mission
Founded by landscape architect Lucius Jonett, Midwest Wetland Improvements is an ecological restoration company that exists to help landowners enhance the ecological value of their land as stewards of the greater watershed and ecosystem. Now and for the future.
Lucius Jonett, Founder, PLA
Lucius’ favorite work as a landscape architect is the restoration of degraded natural systems. He isn’t afraid to move dirt, trees or water to recreate what natural places should look like. The biggest testament to a job well done is when clients can’t remember how a project appeared before, and struggle to imagine that it was ever anything different.
Prior to starting Midwest Wetland Improvements, Lucius created and ran a landscape architecture practice at Wenck, a multi-disciplinary consulting firm. While at Wenck, he spent eight years working with private and public clients, and specialized in project management, urban hydrology and stormwater management, site planning, natural resources management planning, stream restoration, wetland restoration and restoration construction management. A previous degree and career in engineering gave Lucius the mathematical and scientific background he needed to understand the movement and power of water.
education & landscape architect training
Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Minnesota
Graduate Certificate Stream Restoration, University of Minnesota
Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering, University of Wisconsin
MN DNR River Ecology Unit, River Ecosystem Restorations, 2019
Restoring Minnesota, Ecological Restoration, 2015
Years Of Experience
miles of streams improved
acres of wetland improved
Process overview
Restoration work involves many steps from identification of the problem to resolution. It takes time, especially when regulatory permits are required or when mitigation banking credits are pursued. We work with property owners throughout the project:
Identify Causes of degradation or impairment
Understand the current health of your resources and diagnose the causes of change, degradation, or impairment.
Identify solutions & prioritize options
Once the issues are known, identify solutions to stabilize, repair, or improve your resources. Each option will be evaluated so that they can be prioritized according to your goals.
design the project & develop plan
Put the project goals and options on paper to plan what the final project will look like, design the project in detail, and create a phasing plan for implementation.
create budget plan & review funding options
Apply estimated costs to the project plan phases and review and prioritize what fits your budget. Discuss if there are grants or other funding opportunities to help pay for your project.
begin build & oversee construction progress
Contracted out or self-performed, we oversee construction of project improvements, answer questions that might arise, and making sure the project is built to industry standards.
manage & coordinate required inspections
Ecological restoration can take many years of management after construction of project improvements. We will revisit your projects with you to inspect and monitor establishment and prescribe any follow up maintenance work needed.
let’s discuss your project:
call us at 952.261.9990