I am from Brookfield and, throughout my childhood, I’ve been an occasional visitor to Brookfield Zoo. My favorite exhibit to this day is the Swamp. I learned how vital swamps and marshes are to the entire ecosystem. I also learned that most of Chicago and the surrounding area were built on a swamp. One day, I saw the consequences of Chicago’s ecological placement. It rained so hard that the streets flooded at such a high level, people were taking out canoes and kayaks and paddling in the streets. I had to run to grab all the towels in the entire house to put around the walls of my basement to stop all the water from getting in. I remember getting pictures from friends of their fully flooded basements, where the water was up to their ankles.
Around 90% of all wetlands in Illinois are gone. The 10% we have left is in danger of being lost as well. You may not think that wetlands affect you personally, but they are crucial for the regulation of the ecosystem. And if you are tired of the floods, you should be protecting the wetlands and promoting their cultivation.
The solution? A statewide wetlands protection program can create a system of accountability and mitigation measures that would ensure the preservation of our remaining wetlands. No matter how big or small you are, from your home to the environment worldwide, wetlands protect everyone.
That is why I urge you to join many young Illinoisans like me to call on Governor JB Pritzker to support the statewide protection program, to protect both the wetlands and our homes.
Alec Oltrogge
Brookfield
