Illinois has already lost 90% of its original wetlands. Now, with the EPA’s new rule under Donald Trump’s administration, over 700,000 more acres — nearly three-quarters of what remains — could be left entirely unprotected.

This rollback of the Clean Water Act, building on the 2023 Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision, would gut federal oversight of vital ecosystems, leaving Illinois wetlands vulnerable to destruction by developers and polluters. The Milan Bottoms, the Emiquon Preserve, and countless other critical wetland areas could soon disappear, even though these landscapes filter pollution, prevent flooding, and sustain wildlife.

Yet unlike some other states, Illinois has no statewide protections for wetlands on private land. We’ve been relying on federal protections that are now vanishing. Environmental leaders, legal experts, and scientists are urging Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to act swiftly—because what’s at stake isn’t just nature. It’s our homes, our clean water, and our financial future.

Wetlands in Illinois provide an estimated $419 million in flood control benefits each year, soaking up stormwater and keeping it out of our basements, streets, and schools. Without these natural defenses, flood costs will rise—paid for by Illinois families, not the developers filling in these floodplains.

Bills already introduced by Senator Laura Ellman and Representative Anna Moeller would establish a state-run permitting system to protect wetlands from harm. Now is the time for Governor Pritzker to lead: signal strong support, empower the Department of Natural Resources, and make wetlands protection a legislative priority.

We urge Illinois lawmakers: fight like hell for what remains. Don’t let short-term politics or developer pressure decide the fate of our ecosystems and our neighborhoods.

Sign this petition to demand immediate statewide wetlands protections in Illinois—before it’s too late.

Photo: E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune