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Theodore Marsh and Black Road Access South

Location: Will County, (Theodore Marsh) Lockport Township, T36N, R10E, Sec 31, and (Black Road Access South) Plainfield Township T36N, R9E, Sec 36, Cities of Crest Hill and Joliet
Size of area affected by MSCSF-funded work: (Theodore Marsh) 140 acres, (Black Road Access South) 19 acres
Resulting Illinois Nature Preserve Commission Land and Water Reserve dedications: Theodore Marsh – 140 acres, Black Road Access South – 41.8 acres
Owner: Forest Preserve District of Will County (FPDWC)
Partners: FPDWC, USACE, CorLands, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, Commonwealth Edison

Action: Soil analysis, fill removal, cutting and removal of shrubs and trees, follow-up treatment of herbicide on resprouts, control of invasive herbaceous species, mowing, planting of native plant seeds and plugs, and design and installation of interpretive signs.

Summary: Theodore Marsh and Black Road Access South are a part of the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Rock Run Creek Preserve system. Though there are no dolomite prairies along Rock Run, the geology, topography and historic plant communities of the preserves along the creek are sufficiently similar to those of Lockport Prairie and Romeoville Prairie that these Rock Run preserves may be used as seed sources for restoration in those areas.

Located in the Cities of Crest Hill and Joliet, Theodore Marsh and Black Road Access South are literally surrounded by residential and commercial development. Development is so close that it gives the impression that houses have tumbled out of the subdivision and fallen into the natural area. Such close neighbors for a fire-dependent natural area pose challenges for natural area managers, but it also presents a solid opportunity for building a good relationship with a community that may become knowledgeable about and fiercely protective of the natural areas.

The major components of the MSCSF-funded work at Theodore Marsh and Black Road Access South included the removal of approximately five acres of fill over former wetlands, extensive clearing of invasive trees and shrubs, the planting of native seeds and plugs, a siltation basin for stormwater run-off coming into the site from the north, and two seasons of invasive plant control (mowing, select herbiciding). At 140 acres, the restoration areas at Theodore Marsh are large enough to hopefully attract increasingly rare grassland nesting birds.

One component of the MSCSF grant for this site was to provide excellent interpretive signs along the bike trail that runs through the sites and wider Rock Run Creek Greenway system. The signs describe the importance of fire and other management activities, as well as pointing out what is special about the marsh and uplands. When the contractor put in seeds and plugs, they emphasized plantings within 100 feet of trails and roads. This way the success and beauty of the restoration could be observed right away first-hand by residents. The flowers themselves are so showy that the restoration sells itself.