In addition, the regulatory community has acknowledged the importance of wetlands and has created a setting for wetland protection. Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1972 prohibits the deposit of dredge and fill materials into waters of the United States, including wetlands. The permitting process requires that mitigation procedures be followed in order to avoid or minimize wetland impacts. When wetlands are destroyed, their loss must be compensated, primarily through restoration or creation. The current emphasis in wetland restoration and creation is to attempt to replicate natural wetland structure and function according to selected ecological principles.
Restoration continues to promise the greatest potential for success.
The art and science of ecological wetland restoration and creation, however, is still relatively new and the technology incomplete. Many attempts to replicate natural function and form have not been successful. It is extremely important to promote sound science to restore and create systems that function as and closely resemble natural wetlands. In order to advance this goal, INHS, in cooperation with the Illinois State Geological Survey and funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Department of Transportation, published a guidebook to assist wetland managers in accomplishing this task. The Illinois Wetland Restoration and Creation Guide is intended to direct the development and implementation of wetland restoration and creation projects.