By Sara Baraba – Suburban Journal – June 5, 2012

Madison County residents often hear they live in the American Bottom, and thanks to a project spearheaded by the HeartLands Conservancy, Madison County and the Collinsville Area Recreation District, they will be able to see, touch and hear what that really means. Last Friday officials broke ground on the future Arlington Wetlands: An American Bottom Interpretive Experience site. The 84-acre site will include restored wetlands and offer educational and recreational opportunities for visitors to learn about the wetlands' role in stormwater management and water quality. "The American Bottom is a unique region for the whole world really," said Megan Riechmann, community and environmental planner for the HeartLands Conservancy. "This will be a good opportunity to see what the original American Bottom really looked like." For full story, click here.