"We were looking for a place to begin the restoration of the Illinois River, and the river led us to Emiquon," remarks Doug Blodgett, director for The Nature Conservancy's (TNC) Illinois River project. To that end, TNC has embarked on one of the largest wetland restoration projects in the entire U.S. When complete, this project will be used as a model for restoration of the entire Illinois River system. Scientists believe that beneath the nearly 7,000 acres of plowed cropland TNC acquired, lies a dormant seed bank of prairie, hardwood forest, and aquatic plants just waiting for re-exposure to natural elements. Once the river is reconnected to the site, the backwater habitats will almost restore themselves, attracting even more of the region's hundreds of mammal, bird, butterfly, and fish species. It is hoped that the populations of some of Illinois' rarest species, including the River Otter, Paddlefish, and Western Ribbon Snake will return.