53 WEST JACKSON BOULEVARD PHONE (312) 922-0777
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604-3703 FAX (312) 922-1823
EMAIL twi@wetlands-initiative.org

allie = THe WeTLANDs INITIATIVE

January 3, 2000

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ALBERT E. PYOTT :. ..

Goa Committee on Environment and
Natural Resources

tes Chairman

‘VICE-CHAIRMAN

Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Working Group
RicHap T. scerozper WS 13446 SSMC4

SacreTaRY/TaEAsuRER 1 3()5 East-West Highway

DAVID J. BEEDIE Silver Spring, MD 20910

EDWARD K. CHANDLER,

ALLEN D. GROSBOLL :

Kyte L. HARVEY Dear Chairman:

DONALD L. HEY

ROBERT HORNE : ee . . .

‘TaMoTHY M. LYONS Founded in 1994, The Wetlands Initiative (TWI) is a not-for-profit Illinois

ELISABETH C. MEBKER . . . a

DesraK Moskovs corporation dedicated to the restoration of our nation’s wetland resources to reduce
CLARK Te WAGNER flood damages, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, provide high quality
AvvisoryCounci. open space and conduct research and education. Our mission is to restore wetlands in
Ra wpanaisia Ways that provide environmental and economic benefits to society and to the

GUY C. FRAKER landowner.

NICHOLAS J. PRITZKER

Recently, TWI read about The CENR Hypoxia Working Group’s decision to begin to

STAFF develop an action plan to reduce hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. TWI believes that
faaeeent oer! nutrient enrichment is one of the most serious water quality problems in Illinois and
PRESIDENT the United States. As you know, the problem arises from the enormous increase

pow L Hey, pp, (Since the late 1940’s) in the use of nitrate fertilizer on cropland and the loss of

sx Vice Presibenr wetlands needed to treat the nutrient rich runoff. Excessive nutrients adversely affect
human health and safety as well as aquatic life. High nitrates in drinking water
impair the health of infants and are extremely costly to remove by conventional
means.

The Illinois River and its tributaries carry a disproportionately high nitrogen load to
the Mississippi River and, ultimately, to the Gulf of Mexico. High nitrogen
concentrations found in these waters, and in other water systems throughout the
United States, cause significant environmental and economic problems.

Over the past two years, TWI has developed a restoration concept for the effective
removal of excess nutrients. This concept involves restoring wetlands and using the
restored landscapes to remove unwanted nitrogen and other contaminants from
surface water. This concept is called nitrogen farming. Besides numerous



environmental benefits, the concept potentially offers important economic benefits —
income to farmers and low-cost, market-based pollution control. Unlike conventional
water treatment systems, nitrogen farming would require little or no fossil energy and,
therefore, would be readily self-sustainable. The nitrogen farms would restore many
of the natural functions of native landscapes, important functions that have been lost
over the last three centuries. Nitrogen farms will trap sediments and remove other
contaminants, including some pesticides, reduce flood damages, provide wildlife
habitat and create high quality open space and recreational opportunities.

Enclosed, please find a copy of our most recent newsletter that is devoted entirely to
the concept of nitrogen farming. Our agency is eager to reduce nitrogen inputs and to
restore wetlands and riparian buffers in Illinois and along the Mississippi River. We
think that our nitrogen farming strategy complements the CENR’s goals for reduction
of the hypoxia zone and would like to discuss collaboration with you on this project.

We look forward to your feedback on our nitrogen farming concept.

Sincerely,

isa Joy Smuckler
Director of Development
Enclosure