Hugh Crowell joined the Greens franchise in 2000 out of legal necessity. The Greens have been forced by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to monitor the discharges from Moline Park, built on the shores of the Rock River in 1994 and moated the following year. A settlement with the state EPA called for the team to hire an environmental and wetlands consultant. Crowell comes to the position after long study of soil environmental issues in the Midwest followed by a week wrestling alligators in the Florida swamp. "For perspective, you understand," explains Crowell.
As for the land outside Moline Park, Crowell expresses serious concern. "That land is wetlands," Crowell explains. "For decades farmers and developers have disparaged such land as a nuisance to building and progress. In the process, they have drained the earth of an incredible ecological diversity. Until people recognized its biological value, and until the EPA enforced that value, wetlands were disappearing at a tremendous rate."
According to the EPA, "The loss or degradation of wetlands has many consequences, such as increased flooding or the decline of water quality." (1) Of course, the loss of wetlands can be felt in personal ways, too, according to Crowell. "Who among us hasn't been touched by looking at a red-winged blackbird? Indeed, touched as much as 13 ways? Exactly. Wetland draws those beautiful birds like maggots to a dead coon. When we imperil wetlands, we disrupt a biological chain of custody, a responsibility that connects all plants and animals of the region." Past that, we lose the chance to connect ourselves through such habits as foraging for wild cattails. "Do you know how many parts of that plant are edible? My God, I don't know where to begin. The roots, the stalk, the flower. Plus you can add them to floral arrangements when they're dried. I know people who aren't as versatile. Or as tasty."