Screenshot 2025-05-04 at 3.03.49 PM

County Approves $4.3 Million Purchase of Wetland Banking Credits for Highway Projects

Spread the love

The Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee has approved an agreement to purchase wetland banking site credits for $4,324,550 from V3 Wetland Restoration LLC to support future county highway improvement projects.

Design Manager Eric Wessel explained that the credits are necessary for road and bridge projects adjacent to classified wetlands. “As we do road projects and bridge projects that are adjacent to waterways that have been classified with wetlands either by the Army Corps or the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, we’re required to replace them or restore them at a certain ratio,” Wessel said.

The typical replacement ratio is 1.5 to 1, though it can be higher depending on the quality of the affected wetland. The credits are being purchased as a block to streamline future projects.

“These credits are hard to come by,” Wessel told the committee. “What we as a county are buying is a block of credit so that in the future, as projects come online and we realize we need wetland credits, we don’t have to come frequently to the board asking for the credits.”

The wetland bank is managed by V3 on behalf of the Will County Forest Preserve District at Thorn Creek. When the county needs to mitigate wetland impacts for a specific project, V3 will provide a certificate allocating the appropriate amount of credits.

Committee members questioned whether the money goes to V3 or the Forest Preserve District. While officials couldn’t immediately clarify the contractual arrangement between V3 and the district, they noted that V3 assisted the Forest Preserve in developing the wetland bank site.

Member Raquel Mitchell asked about collaboration between county departments, suggesting a potential ordinance requiring the DOT to work with the Forest Preserve District. Ronaldson confirmed that while wetland credits are relatively new, the departments already collaborate on bike path planning and other initiatives.

“The Forest Preserve’s bikeway plan was incorporated into the 2040 plan itself, and they were consulted in the development of the 2050 plan,” Ronaldson said. “They’re ongoing partners.”

Beecher Weather Full forecast →
⚠️ Flood Watch issued June 11 at 10:05AM CDT until June 11 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Today Jun 10
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
82° 59°

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

💨 10 to 20 mph 💧 52%

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Lawsuit demands Pritzker’s office release docs over pic with criminal

Lawsuit demands Pritzker’s office release docs over pic with criminal

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office has illegally attempted to scrub from the public record photos and other proof that he posed at...
Pritzker announces bond expansion, says progress has been made with Bears

Pritzker announces bond expansion, says progress has been made with Bears

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says progress has been made in conversations with the Chicago Bears. Pritzker announced the...
Illinois Quick Hits: Statewide bag tax proposed

Illinois Quick Hits: Statewide bag tax proposed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake, has proposed legislation to impose a 10-cent fee on carryout bags...

Lawmakers join Chicago Teachers Union to push for more school funding

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State lawmakers have introduced legislation backed by the Chicago Teachers Union to immediately increase evidence-based funding and...
Illinois proposal makes businesses financially liable for climate change

Illinois proposal makes businesses financially liable for climate change

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposal to create an Illinois Climate Change Superfund is drawing sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers...
Illinois unemployment rate tops national average; state ends 2025 with fewer jobs

Illinois unemployment rate tops national average; state ends 2025 with fewer jobs

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois State Rep. Chris Miller argues numbers tell the story as new U.S. Bureau of Labor...
Illinois Quick Hits: Iowa wants Illinois' counties

Illinois Quick Hits: Iowa wants Illinois’ counties

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Iowa state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would establish a committee to study the potential transfer...
Will County Finance Logo

County Authorizes Financial Study of Homer Glen Law Enforcement Contract

Finance Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: The Finance Committee voted to authorize a professional study to evaluate the true cost of providing law enforcement services to the...
Will County Board Graphic.01

Will County Public Works Debates Future Bridge Needs as 159th Street Closure Looms

Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: A discussion regarding the future deck repair of the 159th Street bridge in Lockport sparked a debate about...
Will County Board Graphic.02

Capital Imp Committee: Veterans Assistance Commission Set to Move into New Facility

Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | Jan. 6, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) is scheduled to move into its new headquarters at...
will county board meeting.6

Capital Imp Committee: Health Dept Elevator Repair Costs Significantly Lower Than Estimates

Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | Jan. 6, 2026 Article Summary: A malfunctioning elevator at the Will County Health Department has been repaired for approximately $18,000 to...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Beecher Fire Protection District for December 18, 2025

Beecher Fire Protection District Meeting | December 18, 2025 The Beecher Fire Protection District Board of Trustees met on Thursday, December 18, 2025, to close out the year's business. The...
will county board graphic

Legislative Committee Adopts 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda

Legislative Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Legislative Committee finalized and approved the 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda, outlining the county's top priorities for Congress. The...
Poll: Majority prefer Trump's immigration policies over Biden's

Poll: Majority prefer Trump’s immigration policies over Biden’s

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square A majority of Americans say they prefer President Donald Trump's approach to border security and immigration than they do former President Joe Biden's, according to...
Illinois eyes smarter park funding: handicap accessibility gets priority

Illinois eyes smarter park funding: handicap accessibility gets priority

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are proposing a change to the way state parks receive funding, one that could...