Important wetland ecosystem services such as water retention, nutrient sink capacity, and biodiversity support depend on proper ecosystem function. Projects attempting to restore drained wetlands require assessment to evaluate the degree to which goals, such as improved water quality and increased biodiversity support, are achieved obtained. Wightman Lake, a wetland ecosystem in the Illinois River basin, is currently undergoing restoration. Project goals are to reestablish surface water flow to increase nutrient retention from bluff agricultural systems which will decrease nitrogen run off into the Illinois River. We detected high levels of nitrogen in stream systems emptying into the river basin restoration site from bluff agriculture. Lower levels of N were found associated with river water even at stream entrances. Culverts created through restoration will be monitored to evaluate changes in spring and summer N movement across this site to evaluate the degree to which these restoration techniques improved wetland function on this site.