For clarification, it was the University of Illinois Chicago civil engineering faculty and graduate students who performed the research measuring the effectiveness of the Smart Wetlands to remove nitrate.
Smart Wetlands featured in national publication
When it comes to keeping pollutants out of Illinois rivers and creeks, farmers and their advisors rarely align with water scientists and water quality improvement advocates on solutions to reduce excess nutrients flowing from cropland. However, it turns out that Smart Wetlands are one solution they can all support.
Fluddles is Free!
“FLUDDLES” is now free to watch from any device on Vimeo. Until now, it had only been available via in-person showings or for a fee.
“FLUDDLES chronicles the wildlife of agricultural wetlands of Illinois. Sometimes simply described as “big puddles,” fluddles appear in the spring and fall and provide habitat and forage for a diversity of waterfowl and shorebird species,” says Bob Dolgan, founder of Turnstone Strategies. Turnstone Strategies recently produced two Illinois-based films, Monty and Rose and The Magic Stump. The Wetlands Initiative co-sponsored the production.
You can click the button below to watch, or you can share this link with others: https://vimeo.com/1043788682
FLUDDLES: A look at the beauty and benefits of temporary wetlands
The Wetlands Initiative is proud to support FLUDDLES, which premieres on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, at 7 pm in the 127F Lecture Recital Hall on the Illinois Central College East Peoria Campus. There will be a panel discussion following the screening, and attendees will be able to talk with some of those featured in the movie.
“FLUDDLES chronicles the wildlife of agricultural wetlands of Illinois. Sometimes simply described as “big puddles,” fluddles appear in the spring and fall and provide habitat and forage for a diversity of waterfowl and shorebird species,” says Bob Dolgan, founder of Turnstone Strategies. Turnstone Strategies recently produced two Illinois-based films, Monty and Rose and The Magic Stump.
“FLUDDLES takes viewers on a journey to these secret, oft-fleeting wildernesses at a time when Illinois has lost 90% of its original wetlands. It features those who enjoy the beauty of wetlands while showcasing the movement underway to construct more wetlands, which provide critical habitat, reduce flooding and erosion, and help to ensure healthier waterways,” says Dolgan.
The slightly depressed area near the creek in the upper right of the photo has been restored so a fluddle can form in the spring and fall. Fluddles are places where migrating waterfowl and shorebirds can gather to rest and feed on their journeys. A Smart Wetland sits to the left of the creek and provides a similar habitat for migrating birds.
The Wetlands Initiative (TWI) is proud to be a sponsor of this movie. It will have representatives at the event, including Wes and Andie Lehman, whose wetlands are featured in the movie, including one tile-treatment wetland designed and constructed by TWI. “Similar to the fluddles, our tile-treatment wetlands are small farm-based wetlands. While they are designed to capture and improve the quality of water leaving the farm, these wetlands are full of native plants that provide habitat, food, and structure for waterfowl and birds,” said Dr. Jill Kostel, TWI’s senior environmental engineer.
The film includes interviews with Wes and the Wetlands Initiative’s executive director, Paul Botts. In addition, representatives from two of TWI’s Smart Wetland partners, Ducks Unlimited and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Two more viewings are scheduled, one at McHenry County College on Nov. 28, 2023 and the other in Decatur on Dec. 9, 2023. TWI is also working to arrange a screening in the Chicago metro area. We’ll share the details when available.
If you want a sneak peek at the movie, a trailer and a movie excerpt are available. You can learn more about the FLUDDLES at https://www.turnstoneimpact.com/fluddles.html.
A Wildly Beneficial Wetland Field Day for Hunters at Feather Prairie Farm
Hunters, hunting dog trainers, and landowners who want hunting areas are invited to a special event at Feather Prairie Farms near Dwight, IL, on Thursday, September 14, 2023, from 2–6 pm.
Just one year ago, the Land Improvement Contractors Association restored a 0.58-acre wetland scrape and built a 2.01-acre wetland for treating tile drainage at the 12.3-acre project on Feather Prairie Farm. The Wetlands Initiative's Smart Wetland Program and the US Fish & Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provided the design and covered the construction costs. In addition, Illinois Pheasants Forever planted a short and tall grass native habitat to attract wildlife and pollinators to the area.
In addition to touring the tile treatment and restored wetlands, visitors can watch a hunting dog training demonstration and hear two expert researchers speak about upland birds, waterfowl, and wetland management.
Event Agenda
2-5 pm — Self-guided tours of the on-site constructed and restored wetlands
2-5 pm — Visit with exhibitors
3 pm — Bird Conservation in Illinois and Beyond, Dr. Michael Ward, professor and researcher, Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
4 pm – Waterfowl, Wetland Birds, and Management Practices that Attract Them, Dr. Auriel Fournier, Director of the Illinois Natural History Survey's Forbes Biological Station
5 pm – Dinner, sponsored by Springfield Plastics, Inc.
5:30 pm -- Hunting Dog Training demonstration, Dan Ihrke, owner and hunting dog trainer at Green Acres Sportsman's Club
Please RSVP at this link so we have enough food and space for attendees to join us for dinner. Driving directions and the latest details on the event can be found at https://www.smartwetlands.farm/smartwetland6.
The Wetlands Initiative is sponsoring the event with support from the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association (ILICA), US Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever, Feather Prairie Farm, Ducks Unlimited and Springfield Plastics, Inc.