2023-09-29T12:10:13-05:00 2022-12-31 362996439 WSDD CPAS LTD 303 W MADISON ST SUITE 2075 CHICAGO IL 606063395 990 2022-01-01 363942451 THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE WETL 3129220777 53 W JACKSON BLVD 1015 CHICAGO IL 606043658 PAUL BOTTS PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 3129220777 2023-09-22 1 PAUL BOTTS 999009999 0 ROBERT REHAYEM P00075874 3123326622 2023-09-22 2 AAL1 IAL1 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z PAUL BOTTS 53 W JACKSON BLVD 1015 CHICAGO IL 606043658 5174410 0 X WWW.WETLANDS-INITIATIVE.ORG X 1994 IL TO RESTORE THE WETLAND RESOURCES OF THE MIDWEST. 23 22 29 55 0 0 2881408 4865011 3378 4834 -28 35483 49640 50000 2934398 4955328 0 0 0 0 1339447 1447603 0 0 309381 1009238 1343723 2348685 2791326 585713 2164002 10732259 13019424 778686 894827 9953573 12124597 X TO RESTORE THE WETLAND RESOURCES OF THE MIDWEST TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, INCREASE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITY, AND REDUCE FLOOD DAMAGE. THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE SEEKS TO CONDUCT AND SUPPORT HIGH-QUALITY RESTORATION PROJECTS THOUGH DIRECT, ON-THE-GROUND WORK AND BY FORMING LARGER PARTNERSHIPS TO DEMONSTRATE INNOVATIVE WAYS TO FINANCE LARGE-SCALE WETLAND RESTORATION, SUCH AS WATER QUALITY TRADING MARKETS WITH A FOCUS ON SCIENCE-BASED, ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS AND COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH PUBLIC AGENCIES, THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL IS TO DEVELOP RESTORATION METHODS AND MODELS THAT OTHERS MAY COPY. 0 0 1917738 4834 ON-THE-GROUND RESTORATION - OVER 2022, THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE'S ON-THE-GROUND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION WORK CONTINUED TO GROW ACROSS BOTH RURAL AND URBAN SETTINGS. AT THE 3,000-ACRE SUE AND WES DIXON WATERFOWL REFUGE IN NORTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS, A DESIGNATED RAMSAR WETLAND OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE, TWI BEGAN THE SECOND YEAR OF INTENSIVE RESTORATION OF NATIVE PRAIRIE, WET MEADOW, AND WOODLAND HABITATS ON THE 292-ACRE VIOLET MEADOW TRACT LOCATED IN THE SITE'S NORTHEASTERN CORNER. A LOW-IMPACT HIKING TRAIL, TO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN 2023, WILL LEAD VISITORS THROUGH VIOLET MEADOW'S VARIED HABITATS AND CULMINATE IN A LOW BIRDING PLATFORM WITH VIEWS OVER THE RESTORED MARSH. AS IN-PERSON EVENTS AGAIN BECAME FEASIBLE, 2022 SAW AN EXPANSION IN VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES THAT TWI OFFERED AT THE REFUGE, INCLUDING A SPECIAL POLLINATOR BIOBLITZ DURING WHICH EXPERT ENTOMOLOGISTS AND CITIZEN SCIENTISTS FOUND MORE THAN 270 TYPES OF INSECT POLLINATORS, HELPING TO CATALOGUE THE REFUGE'S BIODIVERSITY. FINALLY, IN 2022 TWI ECOLOGISTS COMPLETED A 10-YEAR CASE STUDY ANALYZING DIFFERENCES IN THE REFUGE'S RESTORED WET AND MESIC PRAIRIE PLANT COMMUNITIES BETWEEN 2008 AND 2018, WHICH FOUND SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN NATIVE SPECIES RICHNESS AND THE MEAN NATIVE FLORISTIC QUALITY INDEX (FQI) OVER THE DECADE. AT MIDEWIN NATIONAL TALLGRASS PRAIRIE IN WILL COUNTY, THE LARGEST PROTECTED OPEN SPACE IN THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN REGION AND THE NATION'S FIRST NATIONAL TALLGRASS PRAIRIE, TWI COMPLETED THE SIXTH YEAR OF A MASSIVE SEVEN-YEAR RESTORATION PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION AND THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE. IN 2022, ON-THE-GROUND INVASIVE MANAGEMENT, NATIVE PLANTING, AND REMOVAL OF MAN-MADE INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANDED TO THE PROJECT'S FULL 1,960 ACRES ON MIDEWIN'S WEST SIDE. ULTIMATELY, THIS VAST CONTIGUOUS AREA WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO A HIGH-QUALITY, NATIVE PRAIRIE AND WETLAND LANDSCAPE AT THIS FORMER ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT. FINALLY, IN 2022 TWI EXPANDED ITS COLLABORATIVE WORK TO RESTORE HEALTHY HEMI-MARSH FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE ACROSS THE CALUMET REGION ON CHICAGO'S SOUTHEAST SIDE AND IN NORTHWEST INDIANA. THESE EFFORTS OFFER A REPLICABLE MODEL FOR HOW URBAN WETLAND RESTORATION CHALLENGES IN THE HEAVILY INDUSTRIALIZED REGION CAN BE OVERCOME. PRIMARY PROJECTS INCLUDED: 1. AT INDIAN RIDGE MARSH (IRM) NORTH IN CHICAGO, FIELD CREWS FROM TWI, THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT, AND AUDUBON GREAT LAKES COORDINATED TO REESTABLISH NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES ACROSS 87.5 ACRES. MEANWHILE, TWI AND ITS PARTNERS DEVELOPED A NEXT PROJECT PHASE THAT WILL BUILD ON THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SHORELINE MODIFICATION WORK COMPLETED IN 2021 TO REESTABLISH A GRADUAL HABITAT TRANSITION ZONE DOWN TO THE MARSH. 2. AT DEADSTICK POND, A DEGRADED BUT HIGH-POTENTIAL 55-ACRE WETLAND NEAR IRM, TWI APPLIED ITS ENGINEERING AND WETLANDS EXPERTISE TO DESIGN HYDROLOGIC IMPROVEMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AUDUBON GREAT LAKES. 3. ALONG THE WEST BRANCH OF THE LITTLE CALUMET RIVER FLOODPLAIN CORRIDOR IN NORTHWEST INDIANA, TWI AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE LITTLE CALUMET CONSERVATION COLLABORATIVE COMPLETED INVASIVE MANAGEMENT TO IMPROVE THREE HIGH-PRIORITY PARCELS, MADE IMPORTANT PROGRESS ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, AND DEVELOPED TWO GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WITH THE CITY OF GARY THAT WILL LINK THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE BROADER EFFORT. 344685 INNOVATION OF NEW STRATEGIES - OVER 2022, TWI'S LANDOWNER OUTREACH AND ON-THE-GROUND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ADVANCE THE USE OF CONSTRUCTED TILE-TREATMENT WETLANDS TO REDUCE NUTRIENT RUNOFF EXPANDED IN SIX AGRICULTURAL COUNTIES IN NORTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS. PROJECT STAFF DEVELOPED NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH DUCKS UNLIMITED AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE'S PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE (PFW) PROGRAM IN ILLINOIS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO UNITE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GOALS WITH CREATING MORE WILDLIFE HABITAT ON MARGINAL FARM GROUND. THE NEW COLLABORATIONS HAD THEIR FIRST SUCCESS IN AUGUST 2022 WHEN A LANDOWNER IN LIVINGSTON COUNTY INSTALLED A DUAL WETLAND SYSTEM ON THEIR PROPERTY USING A HYBRID DESIGN THAT WILL PROVIDE BOTH WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND BENEFITS FOR WATERFOWL, WILDLIFE, AND POLLINATORS. DURING THE WETLAND INSTALLATION TWI AND PARTNERS CO-HOSTED THREE DIFFERENT WELL-ATTENDED PUBLIC EXPOS TO RAISE AWARENESS WITH AG AUDIENCES. AT THE SAME TIME, SMART WETLANDS PROJECT STAFF BUILT OUT MULTIMODAL FORMS OF COMMUNICATION IN 2022 TO FURTHER SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT ON-FARM WETLANDS TO REDUCE NUTRIENT LOSS, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA, A BLOG SERIES, AND VIDEOS.THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE IS ALSO INCREASINGLY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING ITS WORK WITH A FOCUS ON THE POWERFUL ROLE THAT WETLAND RESTORATION CAN PLAY IN ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIETAL ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE. THE MIDWEST'S CLIMATE IS ALREADY SHIFTING STEADILY TOWARDS MORE-INTENSE RAINFALL EVENTS, LONGER DRY SPELLS, AND IRREGULAR SEASONAL PRECIPITATION PATTERNS. RESTORED FRESHWATER WETLANDS PROVIDE RESILIENCE FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES THAT INCLUDE STORING PRECIPITATION AND RUNOFF, MITIGATING LOCAL FLOOD RISKS, RECHARGING GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES DURING DROUGHTS, FILTERING AND PROCESSING NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTANTS, AND PROVIDING HABITAT REFUGES FOR DIVERSE SPECIES, AS WELL AS SEQUESTERING SOME ATMOSPHERIC CARBON IN HIGHLY ORGANIC SOILS. 2262423 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 29 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 X 23 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 IL X X PAUL BOTTS 3129220777 53 W JACKSON BLVD CHICAGO IL 60604 CAROLINE REPENNING CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 CHARLES T PICK VICE-CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 PAUL R BOTTS PRESIDENT 37.50 X X 134036 0 2000 BRUCE M BECKER SECRETARY & TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 CHRISTOPHER B BURKE PHD DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 EDWARD K CHANDLER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 THOMAS J CONRAD DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 GEORGE M COVINGTON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 WILLIAM F DOOLEY DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 WENDY FREYER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANNE GARDNER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 BYRON GOULDING DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ALLEN D GROSBOLL DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERT HUTCHINSON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 LINDA M KURTZ DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARK D MAFFEI PHD DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN W ROBINSON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 STEVEN M RYAN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 REBECCAH A SANDERS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 CHINMAY SOMAN PHD DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 DOUGLAS F STOTZ PHD DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 CARL R YUDELL DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL B ZEDDIES JR DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 134036 0 2000 1 0 0 0 0 668921 4196090 961406 4865011 MISCELLANEOUS 541900 4834 4834 4834 36281 36281 50000 0 50000 50000 50000 218284 219082 -798 -798 -798 4955328 4036 0 86281 134036 105924 11764 16348 1077964 851876 94611 131477 20850 16477 1830 2543 122976 97184 10793 14999 91777 72528 8055 11194 649 649 31325 31325 97379 8107 17073 72199 13364 2397 9324 1643 75261 67735 7526 15920 13614 1542 764 18402 18402 127169 127169 64634 58171 6463 SUPPLIES 486084 486084 CONTRACTORS 185123 185123 MISCELLANEOUS 32874 4091 11810 16973 REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE 32226 32226 163313 114666 7406 41241 2791326 2262423 219522 309381 2097301 2496084 1621884 2718156 29230 4167 18480 20789 7718905 846323 6965364 6872582 772746 0 134900 10732259 13019424 251467 275721 527219 482183 0 136923 778686 894827 X 7574674 8529410 2378899 3595187 9953573 12124597 10732259 13019424 2164002 7022 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 2282319 1963569 2316306 2881408 4865011 14308613 2282319 1963569 2316306 2881408 4865011 14308613 4445672 9862941 54135 57818 121685 50241 86281 370160 8311 15013 658 3378 4834 32194 14710967 0.67040 0.67660 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X X 1 134.00 1 1 4.00 145 5175745 5175745 1892898 407769 1485129 178029 151806 26223 472233 286748 185485 6872582 LEASE LIABILITIES 136923 136923 X 4966710 7022 4360 11382 4955328 0 4955328 2795686 4360 4360 2791326 0 2791326 PART X, LINE 2: AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND 2021, THE INITIATIVE DID NOT HAVE ANY UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT IT IS OBLIGATED TO DISCLOSE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE NO RETURNS UNDER REVIEW OR OPEN TO REVIEW BY TAXING AUTHORITIES IN EXCESS OF STATUTORY PERIODS. THE INITIATIVE FOLLOWS A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH OF RESEARCH AND OPEN DISCLOSURE IN REGARD TO ITS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS AND POSITIONS HELD. PART II, LINE 9: THE INITIATIVE RECOGNIZES REVENUE AND RECORDS AN ASSET BASED ON THE APPROXIMATE MARKET VALUE OF THE EASEMENT AT THE TIME OF CONTRIBUTION. 1) THE INITIATIVE HELD ONE EASEMENT CONSISTING OF ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FOUR ACRES AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THE EASEMENT WAS RECEIVED IN 2015 AND IS LOCATED IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 2) NO EASEMENTS WERE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, RELEASED OR TERMINATED DURING THE YEAR COVERED BY THIS FORM 990 SCHEDULE D. 3)A. THE INITIATIVE DOES NOT HOLD ANY EASEMENTS THAT ENCUMBER A GOLF COURSE OR PORTIONS OF A GOLF COURSE. B. THE INITIATIVE DOES NOT HOLD ANY EASEMENTS THAT ARE WITHIN OR ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS AND HOUSING SUBDIVISIONS, INCLUDING EASEMENTS RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTY. C. THE INITIATIVE DOES NOT HOLD ANY EASEMENTS THAT WERE ACQUIRED IN A TRANSACTION DESCRIBED UNDER PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY FROM CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN NOTICE 2004-41. 4) THE INITIATIVE MONITORED ALL THE ACREAGE OF ITS EASEMENT DURING THE YEAR COVERED BY THIS FORM 990 SCHEDULE D THROUGH PHYSICAL INSPECTION AND OTHER MEANS. 5) THE TOTAL STAFF HOURS INCURRED FOR MONITORING AND ENFORCING THE EASEMENT DURING THE YEAR COVERED BY THIS FORM 990 SCHEDULE D WAS 4 HOURS. THERE WERE NO EXPENSES INCURRED FOR MONITORING. GEORGE COVINGTON MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 649 LEGAL SERVICES 0 X 21112 961406 MARKET VALUE 0 1 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS DELEGATED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE FORM 990 TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. THE AUDIT COMMITTEE DOES A COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE FORM 990 WITH THE CPA FIRM AND APPROVES THE FILING OF THIS FORM 990. THE AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORTS ITS PROCEDURES AND APPROVAL PROCESS OF THE FORM 990 TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHO ARE PROVIDED A COPY OF THE FINAL DRAFT PRIOR TO THE FILING OF THE RETURN. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ANNUALLY EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MUST COMPLETE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST QUESTIONAIRE AND SUBMIT THE QUESTIONAIRE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE QUESTIONAIRE LISTS EXISTING AND POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 IN CONNECTION WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' APPROVAL OF THE ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET, THE BOARD REVIEWS AND APPROVES THE SALARIES OF THE OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE BOARD USES COMPENSATION INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES, SUCH AS THE DONORS FORUM, TO EVALUATE COMPENSATION AND DOCUMENTS APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET IN THE MINUTES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 COPIES OF THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST AT THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICES FOR A NOMINAL FEE. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THIS PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM PRIOR YEARS.