2025-11-04T15:58:28-06:00 2024-12-31 362996439 WSDD CPAS LTD 303 W MADISON ST SUITE 2075 CHICAGO IL 606063395 990 2024-01-01 363942451 THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE WETL 3129220777 333 N MICHIGAN AVE 628 CHICAGO IL 60601 PAUL BOTTS PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 3129220777 2025-11-04 1 1 WILLIAM J O'HARA P01041882 3123326622 2025-11-04 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z X PAUL BOTTS 333 N MICHIGAN AVE 628 CHICAGO IL 60601 4058262 0 X WWW.WETLANDS-INITIATIVE.ORG X 1994 IL TO RESTORE THE WETLAND RESOURCES OF THE MIDWEST. 20 20 27 55 0 0 1854680 3279517 0 0 66168 127855 56073 58078 1976921 3465450 14034 35612 0 0 1450922 1765933 0 0 111423 1336135 921948 2801091 2723493 -824170 741957 12021467 12709496 630424 553054 11391043 12156442 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 1838449 35612 ON-THE-GROUND RESTORATION - 2024 WAS A GROWTH YEAR FOR THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE, DURING WHICH THE ORGANIZATION EXPANDED ITS ON-THE-GROUND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROJECTS ACROSS ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. IN PARTICULAR, TWI'S COLLABORATIVE WORK IN THE BI-STATE CALUMET REGION SAW SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION WITH FRESH PROJECT PHASES AND NEW MAJOR FUNDING AT IMPORTANT REMNANT WETLAND SITES IN BOTH SOUTHEAST CHICAGO AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. THESE EFFORTS ARE RETURNING IMPORTANT HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND RARE MARSH BIRDS, BOOSTING CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND IMPROVING NATURE ACCESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THIS URBAN REGION'S UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS. PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: - TWI CONTINUED PHASE III HABITAT RESTORATION AT INDIAN RIDGE MARSH NORTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT, BUILDING ON HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SHORELINE MODIFICATION IN 2023 THAT CREATED VALUABLE TRANSITIONAL HABITAT.- AT SQUARE MARSH, OWNED BY THE ILLINOIS INTERNATIONAL PORT DISTRICT AND PART OF HISTORIC LAKE CALUMET, TWI AND THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF ILLINOIS TOOK THE FIRST STEPS IN A MULTI-YEAR RESTORATION PLAN WITH TREATMENT OF INVASIVE PHRAGMITES AND BUCKTHORN. - IN NW INDIANA, ALONG THE WEST BRANCH OF THE LITTLE CALUMET RIVER, TWI AND PARTNERS IN THE LITTLE CALUMET RIVER CONSERVATION COLLABORATIVE CONTINUED PHASE III HABITAT RESTORATION ON THREE HIGH-PRIORITY PARCELS TOTALING 436 ACRES, SHIFTING FOCUS TO LARGE NATIVE PLANT INSTALLATIONS AS SEED AND PLUGS WITH EXPANDED VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION. THE COLLABORATIVE ALSO MOVED FORWARD WITH PLANNING FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND IMPROVED PUBLIC ACCESS ON TWO MAJOR, HIGH-POTENTIAL TRACTS WITHIN THE LITTLE CALUMET CORRIDOR: MARSHALLTOWN MARSH AND THE CHASE STREET COMPLEX. BOTH DESIGN PROCESSES FOCUS ON STREAM RE-MEANDERING-NEVER PREVIOUSLY ACCOMPLISHED IN NW INDIANA-AND ARE BEING DRIVEN BY RESIDENT AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT TO ENSURE SITE PLANS ARE RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY DESIRES AND NEEDS.AT TWI'S 3,000-PLUS-ACRE SUE AND WES DIXON WATERFOWL REFUGE IN NORTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS, A DESIGNATED RAMSAR WETLAND OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE, TWI STAFF ENHANCED PUBLIC ACCESS IN 2024 BY DEVELOPING NEW AMENITIES AND INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE AT THE NEWLY RESTORED VIOLET MEADOW PARCEL AND REFURBISHED THE REFUGE'S 30-FOOT OBSERVATION TOWER. IN ADVANCE OF LONGTIME SENIOR ECOLOGIST DR. GARY SULLIVAN'S RETIREMENT, TWI SCIENTISTS CREATED A COMPREHENSIVE REFUGE MANAGEMENT PLAN TO PROVIDE STRATEGIC GUIDANCE FOR THE SITE'S COMING YEARS. MEANWHILE, A NEW FULL-TIME SITE MANAGER LED THE RESTORATION CREW IN ENHANCING THE REFUGE'S DORE SEEP NATURE PRESERVE, MANAGING INVASIVE CATTAILS AND WOODY SHRUBS THAT WERE ENCROACHING THE HIGHLY DIVERSE SEEP PLANT COMMUNITY. FINALLY, TWI PREPARED 40 ACRES OF FORMER FARMLAND FOR RESTORATION TO GLOBALLY SAND PRAIRIE ON A NEW TRACT THAT TWI ACQUIRED ADJACENT TO THE REFUGE'S SANDY HOLLOW PARCEL IN LATE 2023. WITH THE COMPLETION OF A MASSIVE SEVEN-YEAR RESTORATION EFFORT IN 2023, IN 2024 TWI INITIATED A NEW, EQUALLY SIGNIFICANT PROJECT AT THE FOREST SERVICE'S MIDEWIN NATIONAL TALLGRASS PRAIRIE IN WILL COUNTY-THE LARGEST PROTECTED OPEN SPACE IN THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN REGION. IN COLLABORATION WITH OPENLANDS, TWI KICKED OFF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE GRANT CREEK STREAM RESTORATION, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO THE CHICAGO WILDERNESS REGION'S FIRST STREAM RE-MEANDERING EFFORT. THE GRANT CREEK PARCEL COMPRISES 1,321 ACRES THAT WILL BE TRANSFORMED TO HEALTHY PRAIRIE, SAVANNA, AND FLOODPLAIN WETLAND HABITAT, BENEFITING DECLINING GRASSLAND BIRD SPECIES AND EXPANDING RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ADJACENT TO MIDEWIN'S HEAVILY VISITED BISON PASTURE. OVER 2024, TWI'S MIDEWIN FIELD CREW WORKED TO REMOVE SMALL INVASIVE TREES AND SHRUBS, WHILE A CONTRACTOR WAS SELECTED TO BEGIN LARGE-SCALE REMOVAL OF AGGRESSIVE/NON-NATIVE TREES. 339765 THROUGH THE "SMART WETLANDS" PROJECT, TWI IS WORKING TO SPREAD THE USE OF SMALL TILE-TREATMENT WETLANDS ON PRIVATE FARMLAND AS A NATURAL SOLUTION TO THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF NUTRIENT RUNOFF INTO LOCAL WATERWAYS AND ULTIMATELY, THE GULF OF MEXICO. THE ORGANIZATION PURSUES THIS GOAL THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH AGENCIES AND PEERS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, OUTREACH TO RAISE AWARENESS WITH LANDOWNERS AND THEIR TRUSTED ADVISERS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS TO BUILD WETLANDS IN NEW COUNTIES AND WATERSHEDS. IN 2024, TWI EXECUTED THE FIRST STEPS IN A NEW BUSINESS PLAN TO EXPAND THE PROJECT'S REACH, INCLUDING FILLING A NEW ENGINEER POSITION TO ASSIST IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING MORE WETLAND SITES. THIS ADDED CAPACITY LED TO FIVE NEW SMART WETLAND DESIGNS IN PROCESS ACROSS FIVE NEW COUNTIES BY THE END OF THE YEAR. MEANWHILE, TWI FORMALIZED SEVERAL EXISTING AND NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO BEGIN A THREE-YEAR, STATEWIDE COORDINATED EFFORT TO INCREASE THE USE OF ON-FARM PRACTICES FOR WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN ILLINOIS, INCLUDING TILE-TREATMENT WETLANDS. FINALLY, DURING 2024, TWI BEGAN FORMING NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO EXPLORE DEPLOYING THE SMART WETLANDS CONCEPT AND PRACTICE IN INDIANA'S EXTENSIVE FARMING REGION.TWI IS ALSO EXPLORING OTHER INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT WETLANDS CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO THE FARM LANDSCAPE FOR CLEAN WATER. IN THE LAKE SPRINGFIELD WATERSHED, IN 2024 TWI WORKED WITH THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD'S CITY WATER, LIGHT, AND POWER UTILITY TO PURSUE THE USE OF LARGER, SPECIALLY DESIGNED TREATMENT WETLANDS ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTIES TO ADDRESS DRINKING WATER IMPAIRMENTS. FUNDING THROUGH THE STATE REVOLVING LOAN FUND COULD HELP MAKE THIS A REALITY, WITH POTENTIAL FOR IMPLEMENTATION ELSEWHERE IN ILLINOIS TO PROVIDE CLEANER DRINKING WATER. THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE IS 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 TO MORE-INTENSE RAINFALL EVENTS, LONGER DRY SPELLS, AND IRREGULAR SEASONAL PRECIPITATION PATTERNS. RESTORED FRESHWATER WETLANDS PROVIDE RESILIENCE FUNCTIONS 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. TWI'S VISION IS FOR THESE NATURAL "SPONGES" TO BE ONCE AGAIN SCATTERED ACROSS THE FLAT MIDWESTERN LANDSCAPE. 2178214 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 1 27 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 20 20 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 333 N MICHIGAN AVE CHICAGO IL 60601 CHARLES T PICK CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 REBECCAH A SANDERS VICE-CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 PAUL BOTTS PRESIDENT 37.50 X X 156535 0 26052 LINDA M KURTZ 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 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 MARK D MAFFEI PHD DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 CAROLINE REPENNING 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 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 GARY SULLIVAN SENIOR RESTORATION ECOLOGIST 40.00 X 110113 0 0 JILL KOSTEL SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER 40.00 X 108342 0 0 ABIGAIL MATTSON DIRECTOR OF DEV. & COMM. 40.00 X 108089 0 0 483079 0 26052 4 0 1 0 0 1322634 1956883 98777 3279517 187731 187731 53400 0 53400 53400 53400 532936 592812 -59876 -59876 -59876 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 4678 4678 4678 3465450 -55198 0 241131 35612 35612 182587 143974 32006 6607 1310064 1033019 229645 47400 28381 22379 4975 1027 134777 106276 23625 4876 110124 86836 19304 3984 1623 1623 22360 22360 63376 8010 44903 10463 19179 7943 7285 3951 68401 61561 6840 14810 9488 4932 390 15791 15791 113724 113724 62883 56595 6288 CONTRACTORS 169389 169389 SUPPLIES 161917 160769 890 258 MISCELLANEOUS 55995 20825 15108 20062 UTILITIES - PUMP 31412 31412 121088 92988 15695 12405 2723493 2178214 433856 111423 1644704 1354251 2603017 3684358 4167 4167 42972 28250 8190915 1063317 6780528 7127598 880492 481331 65587 29541 12021467 12709496 127338 165461 435576 387593 67510 0 630424 553054 X 8487997 8352276 2903046 3804166 11391043 12156442 12021467 12709496 741957 23442 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 2316306 2881408 4865011 1854680 3279517 15196922 2316306 2881408 4865011 1854680 3279517 15196922 2284423 12912499 121685 50241 86281 65734 187731 511672 658 3378 4834 6073 4678 19621 15728215 0.82100 0.81590 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X X 1 134.00 1 1 4.00 145 250000 250000 250000 250000 200000 150000 100000 250000 150000 50000 200000 150000 150000 1.00000 0 0 5636539 5636539 1892898 504586 1388312 178029 167544 10485 483449 391187 92262 7127598 X 3488892 23442 23442 3465450 0 3465450 2723493 0 2723493 0 2723493 PART X, LINE 2: AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023, 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. 1 CALUMET COLLABORATIVE 1000 E 111TH ST CHICAGO IL 60628 811497692 501(C)(3) 18500 0 SUPPORT FOR A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONSULTANT. BROWN FACES GREEN SPACES INC PO BOX 3002 GARY IN 46403 851058739 501(C)(3) 12000 0 SUPPORT FOR LITTLE CALUMET RIVER-CHASE STREET RESTORATION PROJECT. PART I, LINE 2: EACH RECIPIENT SIGNS A GRANT AGREEMENT, WHICH INDICATES THE GRANT AMOUNT, SCOPE OF WORK, TERMS OF PAYMENT, AND GUIDELINES AS TO HOW THE GRANT SHOULD BE SPENT. IN ADDITION, GRANT REPORTING IS REQUIRED FROM RECIPIENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND PERIODIC MEETINGS TO DISCUSS PROGRESS AND ON-SITE VISITS TO THE PROJECT AREAS ARE CONDUCTED AS NEEDED. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 PAUL BOTTS PRESIDENT 156535 0 0 0 0 0 3000 0 23052 0 182587 0 0 0 X 1 98777 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.