"Kick-offs" at Shaw, Fults, Kish, and Old Plank - Fall 2021

Three “Kick-Offs” and a Celebration
 
Who should come to the kick-offs? 
- Any person who would like to help launch an important new conservation initiative and explore the possibility of becoming a natural area citizen steward. 
- Any experienced natural area stewards who would like to help mentor a new generation, even if you are already too committed to other sites to be in for the long haul.
 
If you know any potential future "citizen stewards" who live near any of the kick-off sites, please let them know.
 
Four Illinois Nature Preserves have big events planned in October. 
                            
October 2^nd – Shaw Woods and Prairie Kick-off (Lake Forest)
October 9^th – Fults Hill Prairie – 50th Anniversary Celebration (Monroe County)

October 17^th – Kishwaukee Fen Kick-off (Village of Lakewood)
October 23^rd – Old Plank Road Prairies Kick-off (Matteson)
 
The kick-offs are building on the knowledge and successes discovered while launching stewardship communities at Poplar Creek, Orland Grassland, Nachusa, Somme, and many other nature preserves – that now are maintained and restored with strong support of stewardship communities consisting of dedicated “work-learn-and-lead” citizen stewards. 
 
October 2, 2021
THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Metawa.
THE PLACE: Shaw Woodland and Prairie in Skokie River Nature Preserve
WHAT’S SPECIAL: One of the two most important prairies surviving in the greater Chicago region needs your help. 

- Burn crew members are needed. We will train. 

- Major parts of the prairie are now under thick brush. Removing that brush will launch a miracle of recovery. A careful brush control team will be trained and empowered. 

- Seeds of the rare plants need to be spread where brush killed them. Learning seeds is fun and rewarding.

The remnants survive here thanks to decades of determined effort by Lake Forest Open Lands Association. 

If you’re the right person, any or all of these adventurous tasks very much need you. 

 
October 9, 2021
THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Belleville, Valmeyer, Prairie du Rocher, and “sort of in the neighborhood of” Carbondale and East St. Louis. 

THE PLACE: Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve 50th Anniversary Celebration

WHAT’S SPECIAL: One of the most dramatic and ecologically important sites in southern Illinois – a 528-acre preserve with a complex of rare hill prairies and limestone glades as well as a large block of woods. It had lost more than 30% of its area between 1962 and 1998. Heritage Biologist Phil Borsdorf reports $100,000 of contract restoration there and 3 large burns in the last 3 years. “It actually looks the best it's looked since my 25 years here,” says the Nature Preserves’ Debbie Newman. 

One of the many dramatic parts of the Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve complex.

Photo courtesy of Michael Jeffords and Susan Post

 
October 17, 2021
THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Lakewood, Bull Valley, Huntley, Crystal Lake, Algonquin and Woodstock
THE PLACE: Kishwaukee Fen Nature Preserve
WHAT’S SPECIAL: A splendid high-quality fen, prairie, and wetland system that’s been “preserved” but has lacked the attention it deserves to thrive and be appreciated. Since its discovery by John Rogner, Jerry Wilhelm, and others in 1992 and its subsequent protection, the site has remained an "orphan" site little noticed by the surrounding community. In some places groundwater emerges, forming three “hanging fens” that support endangered plants and rare butterflies, as they release streams of pure water down flowery slopes. Crystalline “tufa” rock forms around the edges of the seeps. The emerging groundwater flows downhill, coalescing into spring runs, through wet prairie and sedge meadow before joining a headwater of the Kishwaukee River. Two “raised fens” maintain similar rarities while surrounded by still thriving wet prairie and sedge meadow. The especially intact groundwater hydrology, consisting of high quality and lime-laden spring water, has helped maintain the floristic integrity of the site. But invasive chaos has been closing in. Much of the preserve is now brush or invasive reed canary grass. New stewards will learn to cut brush, burn, and gather rare seed; they'll be rewarded by healthy recovery of a beautiful ecosystem. 

Photo above shows hanging fen and seep with endangered plants and huge buckthorn.

Nearby, brush threatens to cover all. 

 

October 23, 2021
THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Matteson, Rich Township, Mokena, Tinley Park, Homewood, Frankfort
THE PLACE: Old Plank Road Prairie Nature Preserve
WHAT’S SPECIAL: These were said to be the finest black-soil prairies in the state. A historic early plank road/then railroad was divided up among local governments and made into a bike trail with prairie nature preserves on both sides. But these treasures needed care that was beyond the capacity of the busy local officials who were nominally the caretakers. In theory, the Illinois Nature Preserves System would find ways to assure care, but it didn’t happen. In the absence of fire and other stewardship - teasel, crown vetch, buckthorn and other evils ran amok. Nature Preserves field rep Kim Roman provided what support she could. But she is responsible for 72 preserves.  The Orland Grassland Volunteers have 960 acres to restore. They have heroically taken time out to reverse the Plank Road disaster, and recently the Friends have too. But the Plank Road Prairies need their own stewards group.  

For years, there were no burns. Recently, "pick-up" teams have burned when they could.

A bigger team and more regular care are needed. 

Photo by Shane Tripp

Who should come to these events?
 
Everyone who lives nearby should celebrate Fults. 
 
As for the kick-offs, please think about it: these events are for people who might want to work to restore the nature there. You don’t necessarily make a commitment by showing up. But they’re not for people who just want to learn about nature. We’ll have such general events in the future, as we recruit and build support for these and other sites. But these kick-off events are a first step in offering “the privilege of stewardship” to people who’d consider cutting brush, pulling weeds, gathering seeds, and saving the nature of these needy preserves. If you want, the work sessions also include "field seminars" - at the college or grad school level - on ecosystem function and restoration. Many people learn to lead. Others just appreciate the opportunity to contribute, working with like-minded Friends. If you, or anyone you know, might be up for at least checking out this kind of mission, please spread the word.
 
Hope to see you there. 

Acknowledgements

Thanks for proofing, edits, and info to John Nelson, Steve Byers, Debbie Newman, Phil Borsdorf, Amy Doll, Eriko Kojima, and Christos Economou.