The Wetlands Initiative 2013 Annual Report

A Landscape Full of People

If people were responsible for the loss of more than 90% of ’ wetlands in the past, it’s also people who are responsible for the restoration of some of those wetlands today. People are an integral part of the TWI landscape. There are the people who do the actual work of restoration, of course: TWI’s ecologists, environmental engineer, GIS analyst, site managers, and seasonal fieldworkers and interns, not to mention the many volunteers who help with essential tasks like pulling invasive plants and harvesting native seed. It takes many hands to restore a wetland. But there are lots of other people who are being drawn into TWI’s vision in different ways. In Our Mission the Big Bureau Creek Watershed it’s farmers, who’ll help us demonstrate how small, precisely placed wetlands can reduce nitrogen in agricultural runoff, making for cleaner water locally and as far away The Wetlands Initiative is as the Gulf of Mexico. a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring In DuPage County it’s homeowners and other landowners upstream from the Spring Brook the wetland resources of restoration, who’re essential to ensuring the quality and sustainability of that riparian restoration the Midwest to improve through how they care for their own property—a key component of this new project. water quality, increase As the restored area of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie grows, and plans for the reintroduction wildlife habitat and of bison move forward, TWI is leading the partners in development of a public campaign in biodiversity, and to increase visitors to this U.S. Forest Service treasure just outside their back door. Restoring prairie reduce flood damage. and wetland habitats on a large scale at Midewin is as much about giving people the opportunity to experience something of the grandeur of Illinois’ original landscape as it is about giving native flora and fauna a place to thrive. And at the Dixon Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes, we’ll soon be creating new hiking and biking trails to reach habitats at this award-winning site that have previously been inaccessible to the public, including the wet meadow on the north side and the oak savanna “island” in the middle. There’s much more to the Refuge than the lakes and rare seep so many visitors already enjoy. Here at TWI in the land of Lincoln, with a nod to the 2013 anniversary of his Gettysburg address, it’s wetlands “of the people, by the people, for the people.” Through projects that consider how individuals interact with the landscape—at home, at work, and at play—we’re making a place for wetlands in the modern world.

Steven M. Ryan Paul Botts Chairman of the Board Executive Director 1 In fall of 1998, TWI co-founders Al Pyott the positive feedback, Bob ultimately endorsed TWI’s Hennepin & and Donald Hey attended a meeting of the Hopper Lakes Restoration Project—later dedicated as the Sue and Hennepin village board to present their vision Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge—and helped build local support for it. for a nature preserve along the Illinois River. Designated a Wetland of International Importance in 2012—one Bob Myers remembers the meeting well. of only 36 such sites in the United States—the Refuge continues to A member of the board then, he listened warily be restored and improved by TWI. Hemi-marsh restoration in 2013 to their proposal to purchase local land that led to record-breaking waterfowl counts during the fall migration Above: Bob Myers at the Dixon Refuge. was being drained to grow corn and soybeans and restore it to a and, in 2014, we’ll kick off the Oak Ridge project. This will include Far right: A Common Goldeneye over 2,700-acre mosaic of wetland and upland habitats. a 2.7-mile, low-impact hiking and biking trail that will open the Hennepin & Hopper Lakes. Bob did his homework after that meeting, talking to a range of Refuge’s interior to visitors for the first time, where we’ll restore a government officials and regional conservation groups to learn about 70-acre complex of globally imperiled oak savanna and other rare TWI. Like the methodical engineer he is, he did not want to take a habitats. A low viewing platform in the oak grove will overlook a stand on Al and Donald’s proposal until he had more facts. Based on pond that’s one of the best spots for observing migratory waterfowl at the Refuge. Bob is really excited about this new project. Now retired, he’s a Coots regular visitor to the Refuge and a TWI volunteer. For seven years American Coots—black and gray he even collected water samples every week to measure nitrogen levels as adults but multi-colored as to help us better understand the site’s hydrologic functioning—that is, chicks—are so abundant they hold the way that water moves through, and interacts with, the landscape. little interest for most birders. But “Some days when I’m feeling a little bit stressed, I’ll jump in the these underappreciated “aquatic pigeons” are actually an important pickup and come out here and just go on down to the boat ramp and indicator of the health of watery sit there and watch the world go by,” he said one day this past spring. ecosystems. Because they feed primarily on underwater plants, As a pair of Sandhill Cranes flew by he added, “I’m proud of what you their presence in large numbers is a sure sign of thriving aquatic guys have done here.” Of course, without people like Bob, what TWI’s vegetation in wetlands and lakes. In fall 2013, a record 46,000 coots visited the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge in a single day, feasting on sago done at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes would not have been possible. pondweed and other native plants in Hennepin & Hopper Lakes that have come back since TWI’s successful efforts to eradicate the invasive common carp. Stuckenia pectinata 2 Bob Myers on the DIXON REFUGE Mary Mitsos on MIDEWIN “I feel like I’m walking into my home office when I come to TWI,” 460-acre area of the South Left: Mary Mitsos with U.S. Forest Service ecologist remarked Mary Mitsos on a recent visit. An executive vice president Prairie Creek Outwash Plain in Bill Glass at Midewin. at the National Forest Foundation (NFF), Mary’s home office is in the southwest corner. There is a Far left: U.S. Army Missoula, Montana, but she spends much of the year traveling to huge amount of infrastructure munitions bunkers still the U.S. Forest Service sites supported by NFF, including Midewin still to be removed in this part of to be removed at Midewin. National Tallgrass Prairie near Joliet, Illinois, where TWI has been the floodplain, including 50 a restoration partner for 16 years. As tallgrass prairie, Midewin is bunkers used to store munitions unique within the federal Forest Service system and, at 20,000 acres, when the site was the Joliet Arsenal; the U.S. Army produced a it’s the largest piece of protected open space in the Chicago region. record-breaking 1 billion pounds of TNT there during World War II. Mary first got to know TWI when we submitted a proposal in These two current TWI projects are part of the restoration of 2009 to fund our Grant Creek restoration at Midewin. Since then, a 4,000-acre natural corridor along Midewin’s vast west side that under her watchful eye NFF has funded three more TWI restorations will provide visitors with a true sense of Illinois’ original prairie there undertaken in partnership with Forest Service staff. Mary also landscape—complete with bison. These “charismatic megafauna” led the NFF effort to bring together all the partners at Midewin to will be reintroduced at Midewin in 2014–15, thanks again to the create a shared 10-year vision for the preserve: Midewin is one of efforts of Mary and NFF. 14 Forest Service sites around the country that are part of NFF’s Treasured Landscapes campaign, each one carefully chosen based on conservation need and ecological value from a national perspective. Leafy Prairie-Clover Some funders become true partners, and for TWI that’s been A federally endangered species, leafy prairie-clover can the case with Mary and NFF. When Mary comes to town she can be found today at only a handful of sites in three states, be found at the TWI office poring over maps and restoration plans including Illinois. The thin soil over a dolomite substrate that characterizes much of Lobelia Meadows at Midewin is with our senior ecologist, Gary Sullivan, or walking through a the perfect prairie habitat for this now-rare flower, which restoration in progress at Midewin. In 2013, deep into the planting usually likes a wet spring and a dry summer. In 2013, of native species and removal of invasives at Lobelia Meadows in TWI staff and volunteers planted more than 1,000 leafy the northwest corner of Midewin, we also launched work on a prairie-clover seedlings at Lobelia Meadows and also sowed more than a quarter million seeds. Through methodical monitoring in the coming years we’ll be able to measure the progress of this native species and the many others reintroduced at the site. Dalea foliosa

5 The Big Bureau Creek is a 73-mile-long tributary of the Illinois 20 years, in 2006 she decided to return to Bureau County with her River. With 88% of its watershed in agriculture, it’s an ideal place just-retired husband. “Our lives completely changed in three weeks,” for TWI to demonstrate the impact of returning small wetlands to Pam recalls. Not ready to retire herself, she began to focus on local the farming landscape. Precisely sited “pocket” wetlands naturally water-quality issues, eventually becoming coordinator of a formal and efficiently remove nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff watershed planning process and then executive director of the before it flows into local waterways, without taking large amounts American Corn Growers Institute for Public Policy.

Above: Pam Horwitz hosts a poetry of farmland out of production. Widespread adoption of this Pam has taught TWI much about the balance between slam at the Four and Twenty Cafe. conservation practice would result in cleaner water not only conservation ideals and farming realities. “You’ve got to figure out Far right: Almost 90% of the locally but as far away as the Gulf of Mexico, where Illinois is the how your environmental goals can be a benefit to the rural economy,” Big Bureau Creek Watershed is used to grow crops. #1 contributor of the nutrient pollution that causes the “.” Pam would say over and over. While TWI is currently pursuing Born and raised in Bureau County, where seven generations partnerships with several farmers in the Big Bureau Creek Watershed of her family have lived, Pam Horwitz has been one of TWI’s key to implement wetlands that will demonstrate their potential, the partners in the watershed. After living and working in Chicago for ultimate goal of our project is to develop a water quality trading market whereby farmers will get paid for having wetlands on their property that reduce nutrient pollution. A market would be A Measurable Impact a win-win-win arrangement for farmers, municipalities, and the Small wetlands sited along drainage ditches environment, particularly as pressure grows to implement federal or streams have two important advantages standards to decrease nutrient levels in rivers and streams. over other farm-based conservation practices: In the meantime, Pam can now usually be found at the Not only are they the most effective at removing Four and Twenty Cafe on Main Street in Princeton, the Bureau nitrogen pollution from agricultural runoff, but the amount they remove can be precisely measured. County seat. She and her childhood friend Wanda Nelson opened Unlike other in-field practices like cover crops, the the “Midwest cafe” in 2012, where they serve breakfast and lunch benefits of which are difficult to quantify, nutrient levels can be easily measured daily and many evenings host local gatherings. One night it might be at the point where water flows into the wetland and again where it flows out. a county United Way fundraiser, another night a poetry slam with In between, wetland-adapted plants like bulrushes, cattails, and arrowhead the local public library. Talking to Pam you quickly realize her work slow down the water, allowing attached nutrients to settle, and they also provide a carbon source for bacteria that remove the nitrogen, so the water comes off is still all about supporting farmers and building community; there the farm cleaner. And it’s exactly because their impact is measurable that just happens to be a lot more pie involved these days. wetlands can be the basis for a water quality trading market.

Sagittaria latifolia 6 Pam Horwitz on the BIG BUREAU CREEK Gary Sullivan on SPRING BROOK With an invitation from the Forest Preserve District of DuPage watershed is upstream of the Left: A talented photographer, Gary Sullivan is usually behind County, TWI has designed a plan for restoring the stretch of Spring forest preserves?” Continuing the camera. Brook #1 that flows through St. James Farm and Blackwell forest runoff, reinvasion of non-native Far left: A pre-restoration test planting preserves in Warrenville, just west of Chicago. The plan includes species, and other stressors of wild celery in Spring Brook. re-meandering the brook; reintroducing native fish and mussels; and would always threaten any restoring the adjacent wetland and upland habitats. The first phase downstream improvements. of on-the-ground work—at St. James Farm—will begin in 2014. That question led to inviting the Naperville-based Conservation As TWI’s senior restoration ecologist, Gary Sullivan takes the Foundation to join the project; through its Conservation@Home lead on projects like this. He’s excited by the variety of habitats to be program, upstream landowners will learn to modify how they care restored at Spring Brook: While just under 250 acres, the restoration for their own property to improve the water quality of Spring Brook area contains no less than seven major habitats ranging from pond and help ensure the long-term success of the restoration. and stream, to marsh and meadow, to prairie, savanna, and forest. Building on this spirit of community collaboration, TWI will Gary didn’t start out wanting to be a restoration ecologist. Back develop a cadre of local volunteers and college interns to help with in 1995 when he completed his Ph.D. in plant ecology, he figured the actual restoration of some of the Spring Brook habitats. And he was heading for academia. But Gary had the good fortune to perhaps one day some of them will follow in Gary’s footsteps and get a post-doctoral position in San Diego studying coastal salt become restoration ecologists themselves. marshes with Dr. Joy Zedler, one of the scientists responsible for developing the theory and practice of wetland restoration ecology. Mussels “That’s when I realized I’d be happier using my pre-Ph.D. background in construction to rebuild broken ecosystems,” he remembers, Purple wartyback, monkeyface, heelsplitter. These are all species of freshwater mussels native to Illinois, and the “developing biologically diverse wetlands within the context of life cycle of these creatures is as unusual as their names. broader landscape restoration.” Female mussels incubate their fertilized eggs by the With TWI since 2001, Gary is widely known for his work at both thousands in special sections of their gills. Once hatched, the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, the tiny larvae latch onto particular fish species and hitch as well as his vivid photographs of their plant and animal life. In all a ride until they can survive on their own. Then they drop from their host and, if they’re lucky, land in a place suitable for their more sedentary adult the projects in which he is involved, he’s usually the first to think life. An important goal of the Spring Brook project is to return native mussels about the connection between humans and the landscape. At one of to the restored stream corridor to carry on their unique reproductive cycle the early planning meetings for Spring Brook, it was Gary who asked, and reverse their declining numbers. “How can this restoration ever be sustainable, given that most of the Vallisneria americana 9 Laurel Ross was working for the Nature Conservancy’s Illinois all the time recognizing that each organization will continue to have chapter when she and her colleagues hatched the idea for Chicago its own identity and projects. Wilderness 20 years ago, and since its official launch in 1996 she has Laurel remembers that when Paul Botts became TWI’s executive continuously played key roles in the organization. Laurel’s career director in 2011 she was “thrilled when he called up to ask how the eventually took her to the Field Museum, where her position as Wetlands Initiative could be more involved in .” urban conservation director dovetailed nicely with a term as the Like Laurel, Paul was a Nature Conservancy staffer when Chicago

Above: Laurel Ross on the Chicago Wilderness chair. Wilderness was launched and he understood how the alliance could Field Museum campus. Today an alliance of more than 300 organizations working to support TWI’s mission—and also how TWI’s particular expertise Far right: TWI’s Gary Sullivan at protect the region’s lands and waters, Chicago Wilderness is perhaps could inform restoration in a region once covered in wetlands. the Chicago Wilderness Congress with conservation colleagues. the fullest expression of metropolitan environmental collaboration While long an alliance member, TWI became active in Chicago anywhere in the United States—and a model that other cities Wilderness only in recent years. Paul now serves on its executive are replicating. Knitting together landowning public agencies, council and in 2013 TWI ecologist Iza Redlinski became co-chair of conservation groups, corporations, municipalities, and more, it its task force on climate change—an issue that is already affecting provides the opportunities and tools for member organizations to conservation and restoration practices in the region. TWI staff also create and work toward a common vision for regional conservation, regularly participate in conferences and other events organized by the alliance such as its biennial congress, which draws nearly a Chicago’s Diamond in the Rough thousand conservation practitioners. Like Laurel and others who are part of Chicago Wilderness, Surrounded by industrial facilities and rail yards, the here at TWI we recognize that people are an integral part of the Calumet area on Chicago’s Southeast Side is an unlikely place to find remnant marshes thought to contain landscape—in cities and on farms, on residential and commercial the highest biodiversity in the entire metropolitan property, in protected open spaces. As Laurel puts it, “In the work region. Hegewisch Marsh and Big Marsh—now owned of reviving degraded natural areas, especially in our great cities, by the Chicago Park District—once supported breeding humans have evolved from being the problem to being the solution. colonies of rare wetland birds like the state-endangered Black-crowned Night-Heron but are now severely degraded. Through Chicago Nature in the Chicago metropolitan area will thrive because of the Wilderness conversations, in 2013 the Park District invited TWI’s senior ecologist, stewardship of the millions of people who live here.” Gary Sullivan, to be a consultant on development of a plan to restore the marshes Of course, not everyone will be as actively engaged as the people and reestablish wetland functioning, while also opening these special sites for featured in our annual report this year—thank you, Bob, Mary, Pam, more people to experience. Gary, and Laurel—but there’s a conservation role just right for each Allium cernuum of us as we go about our daily lives. 10 Laurel Ross on COLLABORATION FINANCIALS

2013 Revenue Breakdown Statement of Activities 2013 2012 Revenue Program grants $392,751 $410,355 Contributions 386,864 540,137 Program fees 37,057 23,510 Individuals 49% Miscellaneous income 85,832 79,004 $902,504 $1,053,006 Foundations 28% Net assets released from restriction 427,474 412,833 Total revenue $1,329,978 $1,465,839 Expenses Corporations 16% Program $1,139,140 $1,350,610 Administration 122,615 118,328 Fundraising 139,297 135,450 Government 3% Total expenses $1,401,052 $1,604,388 Other 4% Decrease in unrestricted net assets $(71,074) $(138,549) Temporarily Restricted Net Assets Levee campaign $27,408 $78,112 Program grants 271,323 159,155 Net assets released from restriction (427,474) (412,833) 2013 Expense Breakdown Decrease in temporarily restricted net assets $(128,743) $(175,566) Decrease in Net Assets $(199,817) $(314,115) Net Assets at Beginning of Year 2,838,268 3,152,383 Net Assets at End of Year $2,638,451 $2,838,268 Statement of Financial Position 2013 2012 Program 81% Assets Cash, cash equivalents, and investments $643,869 $609,078 Grants receivable 155,862 146,480 Fundraising 10% Accounts receivable/pledges receivable 543,107 781,071 Long-term notes receivable 897,416 897,416 Prepaid expenses 14,941 12,523 Administration 9% Land and leasehold improvements 1,452,873 1,449,084 Equipment 189,541 187,705 Less—accumulated depreciation (248,091) (207,356) Total assets $3,649,518 $3,876,001 Liabilities and Net Assets Accounts payable $67,817 $61,201 Notes payable 899,932 921,368 Accrued expenses 34,985 46,831 Deferred revenue 8,333 8,333 Unrestricted funds 1,849,474 1,920,548 Temporarily restricted funds 788,977 917,720 Total liabilities and net assets $3,649,518 $3,876,001 12 DONORS Foundation Corporate $100,000 and above $5,000 to $9,999 Mackie Consultants, LLC Under $250 National Forest Foundation William and Wilma Dooley Harold M. and Adeline S. Morrison Cardno JFNew Government Foundation Family Foundation The Cass Family Fund $50,000 to $99,999 Dr. Scholl Foundation Nicor Gas Chicago Backpackers Grand Victoria Foundation Hamill Family Foundation Patagonia Chicago Magnificent Mile Clarks Fork Foundation Tellabs Foundation Marquis Energy, LLC Richards Family Foundation Delta Institute U.S. Forest Service The Siragusa Foundation Sheffield Foundation Gorman Foundation Stone Barrett Foundation Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP Hall Family Fund $25,000 to $49,999 Uline Susan R. and John W. Sullivan Meyer and Raena Hammerman Foundation Alliance Pipeline William Blair & Company Foundation Winnetka Garden Club Caesars Foundation Foundation Lake-Cook Chapter, Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Illinois Audubon Society Foundation $1,000 to $4,999 $500 to $999 Mississippi River Network The McKnight Foundation The Allyn Foundation, Inc. Associated Colleges of Illinois Wild Goose Chasers Negaunee Foundation Christopher B. Burke Carroll Family Foundation Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Engineering, Ltd. Clearwater Paper Matching Gifts Foundation S. Downey Fund Jocarno Fund Caterpillar Foundation Drive Current, Inc. Henry Pope Foundation Deutsche Bank $10,000 to $24,999 Ecolab Foundation Susman & Asher Foundation Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley The DuPage Community The Figge Foundation Arthur D. Turner Living Trust Foundation Foundation The Good Works Foundation Waste Management Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Dynegy Hennepin Power Station Heller Foundation, Inc. Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Full Circle Foundation Hinrichs Foundation $250 to $499 Foundation North American Power Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company/ Bridgeport Coffee Company and Gas Services, LLC A Wintrust Community Bank The CMB Foundation In-Kind Gifts David and Jean Stremmel Fund The Lawlor Foundation EarthShare Illinois Pasquesi Sheppard, LLC U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, LeFort-Martin Family Openlands North American Wetlands Donor-Advised Fund of Patagonia Footwear Conservation Act (NAWCA) The DuPage Community Foundation The Thorson Foundation The Loewenthal Fund

13 DONORS Individuals $100,000 and above $10,000 to $24,999 $1,000 to $2,499 $500 to $999 Anonymous (1) Bruce and Patty Becker Henry and Alice Barkhausen Roger and Julie Baskes Mrs. Molly Becker Steve and Ann Bartram Sheila and Bob Berner $25,000 to $99,999 Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Chandler Paul Botts and Heather McCowen Thomas and Dorothy Borders John and Emily Alexander Albert E. and Elizabeth Pyott Mrs. Walter F. Brissenden Robert Bradner Marion Searle Tom and Anne Rodhouse Galen and Birch Burghardt Denise and David Bunning Steve and Ann Ryan Mr. and Mrs. Edward K. Chandler Ann S. Carton Richard and Marietta Toft George Covington David and Liz Chandler Dick and Liz Uihlein Bob and Chie Curley Laurie Clemens Thomas E. Dore, Ph.D. William Cox $5,000 to $9,999 Samuel and Beatrice Ellis Pete and Alice Cruikshank Christopher and Susan Burke Wendy Freyer and Greg Beihl Arthur DuBois Lawrence R. Desideri Allen and Carolyn Grosboll Reed and Catherine Eberle Chris and Becky Hurley Pamela and Roger Hull Philip Enquist Christopher and Shawn Kerns David R. Hultgren and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fisher Withrow W. Meeker Christy Schisler Rick and Tracy Fox H. Safford and Elizabeth Peacock Mr. and Mrs. John Lillard Cindy and Mark Fuller Jim and Karen Truettner Mr. and Mrs. David Mabie Mrs. Charles C. Haffner III Clark and Joan Wagner David O. MacKenzie Nancy M. Hotchkiss Suzanne and Carl Yudell Elisabeth C. Meeker Michael L. Kelly Anonymous (2) Dr. and Mrs. John Plante John and Jenny Kinsella Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey R. Ramsay Mary E. Lane $2,500 to $4,999 Caroline and Peter Repenning Carolynn D. Loacker John K. Greene Nancy Schroeder Ben and Ravi Lumpkin Ohio spiderwort at Midewin. Diana and David Moore Stephen and Rebecca Schuster Barry MacLean Ken and Jossy Nebenzahl Mrs. William Searle Mark and Julie Maffei Charlie and Jackie Pick John and Susan Sentell Brent and Cathy Manning Michael B. Zeddies Jr. M. Jay Trees Matthew Mueller Bill and Denise Wozencraft Mr. and Mrs. David F. Myers Jr. Paul Zeller and Leslie Jones Frank Quinn and Craig Andree George B. Rabb

14 John and Mary Helen Slater Frances P. O’Connell Barbara E. Brown Rick and Laura Smith Jane and Charles Pak Mr. and Mrs. Jackson D. Brown Mark and Margaret Ann Stephan Ken Peterson Maury Brucker and Emiko Yang Hank and Sally Stone Neil and Ruth Ann Quinn Suellen Burns and Weston Morris Jim and Terry Taylor Dennis A. Reter Jim and Jane Carroll Suzanne L. Wagner Thomas Richie and Diane Pascal Donald and Ruth Clemens Mrs. Henry D. Wheeler John Rogner and Sue Elston Tom and Sarah Conrad Nicole S. Williams and Don and Katie Sackman John and Lauren Dixon Dr. Lawrence Becker Marion Y. Schmidt Penny Dunne Anonymous (1) Patricia and Richard H. Schnadig Marcia S. and W. Dow Edgerton Richard and Annette Schoenberger Rebecca Eisel $250 to $499 William and Laurel Shiel Michael and Kathleen Elliott Randolph C. and Lorraine L. Barba Bong and Jessica Shinn Mr. and Mrs. John H. Ellwood Mr. and Mrs. Philip D. Block III Mr. and Mrs. Michael Simpson Albert Ettinger and Susan Lannin Roger and Ann Cole Rodney E. Spangler II Joseph Cloud Faron Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Custer Sandy and Ro Thompson Michael Flynn A juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron at the Dixon Refuge. John V. Farwell and Laura and David Urban Mr. and Mrs. James L. Foorman Elisabeth Farwell Curt and Donna Voges Alan and Katie Fox Thomas E. Keim Lewis Freyer Mr. and Mrs. David Whitmore Bruce and Sue Gottschall Connie and Dennis Keller Bill and Maureen Glass James P. Wilkin Nan and Wally Greenough Mr. and Mrs. William J. Kirby Mr. and Mrs. James J. Glasser Stanley Yates Rudolf Habben Linda M. Kurtz Ted and Mirja Haffner Mr. and Mrs. William Yurek Jim Hampson Penfield S. Lanphier Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Heinrich Pete and Jean Henderson Bud Leone John Hutchins $100 to $249 Natalie Holden Ronald H. Leopold Terry and Barbara Judd Greg and Rose Alberts Stewart S. Hudnut Luigi H. Mumford Bob and Elizabeth Lind Brittany Bailey Samuel and Celia Hunt Earl and Jeanne Naue John McCrosky and Bill and Ann Baker Deborah Walens Datuk Robert F. Inger and Nancy Nazarian Jim Ballowe and Ruth Ganchiff Datin Tan Fui Lian Jack and Anne Merriman Daniel R. Needham Kevin Bell James and Katherine Janis Cicely and Bob Michalak Tim and Mary Nelson Melvin Boule Anthony and Amy Jones John and Naomi Morris Gary and Angela Nourse Mr. and Mrs. William Breen Rick and Beth Jones David and Christine Murdoch Peter Osten Thomas Karras

15 Brian Smith Kevin and Erin Coleman John and Cindy McKee Marshall Sorkin and Jim and Madison Considine Byron and Laura Menides Joanne Kalnitz Margaret K. Crane Martha Meyer and Rick Kinnebrew Wade Spang and Cyndi Bowman Laura Crowder Rick and Joanne Miller Vicky Sroczynski Dave and Diana Deutsch Deanna and Jim Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. Gary C. Stephans Arthur Diers Nancy Mores Douglas and Francie Stotz Joe Dolcini Mary O’Connell Mr. and Mrs. C. Bradley Tips Timothy Estberg Pat Pappas Gretchen Vacendak Diane Fite Craig and Karen Paulson Clark D. and Andrea Wagner Sara C. Foster Jerry Paulson Mark and Betsy Westhoff Jim Genden and Alma Koppedraijer Kurt and Joan Peterson Harvesting native seed at Midewin. Robert and Patricia Wheeler Barbara Gewirtz Nancy Reichen China Ibsen Oughton Agnes Wojnarski John Gschwind Bill and Mary Schubert Mr. and Mrs. John S. Palmer Mr. and Mrs. Alain Wood-Prince Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gunn Susan and Charles Shabica Arthur Pearson William Yacktman Lisa Haskin Eleanor and William Shunas Kassia Perpich Chester and Diane Zarnicki Bob and Alice Henry Jay and Karen Siegman Tom Pick Anonymous (1) Mary and Brian Hickey Mary Ann Smith Thomas and Loretta Power Jim and Wanda Hollensteiner Ryhan Sullivan Mrs. G. Princen Under $100 Pat Hollingsworth Brad B. Suster James Pumo Veronica Anderton April Hyder Cathy and Thomas Taylor Mike Quine James and Susan Armstrong Ruby Jung and Stephen Alvin John and Mary Tilson Harry Richter Steve Barratt Ann Kaizerman William and Cassie Wagner Mark and Kay Riley Mr. and Mrs. John W. Barriger Patricia Kent George and Francine Wancata Dana and Sue Rose James Borchardt Jill Kostel David Ward Mark and Debbie Saran Beth Botts Jean S. Lawton Mrs. Hempstead Washburne John P. Schreiner Jr. Jeff Bowen Vera Leopold and David Miller Bill Watson Harold O. Schulz Denise Burr Thomas V. Lerczak John Watson Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Robert and Pamela Byrne John and Diane Marlin Paul West Sheffield Jr. Robert Chambers Laurel and Henry Maze Cathleen Wolff Dave and Lynne Shindoll Jie-Qi Chen Deb McCormick Anonymous (2) Art Coleman

16 TRIBUTE GIFTS

In honor of Kelly Arcaro, In honor of Sue and Wes Dixon’s In honor of Becky Hurley In honor of Clark L. Wagner Noel Rolle, and Jan Winters 60th wedding anniversary Nan and Wally Greenough Alan and Katie Fox Wild Goose Chasers Ben Dixon Jim and Wanda Hollensteiner Julia Dixon In honor of John Raffensperger Clark D. and Andrea Wagner In memory of Myron “Mike” Clemens Strawn Dixon Harry Richter Brittany Bailey Thomas Dixon In honor of Suzanne L. Wagner Donald and Ruth Clemens Wes Dixon In honor of Steve Ryan Roger and Julie Baskes Laurie Clemens Wil Dixon Mr. and Mrs. Gary C. Stephans James and Katherine Janis Libby Thompson Gary and Angela Nourse Stewart Thompson In honor of Stephen and Craig and Karen Paulson Timmy Thompson Rebecca Schuster Rick and Laura Smith In honor of Sue Dixon In honor of the Eisel family Carolynn D. Loacker Rebecca Eisel In Memory of Wes Dixon In honor of Sue and Wes Dixon In honor of M. “Doc” Hall TWI’s longtime supporter and friend Wes Dixon died on Mrs. William Searle Thomas Karras January 17, 2014, at age 86. Together with his wife, Sue, Wes had been a major donor since the organization’s In honor of Scott Hill beginning in 1994. Their generous and enthusiastic support April Hyder for our Hennepin & Hopper Lakes Restoration Project led to the site’s dedication in 2005 as the Sue and Wes Dixon Waterfowl In memory of Irma Hummell Refuge, and was instrumental in transforming the site into the Diane Fite natural treasure it is today. In addition to his career with G.D. Searle & Company, Wes was a passionate philanthropist involved with many non-profit institutions, including Lake Forest College, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, and more. Wes speaking at the dedication Wes had the chance to visit the Refuge one last time in of the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge November of 2013 during the exceptional fall migration. With in 2005. Sue and their friend Dave Moore, he surveyed the site by helicopter, circling over Hennepin & Hopper Lakes as they teemed with ducks, geese, and other waterfowl.

17 SEEP BOARDWALK CAMPAIGN The Dixon Refuge Greg and Rose Alberts Marcia S. and W. Dow Edgerton Peter Osten Veronica Anderton Timothy Estberg Jerry Paulson Jim Ballowe and Ruth Ganchiff Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fisher Kurt and Joan Peterson Beth Botts Diane Fite Mike Quine Robert Chambers Michael Flynn Dana and Sue Rose Jie-Qi Chen Jim Genden and Alma Koppedraijer Bill and Mary Schubert Art Coleman Barbara Gewirtz Stephen and Rebecca Schuster Kevin and Erin Coleman Lisa Haskin Jay and Karen Siegman Dave and Diana Deutsch Pat Hollingsworth Mary Ann Smith Work began during the winter to Joe Dolcini Anthony and Amy Jones Vicky Sroczynski extend the seep boardwalk. Ruby Jung and Stephen Alvin Jean Stremmel Ann Kaizerman Ryhan Sullivan Jill Kostel Cathy and Thomas Taylor Linda M. Kurtz Gretchen Vacendak Bud Leone William and Cassie Wagner David O. MacKenzie George and Francine Wancata Laurel and Henry Maze David Ward John McCrosky and Deborah Walens Bill Watson John and Cindy McKee John Watson Martha Meyer and Rick Kinnebrew Paul West Rick and Joanne Miller Agnes Wojnarski Nancy Nazarian Cathleen Wolff Mary O’Connell

All donations to the Seep Boardwalk Campaign were generously matched by Marquis Energy, LLC

The new boardwalk takes visitors deeper into the rare seep habitat and even includes a scenic place to rest along the way.

18 ANNUAL BENEFIT October 9, 2013 Event Sponsors Silent Auction Donors River Sponsor Audubon Nature Institute Uline Chicago Botanic Garden City Cycling Tours Creek Sponsors The Covington Inn Christopher B. Burke DeSoto House Hotel Engineering, Ltd. Friends of the Chicago River Lake Forest Bank & Trust Galena Birding Company/A Wintrust Gale Street Inn Community Bank Genesis Growers Mackie Consultants, LLC The Gift Theatre Company Brook Sponsors Hotel Felix Chicago Nicor Gas Lyric Opera of Chicago Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP Madison Hotel Mississippi River Corridor– Tennessee A juvenile gray tree frog at the Dixon Refuge. Hotel Sponsor Mississippi River Fund Hotel Felix Chicago Omni Chicago Hotel Omni Majestic Hotel Omni Royal Orleans Patagonia Chicago Magnificent Mile Prairie Grass Cafe Quapaw Canoe Company Douglas Stotz Suzanne L. Wagner Wolf River Conservancy

19 TWI BoardTWI of Board Directors of Directors TWI StaffTWI Staff (as of December(as of December31, 2013) 31, 2013) (as of December(as of December31, 2013) 31, 2013) TWI Board of Directors TWI Staff Steven M.Steven Ryan M.(as Ryan of December 31, 2013) Paul BottsPaul Botts(as of December 31, 2013) Annual ReportAnnual Credits Report Credits ChairmanChairman Executive ExecutiveDirector Director Design Design Steven M. Ryan Paul Botts Lisa Haskin Lisa HaskinAnnual Report Credits Edward K.Edward Chandler K. Chandler Mark BognerMark Bogner Chairman Executive Director Printing Design Co-Vice ChairmanCo-Vice Chairman Assistant SiteAssistant Manager, Site Manager, Printing Yorke Printe Shoppe Lisa Haskin Christopher Kerns Edward K. Chandler Dixon WaterfowlDixon Waterfowl RefugeMark Bogner Refuge Yorke Printe Shoppe Christopher Kerns Text Printing Co-Vice Chairman Co-Vice Chairman Marcia S. EdgertonAssistant Site Manager, Text Co-Vice Chairman Marcia S. Edgerton Suzanne L. Wagner/TWIYorke Printe Shoppe Christopher Kerns Administrative AssistantDixon Waterfowl Refuge Suzanne L. Wagner/TWI Carl R. YudellCarl R. Yudell Administrative Assistant Text Co-Vice Chairman Marcia S. Edgerton PhotographyPhotography Secretary & Treasurer Trevor D. Edmonson Suzanne L. Wagner/TWI Secretary & Treasurer Trevor D. Edmonson Dick Biggins/U.S.Dick Biggins/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Fish andService—page Wildlife Service—page 9 (bottom) 9 (bottom) Carl R. Yudell Restoration SpecialistAdministrative Assistant Bruce M. BeckerBruce M. Becker Restoration Specialist Michelle Cordrey—pageMichelle PhotographyCordrey—page 9 (top) 9 (top) Secretary & Treasurer Jill A. Kostel, Ph.D.Trevor D. Edmonson The Field Museum—pageDick 10 Biggins/U.S. (top) Fish and Wildlife Service—page 9 (bottom) Paul BottsPaul (ex Bottsofficio) (ex officio) Jill A. Kostel, Ph.D. The Field Museum—page 10 (top) Bruce M. Becker Senior EnvironmentalRestoration Engineer Specialist Ray A. Foote/National ForestMichelle Foundation—page Cordrey—page 95 (top)(top) Christopher B. Burke, Ph.D. Senior Environmental Engineer Ray A. Foote/National Forest Foundation—page 5 (top) Christopher B. Burke, Ph.D. Jill A. Kostel, Ph.D. Bill Glass/U.S. Forest Service—pageThe Field Museum—page5 (bottom) 10 (top) Paul Botts (ex officio) Vera LeopoldVera Leopold Bill Glass/U.S. Forest Service—page 5 (bottom) George M.George Covington M. Covington Senior Environmental Engineer iStock—page 7 Ray A. Foote/National Forest Foundation—page 5 (top) Christopher B. Burke, Ph.D.Grants Manager/DevelopmentGrants Manager/Development Associate Associate iStock—page 7 Wendy FreyerWendy Freyer Vera Leopold Jill A. Kostel/TWI—pageBill 16 Glass/U.S. Forest Service—page 5 (bottom) George M. Covington Jim Monchak Jill A. Kostel/TWI—page 16 Jim Monchak Vera Leopold/TWI—frontiStock—page cover, page 711 Allen D. GrosbollAllen D. Grosboll Senior GIS Analyst Grants Manager/Development Associate Vera Leopold/TWI—front cover, page 11 Wendy Freyer Senior GIS Analyst Ron McCutchan/The PrincetonJill A. Kostel/TWI—page Public Library—page 16 6 (top) Becky BairBecky Hurley Bair Hurley Jim Monchak Ron McCutchan/The Princeton Public Library—page 6 (top) Allen D. Grosboll Izabella RedlinskiIzabella Redlinski Iza Redlinski/TWI—insideVera front Leopold/TWI—front cover, pages 8, 14, cover, 18 (right) page 11 Mark D. Maffei, Ph.D. Senior GIS Analyst Iza Redlinski/TWI—inside front cover, pages 8, 14, 18 (right) Mark D. Maffei, Ph.D. RestorationRestoration Ecologist Ecologist Gary Sullivan/TWI—pagesRon 2 McCutchan/The (top and bottom), Princeton 3, 4, 10 (bottom), Public Library—page 15, 18 (left), 619 (top) Becky Bair Hurley Izabella Redlinski Gary Sullivan/TWI—pages 2 (top and bottom), 3, 4, 10 (bottom), 15, 18 (left), 19 Brent ManningBrent Manning Sue Rose Dick Todd—inside back Izacover Redlinski/TWI—inside front cover, pages 8, 14, 18 (right) Mark D. Maffei, Ph.D. Sue Rose Dick Todd—inside back cover Finance & OperationsRestoration Manager Ecologist Gary Sullivan/TWI—pages 2 (top and bottom), 3, 4, 10 (bottom), 15, 18 (left), 19 Charles T.Charles Pick T. Pick Finance & Operations Manager Douglas Walker—pageDouglas Walker—page 17 17 Brent Manning Sue Rose Franz Wohlgezogen—pageDick 6 Todd—inside(bottom) back cover Albert E. PyottAlbert E. Pyott Rick SeibertRick Seibert Franz Wohlgezogen—page 6 (bottom) Charles T. Pick Site Manager, DixonFinance Waterfowl & Operations Refuge Manager Douglas Walker—page 17 Thomas I. Rodhouse Site Manager, Dixon Waterfowl Refuge Botanical illustrationsBotanical illustrations Thomas I. Rodhouse Franz Wohlgezogen—page 6 (bottom) Albert E. Pyott Gary Sullivan, Ph.D.Rick Seibert Adapted fromAdapted the USDA-NRCS from the USDA-NRCS Plants Database; Plants originally Database; published originally in published in John W. Sentell Gary Sullivan, Ph.D. N. L. Britton and A. Brown, An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada John W. Sentell Site Manager, Dixon Waterfowl Refuge N. L. BrittonBotanical and A. illustrations Brown, An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada Thomas I. Rodhouse Senior Restoration Ecologist & the British Possessions, 3 volumes (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1913). Douglas F. Stotz, Ph.D. Senior Restoration Ecologist & the BritishAdapted Possessions from, 3 volumesthe USDA-NRCS (New York: Plants Charles Database; Scribner’s originally Sons, published1913). in Douglas F. Stotz, Ph.D. Gary Sullivan, Ph.D. John W. Sentell Suzanne L. Wagner N. L. Britton and A. Brown, An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada Richard P. Toft Suzanne L. Wagner Richard P. Toft Director of DevelopmentSenior Restoration Ecologist & the British Possessions, 3 volumes (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1913). Douglas F. Stotz, Ph.D. Director of Development This annual report is printed on Mohawk Options paper, & Communications Suzanne L. Wagner This annual report is printed on Mohawk Options paper, Richard P. Toft & Communications which is FSCwhich certified. is FSC FSC certified. certification FSC certificationensures ensures Paul F. (Pete) Cruikshank, Jr., emeritus Director of Development responsible use of forest resources. Paul F. (Pete) Cruikshank, Jr., emeritus responsible Thisuse of annual forest reportresources. is printed on Mohawk Options paper, Richard T. Schroeder, emeritus & Communications which is FSC certified. FSC certification ensures Richard T. Schroeder, emeritus Copyright © 2014 by the Wetlands Initiative Paul F. (Pete) Cruikshank, Jr., emeritus Copyright © 2014 by theresponsible Wetlands Initiativeuse of forest resources. Clark L. Wagner,Clark L. emeritus Wagner, emeritus Richard T. Schroeder, emeritus Copyright © 2014 by the Wetlands Initiative emeritus 20 20 Clark L. Wagner,

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