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Lake Renwick East

Location: Will County, Plainfield Township, T36N, R9E, Se. 14, Village of Plainfield
Size of area affected by MSCSF-funded work: 105 acres
Resulting Illinois Nature Preserve Commission Nature Preserve Buffer Dedication: 138 acres
Owner: Forest Preserve District of Will County (FPDWC)
Partners: FPDWC, USACE, CorLands, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission

Action: Inventory of drainage tiles and drainage features, hydric soil mapping, hydrologic restoration, redirection of subsurface water flow coming in from off-site, planting of native plant seeds and plugs, mowing, hedgerow removal, and installation of pedometers

Summary: Lake Renwick East is a part of the larger FPDWC land holding that includes the Lake Renwick Heron Rookery and Turtle Lake access area. Prior to the approval of the MSCSF grant the majority of the Lake Renwick East site was in row crop agriculture. The main goals for the FPDWC was to restore site hydrology, establish native plant communities, and to potentially increase foraging habitat for the herons and egrets nesting at the Lake Renwick Heron Rookery.

The goal of restoring site hydrology was entirely achieved. The drainage was assessed, and tiles were removed or modified. Valves were installed to insure that water was diverted into perforated pipes that were placed in strategic locations to facilitate the rehydration of the wetland. Water now seeps into the wetlands, which provides an excellent filter for diminishing sediment and pollutants before they reach Lily Cache Creek. But the pond area turns out to be only ephemeral; though there is knee to thigh-deep water in the spring, the pond area becomes vegetated land by mid-summer. This is because the underlying soil is glacial outwash, rocky and porous.

With the new water management system in place the FPDWC initiated vegetative restoration of native species through the planting of native seeds and plugs. Mowing of the restoration areas was done the first two summers after planting to reduce competition by non-native species. Several thick hedgerows were also removed, restoring the open grassland character of the site. The native seeds and plugs planted by the FPDWC have taken hold and provided enough fuel to allow the FPDWC to conduct the first prescribed burn of the site in the spring of 2005.