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Des Plaines River Conservation Area

Location: Will County, Channahon Township, T34N, R9E, Secs. 29, 32, & 33 and Wilmington Township T33N, R9E, Secs. 4, 5, 9, 15, 22, 23, 24
Size of area affected by MSCSF-funded work: 550 acres
Resulting Illinois Nature Preserves Commission Land and Water Registry dedication: 550 acres
Owner: Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
Partners: IDNR, USACE, CorLands, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission

Action: Cutting and removal of invasive shrubs and select trees, control of invasive herbaceous plants.

Summary: The presence of recognized dolomite prairies of substantial size and quality at this location made it a choice for receiving MSCSF funding. Both Grant Creek Prairie (78 acres on the east side of I-55) and the Des Plaines Dolomite Prairie (9 acres on the west side of I-55) were on the original Illinois Natural Areas Inventory conducted in 1977. Grant Creek is rich with purple prairie clover and northern dropseed; little bluestem and Indian grass predominate in the Des Plaines Dolomite Prairie. In addition to these core prairie areas at the Des Plaines River Conservation Area, two other areas also received restoration attention from MSCSF: Blodgett Road Prairie and Frontage Road Prairie. Other plant and insect species of note present in these prairies are buffalo clover, glade quillwort, false mallow, slender sandwort, and red veined leafhopper. Also, Des Plaines River Conservation Area is one of 48 sites in Illinois designated as Important Bird Areas by the National Audubon Society in 2004.

Invasive brush and trees were either cut, hydro-axed, or girdled from all work areas, and invasive herbaceous plants were controlled through mowing, pulling and/or herbicide treatment. Crown vetch, reed canary grass, and teasel were the main problem herbaceous species. The treatments varied with site conditions - in areas that were in fairly good shape, the contractor scouted the area and treated whatever needed attention. Other areas required more aggressive removal of brush over large areas by the hydraulic axe, chainsaw, girdling and herbicide. The main goal of the work funded by the MSCSF was to get the four prairies areas to a point where their ecological quality could be maintained by IDNR and INPC staff by regular prescribed burning and periodic scouting and treatment of woody and herbaceous invasive species.

While the main purpose of the Des Plaines River Conservation Area continues to be recreational in nature (hunting, fishing, horseback riding), the quality and standing of its natural areas has been significantly improved.