Lakeshore rush appears on Lake Michigan
beach after 50-year absence

Photo by John Pursell

Last fall, as Leslie Borns walked along Montrose Beach in Chicago, she noticed some striking green stems, bright red at the base, emerging from the sand near shoreline. Borns, a volunteer for the Bird Conservation Network, knew that round, hollow stems are indicative of a rush, but it wasn’t until the plants flowered this May that she identified it as lakeshore rush (Juncus balticus). It was the first time this plant had been found on Chicago’s lakefront since 1946! The plants, similar to grasses and sedges, reach about two feet in height. Their chestnut brown flowers grow out of the side of the stems, about halfway up.

The lakeshore rush inhabits the shallow dune or "panne" region of a dune formation. One of the first plants to colonize a sandy area, it grows with other foredune plants, including sea-rocket (Cakile edentula), a Great Lakes coastal plant on the Illinois threatened list. Borns has counted 65 clumps of the rush thus far on Montrose Beach. The rushes bind sand, which forms ridges and swales and leads to further dune development.

According to the Lake Michigan Federation, the lakeshore rush appeared again in Chicago after more than 50 years due to a number of factors: (1) The Chicago Park District’s (CPD) heightened awareness of the importance of natural habitats, and a practice of allowing areas of parkland to exist in a natural state; and (2) lake levels are at an historic low, creating wider beaches and the shallow dune habitat the lakeshore rush needs to thrive. The plant cannot survive in areas where it is submerged or flooded too often and requires a habitat that receives water periodically and drains quickly. Floyd Swink, co-author of Plants of the Chicago Region, agreed that the rush’s presence is probably temporary. Still, he said, "The lakeshore rush has been absent from the area for so long, it is an exciting find."

Using beetles to control invasive purple loosestrife
Purple loosestrife populations are declining in two Lake County Forest Preserves, thanks to special leaf-eating beetles that were introduced to control the invasive weed. Recent monitoring at the Fox River and Grassy Lake Forest Preserves, both near Barrington, revealed that the biological control program using beetles had nearly eradicated the non-native plant.

	Purple loosestrife: A tasty snack for beetles. Photo courtesy of Lake County Forest Preserves.

Through a partnership with the Illinois Natural History Survey, the Lake County Forest Preserves have introduced two European species of beetles to wetland areas in 12 forest preserves that were overrun with purple loosestrife, which displaces native plants and animals. Since 1994, more than 245,000 beetles have been released.

"This is a long-term control measure that will perhaps not entirely eliminate purple loosestrife, but it will reduce its cover and allow native plants and animals the ability to reclaim their former niches," said Ken Klick, restoration ecologist and project manager. "The beetles have been so successful at these sites, you can already see rare gentians, ladies’ tresses, and other wetland plants take advantage of the new sunlight and freedom they’re experiencing."

A perennial plant, purple loosestrife can grow as tall as eight feet, and individual plants can produce more than two million seeds the size of ground pepper each year. Purple loosestrife plants defy most control efforts, such as hand-pulling, burns or flooding. Herbicides can be used to treat small areas but are impractical in large areas, so the beetles are considered the best method to control large, heavily infested areas of purple loosestrife.

Educating the public about loosestrife and other exotic plants is also contributing to the program’s success. Since 1998, students from 15 Lake County schools have assisted the Lake County Forest Preserves and local property owners in on-site rearing programs to help increase the population of beetles. Schools interested in more information about the program for beetles should contact the Illinois Natural History Survey’s Beetle Hotline at (217) 333-1005.

Growth Task Force seeks to control sprawl in Illinois
In a meeting that was noteworthy for its public consensus on general growth principles, approximately 30 speakers addressed a Chicago-area public meeting on July 6. The meeting was convened by the Growth Task Force, which was recently established by the Illinois legislature. The task force is composed of six state senators, six state representatives, and 12 business and community leaders from across the state. Chaired by Sen. William Maitland, the group includes representatives from Chicago Wilderness organizations such as the Center for Neighborhood Technology, the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, and the Openlands Project.

Common themes that emerged from the meeting were: consistent support for open space protection; watershed protection; agricultural preservation; maintenance of existing infrastructure; smart growth incentives; and, decreasing the state’s subsidy of sprawl.

A critical factor to controlling sprawl is recognition of the state’s role in encouraging it. According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, 30 percent of farmland loss is directly attributable to state action, and a significant but unquantified amount of agricultural conversion is indirectly caused by state action. One example of the potential for a good state program to have unintended consequences in Illinois FIRST, a program whose principal purpose is to direct public infrastructure spending. If through this program existing state infrastructure is improved to accommodate future growth, open space can be preserved. But if Illinois FIRST is used to build roads, sewers, and schools in undeveloped areas, sprawl will be fueled and biodiversity further threatened.

The task force does not have a specific deadline or reporting requirement, though some members have expressed the wish to submit smart growth legislation as soon as February 2001. Comments to the Growth Task Force can be sent to Sen. William Maitland, 627 State House, Springfield, IL 62706. —Stephen Perkins

Daley and Ryan team up to protect open space,
stimulate industry in Calumet area
On June 2, Mayor Richard M. Daley and Illinois Governor George H. Ryan presented a joint proposal for the Calumet area. The proposal addresses the future needs of the ecology and industry in the 20-square mile region. "The Calumet area is unique in that it will be a region where passive open space and productive industry coexist," Mayor Daley said. "We know these uses are compatible, and with careful planning and management, we can bring back Calumet’s natural beauty and industrial strength."

Conservationists are hopeful about this plan as well. Chicago Wilderness Chair John Rogner states, "Nowhere has the old attitude of ‘wetlands as wastelands’ left a more prominent legacy than in the Calumet region of Illinois and Indiana. The challenge is enormous, but the energy and passion seem to be there," Rogner said.

The State of Illinois is committing more than $20 million to the Calumet area, and the city is committing $14 million. It is hoped these contributions will encourage additional resources from corporations and foundations. Mardi Klevs of the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) views the city and state commitment to the Calumet area as the right way to do economic development: holistically. "This plan uses natural resources as an anchor for development. For 20 years the environmental community has had a vision for the Calumet area that has now been adopted by government," she said. "That’s really powerful."

The Calumet Area Land Use Plan includes creation of a Calumet Open Space Reserve that will preserve about 3,000 acres of wetlands, marshes, and streams. This collection of wetlands is home to abundant wildlife, including the black-crowned night heron and the yellow-headed blackbird, both on the Illinois endangered species list. The list of sites that environmentalists hope will be purchased, saved, and managed include Big Marsh, Indian Ridge Marsh north and south, Hyde Lake wetland, Hegewisch Marsh, Dead Stick Pond, Van Vlissingen Prairie, Burnham Prairie, and Heron Pond.

The public open space will be managed collectively to improve water quality, habitat, and recreational opportunities. Walter Marcisz, local Calumet bird conservationist, is pleased. "The proposal has potential to correct a lot of bad situations we have in Calumet area now," he said. "The wetlands are so fragmented by roads and other development that the hydrology is chaotic." For example, he noted, this year the black-crowned night heron nesting areas are being drowned out by water that is much too deep, but in some years the water drops to nothing. "The hydrology needs to be controlled and regulated."

The plans also call for building a new Calumet Area Environmental Center and an energy farm that would produce electricity from methane collected from landfills and solar panels. "The environmental center will provide wonderful educational opportunities for everyone in the area," noted Marion Byrnes, public affairs director for the Calumet Ecological Park Association. Byrnes added, "The city and state have been very receptive to community input."

Over the past year, the city and state have been meeting with local industrial, environmental, and neighborhood groups to help develop the Calumet Area Land Use Plan. The City has been working closely with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and suburban municipalities to enact the plan. The plan was funded through a grant from the US EPA, and is one of the largest study areas of its kind. Other partner agencies providing financial assistance for planning and development include the IDNR, IEPA, US Army Corps of Engineers, and the USDA Forest Service.

In the coming months, the mayor and the governor will be appointing an advisory committee of local government, business, and conservation group representatives to ensure that industrial development and retention, natural area conservation and environmental cleanup projects are implemented. A number of roundtable discussions began in August and will continue to meet throughout the fall. A great deal of research, discussion, and planning will be done before the end of the year. Chicago Audubon’s Alan Anderson summed up the feeling, "It’s been a long time . . . a couple of decades since Jim Landing founded the Lake Calumet Study Committee—but it looks like something good is finally coming!" — Nicole Kamins and Alison Carney Brown

Lake County voters to decide on acquiring and
restoring land, protecting rare species
Lake County voters will have the chance to acquire and restore land, protect rare species, and create more trails and other outdoor recreation and education opportunities by voting YES for two referenda on the November 7 general election ballot.

The first bond referendum would provide $85 million for Forest Preserve land preservation, acquisition, and improvements. (Up to $70 million is allocated for land preservation and acquisition and up to $15 million is earmarked for trails, restoration, and public access improvements.)

The second referendum proposes a change in the District’s corporate tax rate, which has not increased since August 1986, and would fund public safety, maintenance and operation of new Forest Preserve lands, trails and facilities. The Forest Preserve District has acquired more than 2,830 acres since1993 and several improvement and public access projects are already underway at these sites.

A recent countywide poll showed that Lake County residents overwhelmingly continue to enjoy and support their forest preserves. Most people agreed that the District should preserve more land, restore habitat for rare plants and animals, create more trails, and improve access to new and existing preserves. Respondents also were willing to pay to keep the current high standards of public safety, maintenance and operations in their Forest Preserves. "To balance rapid growth in Lake County, significantly more forest preserve land is required to accommodate need and demand," said Carol Calabresa, President of the Lake County Forest Preserves. "We only have a few years left to preserve our county’s remaining open space as forest preserves, and the time to act is now."

This fall, the Lake County Forest Preserves will mail information about the November 7 referenda to registered voters. For additional information, Lake County voters can call (847) 367-6640 and ask for Andrew Kimmel or Susan Hawkins.

Skokie River Partnership launches
collaborative restoration project
The Skokie River will benefit from restoration thanks to a partnership between the Park District of Highland Park (PDHP) and the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (LCSMC).

The Skokie River passes through significant public and private open space in Highland Park. The PDHP saw the array of landowners as an opportunity for collaborative restoration efforts and set about to develop a vision for the watershed. In January, the PDHP and LCSMC secured a Watershed Management Board Grant to launch the Skokie River Partnership and in July the partnership retained environmental consulting firm Hey and Associates. The partnership, still growing, also includes the East Skokie Drainage District, Bob-o-Link Golf Course, Old Elm Club, Birchwood Country Club, and the City of Highland Park.

This fall, the Skokie River Partnership will consider projects such as wetland restoration, pond improvements, and detention basin retrofits—all using native vegetation and sustainable practices. Recently, the PDHP has secured a grant to do streambank stabilization with native vegetation at the Sunset Valley Golf Course.

For more information on the Skokie River Partnership, please contact Natural Areas Supervisor Tim Girmscheid at the PDHP at (847) 681-2189 or pdhpplan@aol.com.

First Smith Fellow will work to
implement Chicago Wilderness recovery plan
Dennis Dreher was recently awarded the first Chicago Wilderness Smith Family Fellowship for 2000-2001. The primary responsibility of the Smith Fellow is the implementation of programs and projects that enhance the conservation objectives of Chicago Wilderness as outlined in the Biodiversity Recovery Plan. As Smith Fellow, Dreher will work with local governments and government agencies to develop model programs that work to conserve and restore natural areas. He will also serve as a principal point of contact between Chicago Wilderness and other regional initiatives, such as the Campaign for Sensible Growth and the Metropolis 2020 project. The Fellowship is funded, in part, through a generous grant from the Hermon Dunlap and Ellen T. Smith Fund of the Chicago Community Trust.

"The Smith Fellowship is an excellent opportunity for Chicago Wilderness to have experienced natural resource professionals tackle the challenges of implementing the recovery plan," said Tim Sullivan, chair, Department of Conservation Biology at the Brookfield Zoo. "Having Dennis’s services for a year will be a tremendous asset for Chicago Wilderness members and for local governments trying to work on biodiversity conservation."

Dreher has a master’s degree in environmental engineering with an emphasis on water resource management and aquatic ecology. He has worked for NIPC (Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission) for over 20 years, providing assistance to local governments and development professionals on techniques and programs to improve land and water resource management in the region. Dreher also does volunteer stewardship work with the North Branch Restoration Project and the Friends of the Chicago River.

New coalition forms to restore Des Plaines River areas
In February, volunteers founded the Des Plaines River Restoration Coalition (DRRC) in an effort to improve the natural areas adjacent to the river in the villages of Lyons, Riverside, and North Riverside. On their first workday (April 7), it snowed. Undaunted, more than 50 volunteers wielded loppers and hand saws to clear Tartarian honeysuckle, buckthorn, and vines visible above the snow, opening vistas to the river that hadn’t been seen in years. Another group of 15 volunteers cleared out enough debris to fill six dump trucks.

This summer, some 200 volunteers helped out. On May 6, they joined the Hoffman Dam River Rats for the spring Des Plaines River cleanup and collected about ten 55-gallon drums of garbage in addition to old pallets, tires, grocery carts, and a hot water heater.

Future DRRC events include:

• October 14 - Garbage clean up. 9:00 a.m.—noon
• October 28 - Vegetation management. 9:00 a.m.—noon

For more information about the Des Plaines River Restoration Coalition, contact Cindy Gustafson, (708) 442-7782 or GustafsonC@pbworld.com.

Storm opens up canopies for butterflies, flowers, and grasses
The May 18 storm that brought prolonged power outages to the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago brought new light to forest floors when winds up to 84 mph downed hundreds of trees. The Chicago Tribune described the storm as a microburst — "jets of air that smash against the ground and spread outward as damaging straight-line winds." While the resulting damage seemed catastrophic, in the long run natural communities will adjust and adapt as they do in the wake of most natural events.

	Storm damage at River Trail Nature Center. Photo by John Elliott, Forest Preserve District of Cook County.

John Elliott, Director of the River Trail Nature Center (RTNC) in Northbrook, noted, "Storm damage, like fire, is the normal scheme of things. The downed trees have opened the canopy and let in a lot of light, which encourages plant growth and oak reproduction." A dramatic account of the storm, with photographs, is posted on the RTNC Web site.

Reed-Turner Woodland Nature Preserve in the village of Long Grove was closed for more than five weeks; trails became unsafe when roughly 60 trees sustained damage from the May 18 storm. At the Chicago Botanic Garden’s (CBG) McDonald Woods, more than 50 mature trees came down during the storm, most of them oaks.

"It was the worst storm damage that I’ve seen in the 10 years I’ve been here, but it’s part of the disturbance regime that has occurred in habitats throughout time," remarked CBG Ecologist Jim Steffen. "With new openings in the canopy, the butterfly community will benefit," he added. "They like sunny areas for basking and the sunlight encourages the herbaceous growth that butterflies feed on." — Alison Carney Brown

Study recommends reducing wooded borders
between fields to help grassland birds
While the decline of grassland birds is well documented, how to manage their prairie habitat to help reverse the birds’ decline is the subject of important new research. Under the auspices of the University of Illinois at Chicago, Charles H. O’Leary and Dennis W. Nyberg have recently completed a study on land management for area-sensitive grassland birds. Their paper, "Treelines Between Fields Reduce the Density of Grassland Birds," was published in the July issue of Natural Areas Journal.

Conducted in five fields dominated by pasture grasses within Cook County’s Poplar Creek Forest Preserve, the study evaluated grassland bird use among them. The area ranged from 2.2, to 16.3 hectares. All species with singing males in each of the fields were counted at least once a week from April 15 to July 15 between 5:30 and 10:30 a.m. in 1995 and 1996. The grassland species identified were: savannah sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, Henslow’s sparrow, eastern meadowlark, bobolink, and sedge wren. Grassland bird usage within fields was evaluated by mapping their territory and nest locations. Usage patterns in relation to the field edge were also examined.

O’Leary and Nyberg note, "Within complexes of fields, our study documents that these birds chose larger fields over smaller ones. At Poplar Creek, each bird of the five area-sensitive species probably had knowledge of all five fields, but only the larger ones were chosen."

Observations such as these led O’Leary and Nyberg to make the following management recommendations for Poplar Creek: (1) reduce woody vegetation within fields, (2) reduce woody vegetation separating small fields from large fields, and (3) connect large fields to one another to reduce edge and increase nesting (interior) area.

These recommendations lend support to the green paper "Conserving Local Habitat for Declining Grassland Birds," published in April by the Chicago region’s Bird Conservation Network (BCN). The paper, by Duane Heaton, builds the case for improving grassland bird habitat: "In grasslands, the impact of nest predation near woody edges has been shown to extend at least 50 yards into some habitat blocks (Johnson and Temple, 1990). It is not uncommon for more than 80 percent of nests (near edges) to fail to produce young birds (Herkert, et al., 1993)." The BCN paper also includes a 14-point management guideline for enhancing habitat for grassland birds.

Glenview restoration to be called Air Station Prairie;
future interpretive center to be named for Tyner

	Eveyln Pease Tyner at work in the newly named Air Station Prairie.

On March 7, the Glenview Village Board voted to name the 31-acre prairie at the redeveloped Glenview Naval Air Station "Air Station Prairie" in recognition of the role played by the Navy in inadvertently protecting it. The Board also recognized the work of Glenview resident Evelyn Pease Tyner by naming Air Station Prairie’s future interpretive center after her.

Through her photography and environmental advocacy, Tyner was instrumental in protecting The Grove National Historic Landmark and the James Woodsworth Prairie Preserve in Glenview, Illinois. Tyner is a former professor at Harold Washington College with a Ph.D. in biochemistry.

The Village hasn’t developed plans for the interpretive center yet. "When the planning process begins, we will have to give input to be sure the center doesn’t encroach on the prairie," Tyner noted. After four years of management, including three prescribed burns, Air Station Prairie currently boasts 156 native plants species, including the state-endangered mountain blue-eyed grass and golden sedge. — Alison Carney Brown

Willowbrook Wildlife Center to the rescue
You awake one morning to find a Cooper’s hawk tangled in your rose bush, barely alive and too weak to fly. Who ya gonna call? For the citizens of DuPage County the answer is simple: the Willowbrook Wildlife Center.

By June of this year, the center had taken in more than 2,000 animals. Of these, 673 were returned to the wild after examination or released after treatment, including two amphibians, 14 reptiles, 291 mammals, and 366 birds. Only native species are accepted at the center; others are referred to private citizens who rehabilitate non-native species.

According to Carl Strang, naturalist at the 50-acre center for 18 years, Willowbrook staff members cannot make house calls, so they rely on concerned people to bring the animals in for treatment. Once admitted, patients are examined by staff veterinarian Dr. Katie Brown and her staff of several student interns and 14 rotating volunteers (who must have at least a year’s experience in wild animal care in other parts of the Center before working in the clinic). Each animal is provided care and medical treatment and is, if possible, rehabilitated and reintroduced into its native habitat. "I get personal gratification from helping individual animals, which many times have been injured through interactions with the public," Dr. Brown says, "but also from helping educate the public on how to improve their relationship with wild animals."

Strang explained that rehabilitation is sometimes not possible, as in the case of the great horned owl injured when an excavator it was hiding in started up. The construction crew brought it to the clinic but its shoulder was so damaged it had to be euthanized.

According to Willowbrook Curator Marcy Rogge, "The impact the center has on animal populations is secondary. What’s most important is our impact on humans. Our goal is to become mediators between people and animals, to have a long-term impact on people’s attitude toward nature." Located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, the Center is open seven days a week, 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. Telephone assistance is available daily, 9:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m. Before attempting to help or touch wildlife, call the center at (630) 942-6200. — Jennifer Tang

Conservation and Reinvestment Act clears Senate committee
In late July, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) successfully passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. As this issue goes to press, the bill must still pass the full Senate, and then a conference committee must resolve minor differences with the previously passed House bill. The administration has already indicated its support.

Many people consider this bill one of the most important pieces of conservation legislation in decades. It will provide major funding for wildlife, land and water conservation, parks and recreation, and coastal rehabilitation-paid for by federal revenues from oil lease drilling on the outer-continental shelf. Calling for annual appropriations of almost $3 billion nationwide, the bill could mean as much as $53 million per year for Illinois.

Senator Peter Fitzgerald, who aided CARA’s passage, told Chicago WILDERNESS that "Our country’s pristine forests, parks, and wetlands belong to every U.S. citizen. They are our national treasures. This legislation will help protect these lands in Illinois and across the United States."

"This is a big step towards a major win for conservation," said Steve Packard, National Audubon Society director for the Chicago region. "Thanks go to good leadership from Senator Fitzgerald and a variety of conservation groups. Locally, the Bird Conservation Network gets special credit. This is a good example of democracy working. We can expect to see great habitats acquired and great public education programs from this substantial funding."

Consider what CARA could mean to this region in the coming years:

• $800,000 - $1,000,000/yr for beach management at Illinois Beach State Park and to protect, manage, and restore this unique dune and swale community.
• Acquision of key in-holdings at Shawnee National Forest (to reduce forest fragmention). — Donald R. Dann

Local groups win award for Chicago River watershed project
Friends of the Chicago River (FCR) and the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (LCSMC) were recently awarded the 1999 CF Industries’ National Watershed Award for their North Branch of the Chicago River Watershed Project. The award, administered by The Conservation Fund, recognizes innovative, nonregulatory approaches to improving water quality and emphasizes local partnerships that demonstrate successful economic incentives, voluntary initiatives, and education.

In 1996, FCR and LCSMC joined to develop strategy and implement best management practices and programs to address nonpoint source pollution and flooding; to protect and restore natural resources; and to educate and involve citizens and community leaders in the watershed planning process and river stewardship. The partnership has since accomplished: the North Branch Chicago River Watershed Plan; Voices of the Watershed; Chicago Rivers School Network; Mellody Farm Floodplain Restoration, and the North Chicago Multi-purpose Detention Basin demonstration projects; numerous other ongoing initiatives.

In the "Runoff Report," FCR and the LCSMC said they realized long ago that the only way to solve the Northeastern Illinois watershed’s mushrooming problem was to enlist everybody who lived and worked there — from homeowners to teachers to businesses to local governments — to voluntarily work together to protect their watershed.

To get involved in this award-winning vision, call Cynthia at Friends of the Chicago River, (312) 939-0490. ext. 13, and Sean Wiedel, Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Watershed Planner, (847) 918-7693.

Software for tracking plants to assess quality of open land
What better way to assess the natural quality of open land than to take a closer look at the plant species that live there? One such method—commonly referred to as Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA)—does exactly that and is now available in a Windows-based software program. Two databases are currently available: one for the State of Illinois and another for the Chicago region. Future databases will likely include Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, northeastern Ohio, the northern Great Plains, and southern Ontario.

FQA is a method designed to assess the quality of open land using existing plant species. It allows landowners, conservation organizations, volunteer stewards, and other practitioners to make standardized comparisons between natural areas and facilitates the development of conservation programs by tracking and analyzing site monitoring and restoration activities. For additional information about the FQA Program and its use, contact Conservation Design Forum at (630) 758-0355. All profits from the sale of the program support the work of the Conservation Research Institute.

Herons establish new rookery in Lake County Forest Preserve
Wildlife biologists were recently surprised to discover a new large heron rookery in the Lake County Forest Preserves (LCFP) during an annual survey of cranes, herons, and other large waterbirds. Made up of 24 great blue heron nests, the rookery was spotted from a helicopter by biologists for the LCFP and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

The biologists spotted the natural rookery while checking manmade platforms at another forest preserve site. "Herons traditionally nest in the same area for a number of years and it’s unusual to see them choose a new nesting site," said Frank Drummond, LCFP wildlife biologist. "Apparently, they were attracted to suitable nest trees near a large wetland, which provides ideal feeding grounds for herons and a variety of other wildlife and waterfowl." This discovery brings the total number of great blue heron nests located within four Lake County preserves to 104.

The annual survey, known as the crane count, has been conducted throughout Illinois for over 10 years by the IDNR. It focuses primarily on sandhill cranes, a rare species, but also counts more common wading birds such as herons, egrets, and cormorants.

In addition to the heron count, biologists observed three nesting pairs of sandhill cranes at three Lake County preserves. Approximately 175 great egret nests and 60 double-crested cormorant nests were also identified.

To participate in the crane count and other volunteer efforts to help wildlife in LCFP, call Tom Smith, volunteer stewardship coordinator, at (847) 968-3329.

New members join Chicago Wilderness coalition
Seven new members were voted into Chicago Wilderness at the July 11 Council meeting, expanding the coalition to 114 members.

• The mission of Lake Bluff Opens Lands Association is to protect, preserve, and restore open space and natural areas in and around the Village of Lake Bluff. The association is currently working on restoring native flora to a large area of ravine, as well as the restoration of a sand community at Lake Bluff beach.
• The Northwestern University Environmental Council serves to support, coordinate, and stimulate a wide range of environmental university research and educational programs. Many of these programs involve work that supports biodiversity in the Chicago area.
• Pringle Nature Center in Bristol, Wisconsin, provides a place where the Kenosha County community can appreciate nature, experience recreational opportunities, and be inspired to become responsible stewards of the environment.
• The Village of Glenview, Illinois is currently involved in the preservation and restoration of the 31-acre Glenview Air Station Prairie, and is the owner of a variety of natural areas.
• The Village of Lincolnshire, Illinois is committed to the protection and thoughtful management of the natural resources that exist within the community. Current activities include the restoration of a portion of the headwaters of the West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River and management of the Florsheim Nature Preserve. The Village also provides environmental programs for the public.
• The goal of the Wayne Park District is to maintain natural areas as they were before European settlement and to preserve woods, prairies, and wetlands. The Park District also seeks to engage residents and school children in supporting land acquisition and protection.
• The Wheaton Park District seeks to enrich the quality of community life through a diversity of healthy leisure pursuits and a heightened appreciation for the natural world. The District owns more than 800 acres of land, and is currently restoring more than 100 acres of wetlands, prairies, and oak woodlands. The district provides environmental education and outdoor adventure programs to more than 17,000 participants annually.