The Wetlands Initiative 2018 Annual Report Our Mission The Wetlands Initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the wetland resources of the Midwest to improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and reduce flood damage. From Our Watershed to Yours

The work of the Wetlands Initiative starts with hydrology. as we approach our 25th anniversary in 2020—it feels Whether constructing a farm-based wetland to reduce like a watershed moment for the organization. TWI nutrient runoff or restoring a marsh or prairie, we need directors and staff are undertaking strategic planning to understand how water moves through the landscape. during 2019 to consider how we can make the most This often means thinking about a project site’s difference in the conservation field in the years ahead. watershed. Geographically speaking, a watershed is a We wouldn’t be at this moment in TWI’s history land area that channels surface water and groundwater without the generosity of everyone who supports to a common outlet, perhaps a river or lake or even a our work in actual watersheds. Many thanks to all the bay or ocean. conservation-minded people who may not be thinking Like a Russian doll, smaller watersheds are nested about hydrology when they make a donation to the in larger ones. The Big Bureau Creek Watershed is Wetlands Initiative but know that contributing means part of the Illinois River Watershed, which is part of better water quality, increased biodiversity, more Precipitation the Mississippi River Watershed—the largest in North flood storage, and more carbon sequestered in America. And if you looked just at the Big Bureau Creek the ground—all good things in the face of a Watershed, you’d find even smaller ones within it. changing climate. Watersheds represent just how interconnected Watershed different areas of the country are, and how what Carl Yudell happens upstream—sometimes way upstream— Chair, Board of Directors can affect conditions downstream. Paul Botts In English, we sometimes talk about a “watershed President & Executive Director moment.” Scholars don’t seem to be too clear about Overland the origin of the phrase or how it relates to the Flow hydrologic concept of a watershed, but it fits the Infiltration Wetlands Initiative right now. As we receive more and Groundwater more requests to apply our restoration expertise—and Wetland

River Constructed Wetlands in the Farm Belt

A TWI-designed wetland on a Bureau County farm in north-central Illinois The Mississippi River Watershed is the largest in North Among its many initiatives, ISAP is working with America—and the fourth largest in the world. It drains Illinois Central College in East Peoria to expand its an area of 1.2 million square miles, including about 40% demonstration farm to highlight a suite of conservation of the continental United States and a small part of two practices to reduce nutrient loss. TWI has designed a Canadian provinces. The river discharges 593,003 cubic constructed wetland, which is scheduled for installation feet of water per second into the Gulf of Mexico. in summer 2019. Through the college’s highly regarded Included in the discharge are nitrogen and and popular agricultural program, the next generation phosphorus picked up along the way, which cause the of farmers will have the opportunity to learn hands-on Gulf’s hypoxic “dead zone” each year. Among states how “smart wetlands” can be part of a sustainable and in the watershed, Illinois is the #1 contributor of that productive operation. nutrient pollution, most of it from agricultural runoff. TWI continues to work with Illinois farmers to construct small wetlands to naturally and cost- The vast Mississippi River Watershed effectively “treat” subsurface runoff before it hits the local waterway and heads downstream. N M u TWI Senior Environmental Engineer Dr. Jill i sso ri e n o st Kostel, who’s leading the project, likes to say w Ye o ll in M s

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s o she’s working at the smallest watershed scale is s c

i s p i pi with constructed wetlands while aiming to W N te affect the nation’s biggest. orth Pl at tte la P s i It’s going to take a lot of these farm-based o in l Oh l io I Ark wetlands dotting the landscape to significantly ansas ee ss improve water quality all the way down to ne i en p T n p dia i Can a s the Gulf. Scaling up their use will require s i s s Red i collaborations like the Illinois Sustainable Ag M Partnership (ISAP), of which TWI is a founding member alongside farm-sector groups such as the Illinois Corn Growers Association and

American Farmland Trust. Gulf of Mexico 0 125 250 500 Miles

3 Calumet Region

Planting native species at Indian Ridge Marsh Driving east along I-94, just over the border from industrial and residential development. But many of the Illinois look out the passenger-side window and you’ll area’s remnant marshes hold restoration potential. Along see the West Branch of the Little Calumet River in with the new Little Calumet River project, TWI continues Indiana. Leveed off to prevent the flooding of adjacent to work at Indian Ridge Marsh with Audubon Great Lakes neighborhoods, the corridor is like a big 2,000-acre and the Chicago Park District and to develop plans for bathtub full of invasive plants like phragmites. other sites in the Calumet region in both Illinois and Indiana’s Little Calumet River Basin Development Indiana. Commission is collaborating with TWI, Audubon Great Lakes, and several local stakeholders to improve habitat quality and increase recreational opportunities along the ■ Southwestern Lake Michigan West Branch. After more than a year of planning, on- Watershed the-ground efforts are scheduled to begin in 2019–20. ■ Upper Illinois River Watershed Watersheds of the Little Calumet River The Little Cal’s watershed has ■ Initial TWI Project Sites been so altered over the years the Along Little Calumet River river now actually flows in two Chicago N directions. Part of it flows east in Indiana and eventually empties into Lake Michigan through Burns Ditch,

a manmade waterway. The westward r e v Lake Michigan

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flow crosses the border into Illinois. 57 t The exact point of the “flow divide” e u m Whiting al shifts a bit depending on water levels C 90 in the river and Lake Michigan, as r Ca well as climate conditions. G and lumet River Burns Ditch While the Little Cal’s hydrology is Hammond Gary particularly altered, the entire Calumet # 80 94 k

e e Munster met R r region stretching from Chicago’s r Little C alu i v e C n Hobart Southeast Side through northwest r Flow Highland o h Divide T Indiana has been heavily marked by 65 0 1 2 4 Miles Illinois Indiana Merrillville

5 Midewin

Spreading milkweed seed by hand on a winter’s day In 2018, TWI started the third year of a seven-year amounts of seed for rarer plants like wood betony, restoration project at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, blue-eyed grass, and false toadflax. an hour south of Chicago. At more than 1,900 acres, One day not far in the future, visitors will be able to it’s the largest single project yet for us at this U.S. experience seven different habitat types in this newly Forest Service site, formerly the Joliet Army Arsenal. seeded, creek-crossed area of Midewin. When completed, it will link previously restored parcels on Midewin’s west side into a 4,000-acre corridor of ■ Midewin Boundary ■ Seven-Year Restoration Areas wetland and prairie habitats. Midewin’s west side Grant Creek and Prairie Creek both flow through 2018–19 Planting Areas restoration corridor this new restoration area. Though not far apart, the ■ Other Midewin Areas (restored and unrestored) creeks are in different watersheds. Prairie Creek empties J ac ks k into the Kankakee River, while Grant Creek is part of the o n Cre e r

e v i Des Plaines River Watershed. Both the Kankakee and R es in la Des Plaines eventually flow into the Illinois River. P s e When the rains are heavy, Midewin’s creeks D overflow their banks onto the adjacent floodplain—a natural feature of the original prairie landscape. The range of habitats in the restoration area, from wet to k ee mesic to dry, means there is a corresponding range of r C t n native plant species to reintroduce. ra G Over the winter of 2018–19, TWI seeded 574 acres with 183 plant species—a total of 9,817 pounds of 53 K 55 seed. We had never sown so much seed at one time ank ake k e e R e i r and started working with growers a year in advance to ve C r e i ri ra ensure enough for this phase of the new project. P There were 4,500 pounds just of little bluestem seed, a matrix species for tallgrass prairie. Along Visitor with other common species, we also spread smaller N Center River Road 0 0.25 0.5 1 Mile

7 Dixon Waterfowl Refuge

Cuckoo Creek on a summer’s day An intermittent stream runs through Sandy Hollow, the biodiversity with the help of citizen scientists. Elusive newest addition to TWI’s Dixon Waterfowl Refuge in Yellow-billed Cuckoos were actually spotted during a north-central Illinois. We christened it Cuckoo Creek bird survey; even more exciting was the nighttime bat since it has no official name, in honor of the state- survey that included mist-netting over the streambed. endangered Yellow-billed Cuckoo that hides high up in Throughout the Refuge that weekend, participants the trees of its floodplain forest. identified more than 900 different species, from plants Much of the year Cuckoo Creek is just a trickle or and fungi to birds, butterflies, bees, and more. completely dry, but after a heavy rain it runs fast and While small in size, the Cuckoo Creek Watershed is deep. TWI’s geospatial analyst, Jim Monchak, mapped richer in biodiversity than many larger ones—all through the creek’s watershed and found it reached much TWI’s restoration of Sandy Hollow. deeper into the area east of the Refuge than he expected, funneling rainwater down through The Cuckoo Creek Watershed Sandy Hollow to the Illinois River at the Refuge’s southern tip. N Sandy Hollow opened to the public in 2018, our third year of restoring the tract’s Dixon prairie, savanna, and other upland habitats. Waterfowl With its 2.7-mile, figure-8 trail, the area has Refuge

already become a favorite among visitors Illinois River to the Refuge. A rustic footbridge crosses Cuckoo Creek on the way to the Pyott Pavilion; open-sided and canopied, the pavilion is dedicated to TWI co-founder Al Pyott and a perfect place to rest and enjoy the view. Sandy Hollow was a focus of TWI’s

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second-ever BioBlitz at the Refuge in r

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August of 2018, during which experts o 0 0.5 1 2 Miles k c spent 24 hours surveying the site’s Cu

9 Revenue FinancialRevenue Statements top graph top graph 2018 Revenue Breakdown Statement of Activities 2018 2017 Statement of Financial Position 2018 2017 Revenue Assets 100 Program grants $830,104 $465,261 Cash, cash equivalents, and investments $1,501,888 $2,049,671 Contributions 682,470 666,080 Grants receivable 320,986 462,636 Contributions—land — 2,406,374 Pledges receivable 1,685,934 1,840,237 Event income 68,406 — Accounts receivable 2,070 4,383 Program fees 7,362 9,450 Prepaid expenses 26,004 23,640 Miscellaneous income 53,691 53,497 Land and leasehold improvements 6,808,663 6,139,410 $1,642,033 $3,600,662 Equipment 323,128 265,298 Net assets released from restriction 1,859,857 816,094 Less—accumulated depreciation (439,130) (392,161) Total revenue $3,501,890 $4,416,756 Total assets $10,229,543 $10,393,114

49% Individuals 45% Foundations 3% Corporations 3% Government and other Expenses 0 Liabilities and Net Assets Program $2,328,669 $1,635,319 Accounts payable $200,482 $101,475 Administration 155,539 156,495 Notes payable 653,277 692,671 Fundraising 221,725 162,040 Accrued expenses 83,809 76,415 2018 Expense Breakdown Total expenses $2,705,933 $1,953,854 Deferred revenue 8,333 14,292 Increase in unrestricted net assets $795,957 $2,462,902 Unrestricted funds 6,543,575 5,747,618 100 Temporarily restricted funds 2,740,067 3,760,643 Temporarily Restricted Net Assets Total liabilities and net assets $10,229,543 $10,393,114 Program grants $839,281 $695,485 Net assets released from restriction (1,859,857) (816,094) Decrease in temporarily restricted net assets $(1,020,857) $(120,609)

Decrease (Increase) in Net Assets $(224,619) $2,342,293 Net Assets at Beginning of Year 9,508,261 7,165,968 Net Assets at End of Year $9,283,642 $9,508,261 86% Program 8% Fundraising 6% Administration 0

10 2018 Donors A Celebration of Wetlands and Cranes A Benefit Evening in Support of the Wetlands Initiative Institutional Donors Dr. George Archibald, co-founder of the $100,000 and above Up to $999 Midewin “Prairie Champions” International Crane Illinois Nutrient Research AmazonSmile (both employee volunteers and corporate grants) & Education Council American Farmland Trust Foundation, headlined DuPont The McKnight Foundation Ancell Sands LLC TWI’s benefit in October Ecolab Foundation National Forest Foundation Anderson Family Dentistry Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel 2018. Cranes are among Baxter International Foundation $10,000 to $99,999 Waste Management the most endangered birds Bridgeport Coffee Company Audubon Great Lakes on Earth, and wetlands are Caterpillar Foundation Continuing Multi-Year Grants Dr. Scholl Foundation their home. The evening Shirley Heinze Land Trust DuPage Birding Club Received Prior to 2018 Audubon Great Lakes raised more than $160,000 Abra Prentice Foundation, Inc. Exelon Foundation Dr. George Archibald and friends Forest Preserve District The Buchanan Family Foundation in support of TWI’s habitat $5,000 to $9,999 of Kane County Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley restoration projects thanks to the generosity of sponsors and guests. Grand Victoria Foundation Gleason Finance Foundation Marquis Energy, LLC Granville Library Grand Victoria Foundation Lead Sponsor Vistra Energy Grayslake North High School Illinois Clean Energy Sue Dixon District 127 Community Foundation $1,000 to $4,999 The Home Depot The McKnight Foundation Speaker Sponsor Ameren Illinois Illinois Soybean Association National Fish and Wildlife Hall and Anne Healy BDT & Company, LLC Foundation, Conservation Loyola University Chicago Supporting Sponsors Christopher B. Burke Partners Program Mississippi River Network Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. National Fish and Wildlife Thorn Creek Audubon Society Engineering, Ltd. Clif Bar Family Foundation Foundation, Monarch Butterfly DuPont Wrigley Company Foundation Conservation Fund Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company/A Wintrust Ecolab Foundation Zoia Monument Co. Abra Prentice Foundation, Inc. Community Bank Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel The Walton Family Foundation Dixon Refuge Mackie Consultants, LLC Illinois Native Plant Society BioBlitz Sponsors Northern Trust Lake Forest Bank & Trust Ameren Illinois Company/A Wintrust Marquis Energy, LLC Wine Sponsor Above: A capacity Community Bank Vistra Energy Gundlach Bundschu crowd Mackie Consultants, LLC Winery New Belgium Brewing Company Left: Centerpiece Northern Trust with program Patagonia Waste Management

11 2018 Donors

Individual Donors

$50,000 and above $5,000 to $9,999 EarthShare Donors The James Huntington M. Jay Trees The Negaunee Foundation Peter and Betsy Barrett Mary P. Hines Foundation Laura and Dave Urban Anonymous (2) Stephen P. Bent and Keith Hoogland Robert and Nadine Hutchinson Steven and Julie Valenti Anne Searle Bent Jossy and Ken Nebenzahl Ned Jannotta Daniel J. Wilson $20,000 to $49,999 Christopher and Susan Burke Doris D. Roskin Jocarno Fund John and Emily Alexander $500 to $999 Marty Burke Dick and Liz Uihlein Dale and Davida Kalina Sue Dixon Ira and Roberta Asher George and Alexandra Covington Wozencraft Charitable Fund Michael L. Kelly Michael and Nydia Searle R. Ross Baker and Katie F. Baker Wendy Freyer Anonymous (1) Heidi Kiesler Anonymous (2) Peter Barack Anne Gardner Mr. and Mrs. John J. Kinsella $1,000 to $2,499 Susan Barry and Gary Kohn $10,000 to $19,999 The Gardner Family Foundation Elizabeth Kochvar Cindy and Fred Acker Kevin J. Bell Bruce and Patty Becker John K. Greene Laura and Bruce Linger The Allyn Foundation, Inc. Beverly Berger Mr. and Mrs. William Dooley Hamill Family Foundation The Loewenthal Fund Steve and Ann Bartram George and Martha Bermingham Karen and Bob Fisher Chris Kerns at The Chicago Community Mrs. Walter F. Brissenden Foundation Barry and Maureen Blankfield Goulder Family Foundation The Lawlor Foundation Carney Family Foundation Helen M. Meadowcraft Thomas and Dorothy Borders Byron Goulding MRB Foundation, Inc. Thomas and Sarah Conrad Heather McCowen and Paul Botts Robert Bradner Hall and Anne Healy Charlie and Jackie Pick The Corwith Fund John and Ladd Mengel William and Mary Breen LeFort-Martin Family Sue and Tom Pick Bob and Chie Curley Mary and Chip Brennan Donor-Advised Fund Albert E. and Elizabeth Pyott Joanne and Richard Miller Mr. Charles F. Custer The Burghardt Family of the DuPage Foundation Caroline Repenning Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Thomas E. Dore, Ph.D. Charitable Fund Oak Tree Foundation Tom and Anne Rodhouse John K. Notz, Jr., and Roderick T. and Laura S. Dunne Janis W. Notz Margaret and Alan Busic Mr. and Mrs. H. Safford Peacock Richard and Deborah Schroeder Evans/Hahn Foundation Diane Pascal Peter and Lisa Cormier Steve and Ann Ryan John B. Slater Dean and Jenny Fischer Curtis Pascoe William Cox Michael and Judy Zeddies Richard Toft Cindy and Mark Fuller Tanner and Marion Rice Jane and Chuck Dowding Jim and Karen Truettner Allen and Carolyn Grosboll Richards Family Foundation Joel Dryer and Yann Woolley Clark and Joan Wagner Hall Family Fund Nancy K. Robinson Michael Eggebrecht Carl and Suzanne Yudell Jerry and Connie Heinrich Chuck and Beth Schroeder Philip Enquist and $2,500 to $4,999 Heller Foundation, Inc. Sheffield Foundation Joanna Karatzas Susan and Ed Chandler David Hultgren and Mr. and Mrs. Bong Shinn Laura Ferrell and Grant Riedesel Clark Family Foundation Christy Schisler Liz Stiffel James L. and Margaret E. Foorman Winnie and Bob Crawford Randy Tornquist Eric Gastevich and Doug Schmidt Mr. and Mrs. John A. Clemetsen John and Susan Sentell Nancy and Dewey Crawford Catherine Nardi Dick and Annette Schoenberger Kathleen Comerford Judith Stockdale and Brooks Debruhl John Gilardi David and Mary Ellen Schulz Jackie and Donnie Dann Jonathan Boyer Stuart Decker Bill and Libby Graham Michael J. Scott George and Sue Donaldson William and Cassie Wagner Joan Chism Diebold Mark and Sarah Gunderson Michael Simpson Lynn B. Donaldson Anonymous (1) Linda Dutcher James G. Haft Wade Spang and Cyndi Bowman Reed and Catherine Eberle $100 to $249 Marcia and Dow Edgerton Jim Hampson Dr. and Mrs. Harry C. Stone Mr. and Mrs. James J. Glasser Greg and Rose Alberts Mildred L. Eisenstadt Ironwood Family Fund Douglas Stotz Thomas and Lindsay Gorman Katie Anderson Phyllis Ellin Terry and Barb Judd Cherie and Erik Thompson John Gschwind Scott Anderson Jan Feldman Ben and Kate Julian David and Cindy Van Zelst Meyer and Raena Hammerman James and Susan Armstrong Diane H. Fite Thomas G. Karras Foundation Kenneth Love Villar Don Axt Glenn Gabanski Mary E. Lane Craig J. Holderness Sharon and Michael Vitali William H. Baker Dr. Robert Galliani Mr. and Mrs. David K. Mabie Miyako Izzo Curtis and Donna Voges James Ballowe and Ruth Ganchiff Brian Ganninger Bojan Manojlovic and John Briel Mary and William Kelly Phil and Tracy Voth Leslie and Jonathan Bass Tom Gardner James Martin and Linda Deany Mitchell Kiesler Frank Vydra and Elsa T. Bekele Tim and Margarita Geleske Brad and Catherine Mayer Nancy Gibson Vydra Mr. and Mrs. William J. Kirby Louise Berner Kathleen Georgevich Nancy Chadbourne Maze Anne Murphy Watson Jill Kostel Richard Bingham Thomas V. Gillingham John McCrosky and Dan and Irene Weinman Linda Kurtz Leo J. and Donna L. Blankfield Albert Golembeski and Deborah Walens Bob and Pat Wheeler Barbara A. Lindman Jennifer Duboc-Golembeski Greg and Pat Bluhm Matthew and Julie Mueller Mrs. Henry P. Wheeler Susan Malkowski David and Pam Goles Alan Botts David and Christine Murdoch Sandi and David Whitmore Withrow W. Meeker Mr. and Mrs. John T. Golitz Lynn and Richard Braman Network for Good Donors Jerry and Jody Zamirowski Nonie Morris Nan and Wally Greenough John and Mary Briel Dr. Michael A. Novak Anonymous (1) Luigi H. Mumford Rudolf Habben Arthur Briggs Jane E. Pak Nancy Nazarian Ted and Mirja Haffner $250 to $499 Charlie and Freddi Brown John and Katie Palmer Soozie Nichol Fran Harty Vincent Anderson Jackson D. Brown William and Sherri Patterson Ken Peterson and Marla Tracy Devin Hogan Richard and Marie Ary Suellen Burns and Weston Morris Dave and Jenn Pattie John and Betsey Puth Jack Hutchison Nancy and Sam Badger Michael Campbell Sally Pick, Nancy Pick, and Dana and Sue Rose Robert F. Inger and Tan Fui Lian Randy and Lorraine Barba Robert Chambers Lawrence Douglas Linda and Stephen Sands Laurie Johnston Robin and Peter Baugher Joe Collins Mark Richman Allison Schmitt Anthony and Amy Jones Steve and Sandy Becker Roberta Conboy William and Harumi Richmond Bill Schult Thomas E. Keim Deanna Cash Brendan Coyle Christie J. Robnett Sally B. Searle John Rogner and Sue Elston Cheryl A. Ciammetti

13 2018 Donors

Rick Kinnebrew and Martha Meyer Sarah J. Miller Clark and Andrea Wagner Bob and Pam Byrne John L. Henning Beth and Joe Klein JoAnn Monge Mr. and Mrs. Gary T. Walther Michael and Jennifer Caldwell Jennifer Henriques Pete Kodat and Ana Koval Dennis and Mary O’Brien Seth and Rebekah Warburton Thomas Carroll Bob and Alice Henry Rick Ladenburger Taylor O’Brien and Kurt Weissenborn Ryan Clark and Amanda Shevokas Carol J. Hicks Peggy and Dick Lami Patrick Freeman Mark Westcott Nancy K. Colbentson Susan Himmelfarb Tawna Lawrence Peter A. Osten Glen R. Wherfel Alexandra Colin Jim and Wanda Hollensteiner Richard Lazarski Gerald Paulson Patricia A. White Michael T. Denham Michael Horsley Ronald H. Leopold Joan and Kurt Peterson Nick Wilder Arthur Diers Evelyn Humphrey Vera Leopold and David Miller Mario Piombo Dolph Williams Sarah Dugan Celia N. Hunt Jian Liang Joe Pyszka Ted Wolff Emily Earhart Rachel Johnson Marc and Alice Lonoff Mike and Cheryl Quine Fund Alain Wood-Prince Marlene Eisen Josh Judson Maggie and Tom Lovaas John Raffensperger, M.D. Beth Wright and Julie Kaufman Julie Erdmann Ann Kaizerman Kyle M. Loveland Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey R. Ramsay Kathleen Yannias Jeremy Farrar Lisa Katz Gail J. and Robert B. Loveman Harry Richter Stanley Yates Lisa and Dave Fink Morgan D. Keeler Kay MacNeil Mike and Debbie Richwine Anne H. Young Sharon E. Finzer Jeffrey Klocek John and Diane Marlin Bernard G. Roer Chester and Diane Zarnicki Sara C. Foster Daniel Kohler Tony Mautino Mark and Deborah Saran Anonymous (2) Doug and Nicole Garber Maia Krache John and Tracy Mayerhofer Patricia and Dick Schnadig Lydia Garvey James H. Kraft Up to $99 Laurel and Henry Maze Nancy Schroeder Urs Geiser Peggy Lin Mary Jo Adams William and Mary Schubert John Giberson Kristine Makiewicz Brian Allen Harold O. Schulz John C. Gillio John and Cynthia McKee Carla Axt-Pilon Laura and Eric Schulz Rachel Goad Diane Meiborg and Roger Zacek Amanda Barnett Ronald Scott Mark and Chris Golden Roger H. Miller Steve Barratt Ellie and Bill Shunas E. J. Gray Lucille Montplaisir Paul R. and Karen A. Basalay Margaret Small Lynne and Charles Gunn Daniel R. Needham Charles D. Bonnell Robert Smith Paul Hanover and Nancy Katz Thomas Nielsen Jeff Bowen John and Ann Snyder Alan and Mary Harkrader F. Oboikovitz and D. Sandoval Michael R. Bozonelos Bob and Jean Spitzer Brian Harrison Mary O’Connell Anna Braum Kevin Stermer Louise Harrison Kathy C. Oppenhuizen Sarah Brittain Susman and Asher Foundation Debby Hein Kyle Petersen Denise Burr Stephanie Thommes Craig A. Peterson Dawn Troost

14 Victoria and Gregg Pettit Jess and Ashlie Zimmerman Tribute Gifts In honor of Ken Johnson Juliet K. Priebe Tony and Debbie Zoia In honor of Rachel Johnson Nancy C. Reichen Steve and Mary Anita Zwicker Ruth and James Ballowe In memory of Kiernan Robinson Anonymous (3) Kathleen Yannias Martha and Tony Kuchan Christine A. Rotondi Matching Gifts In memory of Ernest Bassi Christine A. Rotondi Heather Rouleau Baxter International Foundation Terry and Barb Judd In memory of Robert McMinn Lorin Schab BDT & Company, LLC In honor of Michael Beall Roberta Conboy Kevin Schramm Caterpillar Foundation Seth and Rebekah Warburton In memory of David Meadowcraft Steve Schweickert Exelon Foundation Helen M. Meadowcraft Kelley Shorr In honor of The Home Depot David and Jane Blandford Kent E. Sims In honor of Kara Nielsen Wrigley Company Foundation Joan Chism Diebold Wharton and Lucie Sinkler Thomas Nielsen Aisha Sobh In-Kind Gifts In honor of Gier and Ted Bowen In honor of Charlie Pick In honor of Allen Sugg Lindsay Appel Louise Berner Lynn and Richard Braman Joan and Clark Wagner Kevin Sullivan Christopher B. Burke In memory of Dorothea Brauer Sally Pick, Nancy Pick, and Thomas Goldstein Engineering, Ltd. Brad B. Suster Arthur Diers Lawrence Douglas In honor of Suzanne Wagner El Pueblo Inn Gerald Swarzman In honor of Paul F. Cruikshank Anne H. Young Jan Feldman Faire Projects Mike “T” Sara C. Foster In honor of Al Pyott Mary O’Connell Cathy and Thomas Taylor Google In honor of Jossy and Ken Nebenzahl Beth Wright and Julie Kaufman Gail Truelsen Gundlach Bundschu Winery Sara Earhart and Ross Bruhnke Liz Stiffel In honor of M. Whitaker Kevin Van Cott Lisa Plefka Haskin Emily Earhart In honor of Heather Whitaker Philippe Van den Sande Illinois Corn Growers Association In honor of Abby Frucht John Raffensperger, M.D. Karen Vandersall International Crane Foundation In honor of Carl Yudell Jess and Ashlie Zimmerman Harry Richter David Wachtel and Amy Pokras Zachary Johnston Mark Westcott In honor of Caroline Repenning Heather Whitaker Vera Leopold In honor of In honor of Michael Zimmerman Nancy K. Robinson Dennis and Kathy Wiggins Microsoft David and Liz Greenberg and Andrea Gullickson Ron Wojtanowski Patagonia Joan Chism Diebold In honor of Megan Thomas Jess and Ashlie Zimmerman Cathleen Wolff Puertocito Partners LLC In memory of M. “Doc” Hall Allen Sugg Larry E. Woodley Dr. Karl Rockne/University of Thomas G. Karras In honor of Clark Wagner Illinois at Chicago William Yacktman In honor of Jim and Wanda Hollensteiner Vortex Optics William M. Zales Kimberly Watson Heath Robert Smith Suzanne L. Wagner Margarita Zamora Anne Murphy Watson Rafi Wilkinson Stanley Zatarski

15 Donors to the Sandy Hollow Project in Honor of Al Pyott A generous group came together to support the restoration of Sandy Hollow at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge in honor of TWI co-founder Al Pyott. They also made possible the creation of trails, interpretive signs, a pavilion, and other features to enhance visitors’ experience of the Refuge. Sandy Hollow officially opened to the public on June 14, 2018, when Al cut the ribbon at the Pyott Pavilion. Al and Liza Pyott and their children

Bur Oaks Prairie Blazing Stars Byram and Sue Dickes Luigi H. Mumford Sue Dixon John and Emily Alexander Thomas E. Dore, Ph.D. Jossy and Ken Nebenzahl Dave and Marg Grohne The Buchanan Family Roberta Friend Downey Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Foundation Sally and Jim Downey Charlie and Jackie Pick Withrow W. Meeker Fairfield and Art DuBois Charlie and Julie Potter Mr. and Mrs. H. Safford Peacock Penny Dunne Tom and Anne Rodhouse Steve and Ann Ryan John H. Ellwood Edward and Karen Rogan Marion S. Searle John V. Farwell IV Richard and Deborah Schroeder Dick and Liz Uihlein Pat and Anne Gallagher Tom and Pam Sheffield Lark Sparrows John K. Greene Winfield Shiras Bruce and Patty Becker Hall and Anne Healy Michael Simpson Mary and Chip Brennan Lucia W. Heyworth John B. Snyder Christopher and Susan Burke Ned Jannotta Susman and Asher Foundation Susan and Ed Chandler Walter Kasten II Karie Thomson George and Alexandra Judy and John Keller Richard Toft Covington James LaDuke Clark and Joan Wagner Margaret and Bill Crane The Lawlor Foundation Alain Wood-Prince Robert and Elizabeth Crowe Paul and Eileen LeFort Carl and Suzanne Yudell Pete Cruikshank John and Paula Lillard Michael B. Zeddies, Jr., Ed and Carol DeVilbiss Jack and Lynn Loacker and Judy H. Zeddies Brent and Cathy Manning

The Pyott Pavilion

16 TWI Directors TWI Staff Annual Report Credits (as of June 30, 2019) (as of June 30, 2019) Carl R. Yudell Paul Botts Jean McGuire Design Lisa Plefka Haskin • Printing Fuse Chair President & Executive Director Field Outreach Specialist Text Suzanne L. Wagner/TWI Caroline Repenning Mark Bogner Jim Monchak Vice-Chair Assistant Site Manager, Geospatial Analyst Photography Lindsay Appel: page 12; Bruce M. Becker Dixon Waterfowl Refuge & Developer Mahsa Izadmehr: page 2; Zachary Johnston: page 11; Vera Leopold/TWI: pages 4, 6, 16 (top); Secretary & Treasurer Anna Braum Sue Rose Paul Botts Ecologist Finance & Operations Manager Jean McGuire/TWI: page 16 (bottom); Gary Sullivan/TWI: pages 8, 14, 15 President John Briel Rick Seibert Christopher B. Burke, Ph.D. Development Associate– Site Manager, Maps Jim Monchak Edward K. Chandler Individual Giving Dixon Waterfowl Refuge Copyright © 2019 by the Wetlands Initiative Thomas J. Conrad Jena Dalzot Gary Sullivan, Ph.D. Restoration Technician, Senior Restoration Ecologist George M. Covington This annual report is printed on Cougar® Smooth paper, Dixon Waterfowl Refuge Phoebe Thatcher William F. Dooley which is FSC® certified. Trevor Edmonson Development & Communications Wendy Freyer Restoration Specialist & Assistant Anne Gardner Project Manager Suzanne L. Wagner Byron Goulding Jill Kostel, Ph.D. Director of Development Allen D. Grosboll Senior Environmental Engineer & Communications Robert Hutchinson Vera Leopold Mark D. Maffei, Ph.D. Grants Manager & Charles T. Pick Development Associate Albert E. Pyott Steven M. Ryan TWI 2018 Seasonal Douglas F. Stotz, Ph.D. Restoration Technicians Richard P. Toft Michael B. Zeddies, Jr. William A. Cattani Kiernan C. Robinson James R. Conboy Dylan Schaefer Emeritus Donald G. Gross Jace B. Schorn Paul F. (Pete) Cruikshank, Jr. Austin Hellman Rachel A. Swirsky Brent Manning Geoffrey C. Hills Matthew L. Taber Thomas I. Rodhouse Sarah A. Lindstrom-Chapman Emma L. Walker Richard T. Schroeder Emily R. Parker Rebecca L. Woods Clark L. Wagner Andrew M. Pyszka Staci M. Woolley 53 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1015 Chicago, Illinois 60604

www.wetlands-initiative.org