Why Wetlands Matter to Communities
Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet. They protect water quality by filtering nutrients and sediment, buffer communities from flooding, store carbon, and provide habitat for fish, wildlife, and pollinators. In the Midwest, wetlands are deeply tied to agricultural livelihoods, recreation, and cultural identity. Their care is inseparable from the well-being of the people who live near them.
How HEI Supports Community‑Focused Wetland Work
Water Resources
Wetlands are integral to watershed health. HEI’s experts in hydrology and water quality develop solutions that balance ecosystem needs with community priorities such as flood mitigation, water level control, nutrient reduction, and watershed modeling.
Ecological Services
Our team provides wetland restoration planning, mitigation banking support, habitat assessments, vegetation monitoring, and long‑term ecological management. We help clients understand the biological and hydrologic needs of their site and create plans that restore ecological function.
Regulatory & Permitting
Wetland projects often require careful navigation of local, state, and federal regulations. HEI supports delineations; federal, state, and local permitting; mitigation planning; and compliance monitoring. Our role is to guide clients through a process that protects resources while enabling responsible development.
Project Spotlights
Wilkinson Lake Best Management Practices (MN)
HEI partnered with the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization and local stakeholders to enhance water quality, restore habitat, and support long‑term watershed health at Wilkinson Lake. The team designed a deep‑water wetland that reduces sediment and phosphorus loading, restores a historic wetland area, and improves downstream conditions. Through thoughtful design, regulatory coordination, and consistent communication, HEI delivered a sustainable restoration of the lake.
Restoration of Three Mile Lake (IA)
As part of broader lake improvements, HEI worked with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to perform wetland and stream mitigation, create new in-lake forebays, and implement watershed best management practices to reduce sediment and nutrient loads. These improvements resulted in enhanced water quality and habitat.
Brown’s Preserve Wetland Restoration (MN)
HEI supported the Rice Creek Watershed District in its 110‑acre restoration project, which revitalized a degraded rural wetland system by reestablishing hydrology, improving habitat, and generating wetland credits for the local watershed district. Landowner participation and agency coordination were central to the project’s success.
Wolverton Creek Restoration (MN)
HEI worked with the Buffalo‑Red River Watershed District to develop a watershed‑wide restoration approach to reduce flooding, erosion, and sediment buildup along Wolverton Creek. Using natural channel design, the project restores a sinuous, stable channel, installs side inlets and other BMPs, expands riparian buffers, and improves water quality throughout the 26‑mile corridor. This multiphase effort strengthens habitat, supports agriculture, and increases long‑term watershed resilience.
Manston Slough Water Resource Management and Wetland Restoration (MN)
Covering thousands of acres, this project brought together the Buffalo‑Red River Watershed District, agency partners, and more than 30 landowners to restore a historic wetland basin that had been drained in the late 1800s. It combined wetland restoration, flood storage, and prairie conversion through collaboration with more than 30 landowners. The resulting system now supports both ecological function and agricultural resilience.
Protecting Wetlands Through Partnership
As we celebrate World Wetlands Day, we’re reminded that successful wetland conservation is community‑driven. We’re here to support you in advancing the wetland projects that strengthen your landscapes and the communities that depend on them.
Interested in starting a wetland project?
Explore our Ecological Services, Regulatory and Permitting, and Water Resources pages to learn how we can support your goals.