This wetland was created by IDOT in 2000 near Orangeville, Illinois.
 

Background

The Natural Resources Unit within the Environment Section ensures departmental compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Illinois Interagency Wetland Policy Act of 1989 (IWPA).  Compliance includes the identification and delineation of jurisdictional wetlands.  Jurisdictional wetland determinations are made according to the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. 

The Wetlands Group within the Illinois Natural History Survey performs this work under a statewide contract with the IDOT.  Under the CWA and IWPA, the IDOT must demonstrate that all measures were taken to first avoid and then minimize impacts to wetlands to the fullest extent practicable.  Unavoidable impacts are mitigated by way of wetland compensation through either restoration or creation of wetlands.  Methods used by the IDOT to restore or create wetlands follow the Illinois Wetland Restoration and Creation Guide. In addition to the INHS Wetlands Group the Wetlands Geology Section at the Illinois State Geological Survey provides technical assistance to the IDOT in locating, evaluating and monitoring compensatory wetlands.  All IDOT wetland compensation plans include a commitment to monitor planned wetlands for attainment of performance standards.  Below are electronic copies of monitoring reports for active and inactive wetland compensation efforts throughout the state.  Departmental procedures for ensuring compliance with the CWA and IWPA are detailed in the IDOT Wetlands Action Plan, Bureau of Design and Environment Manual, Chapter 22 [section 22-4.05 (b), 22-5.05] and, located at the end of the BDE Manual, in Procedure Memorandum 33-03.

•  IDOT Wetland Compensation Sites

Wetland Mitigation Bank Sites

The IDOT has also established two wetland mitigation bank sites, including the 830-acre Morris site located in north-central Grundy County and the 1640-acre the La Grange site located in extreme northeastern Brown County.  At these sites, wetlands will be restored in advance of unavoidable losses from highway projects.  Impacts within the bank’s approved service area may be mitigated at the bank.  Instruments for both bank sites were prepared in accordance with the Federal Guidance for the Establishment, Use and Operation of Mitigation Banks. 

This heron rookery is located at the Morris Wetland Mitigation Bank Site in Grundy County.
 

The proposed 105-acre Sugar Camp Creek wetland mitigation bank site is located in central Franklin County.  An instrument has been prepared for this site and will be coordinated with the Mitigation Bank Review Team late 2006 or early 2007.  Below are electronic copies of monitoring reports and instruments for the IDOT bank sites.

• IDOT Wetland Mitigation Bank Sites