest groups.  We are also involved with the Natural Lands Institute, The American Land Conservancy, and the Wetlands Initiative who assist with easement acquisition and restoration support, we well as performing outreach to potential WRP applicants.

Contact

Dave Hiatt, 217-382-4123

Last updated: 1/1/00

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