On February 2, 2012, both the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin & Hopper Lakes (managed by the Wetlands Initiative) and The Emiquon Complex (managed by The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) were designated Wetlands of International Importance under the international Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. This video, created by The Nature Conservancy with input from TWI and USFWS, explains the significance of these two sites--both outstanding restoration projects on the Illinois River.
