Illinois Featured Content

  • Study: 72% of Illinois wetlands no longer protected by federal Clean Water Act

    Sep 23, 2025 9:00 am by Diana YatesInsights
    Wetlands, like those of Round Pond Swamp in Pope County, Ill., perform a variety of functions for communities, from recreation to stormwater management and wildlife habitat, the team reports. Photo by Paul B. Marcum

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    • Wetlands, like those of Round Pond Swamp in Pope County, Ill., perform a variety of functions for communities, from recreation to stormwater management and wildlife habitat, the team reports. Photo by Paul B. Marcum

    Thanks to a 2023 Supreme Court decision, roughly 72% of Illinois wetlands are no longer protected by the Clean Water Act. That could mean the loss of flood control, groundwater recharge, water purification and natural habitat these wetlands provide.