What Are Wetlands and Why Should Illinois Protect Them?

Adapted from Protecting Illinois Wetlands, by Emily Kowalski, Outreach & Engagement Manager, Environment Illinois Research & Education Center

Wetlands play a vital role in a healthy environment, but, due to sprawl and other human activity, less than 10% of Illinois’ historic wetlands remain. We’re supporting a state wetland protection program to safeguard what we have left.

Wetlands are special. Our wetlands are not just used as habitat for wildlife, but also help protect clean water by filtering pollutants and help us respond to climate change as a natural form of carbon sequestration and flood mitigation. Decades of misunderstanding and undervaluing has led to gaps in wetlands protections. Illinois has already lost over 90% of our historic wetlands due to sprawl and development, and in 2023 the U.S. Supreme Court rolled back federal Clean Water Act protections for many of our remaining wetlands. 

Illinois doesn’t have a state program to protect these areas, previously relying on federal protections. Now, we are at risk of losing more wetlands due to degradation or destruction from development and other human activities. Every year that we don’t have a comprehensive state wetlands protections program, there is the potential for more wetlands to be degraded or destroyed.  

Without strong protections of our wetlands, we put the health of nearly every aspect of our environment at risk. We have a choice in Illinois: we can protect what remains of these special places, or we can let development destroy what we have left and lose the immense value they bring to our wildlife, our water and us.

A Comprehensive Wetland Protection Program for Illinois

Other states have policies that protect the vulnerable wetlands. A comprehensive wetland protection program is possible in Illinois and would fill the current gap in protection by directing the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to create a permitting program to avoid, minimize and mitigate wetlands losses. The state legislature is currently considering a bill that would create that program, but, despite support from dozens of legislators and nearly 50 environmental and community groups, the bill has not seen a vote on the floor. 

Governor Pritzker has the opportunity to take the mantle and be a leader for wildlife, clean water and our climate. As an inaugural member of the White House’s America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge, we know the state of Illinois and the governor’s office is committed to the goals of stream and wetland protection, but more action is needed. A clear signal from the governor would help ensure that his agencies and the legislature move quickly to restore protections for our wetlands

LWV Chicago and LWV Illinois have joined with Environment Illinois and other environmental groups supporting a state wetland protection program to safeguard the wetlands we have left. Please sign this Action Alert and this Action Alert asking Governor Pritzker to signal to the state legislature it is time to take action.

Join the Environmental Action Committee as we work to justly affect climate change with the ultimate goal of preserving democracy by maintaining the health of our one and only planet and all that lives on it. Email us at environment@lwvchicago.org for access to our next meeting.