25 E. Washington St.,
Suite 1650
Chicago, Illinois 60602-1708
Phone 312 427-4256
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Wetland Seed Production Facility
Location: Will County
Size of area affected by MSCSF-funded work: 4 acres
Owner: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service
Partners: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, USACE, CorLands
Action: Design and layout of facility, preparation of property for the project, installation of wells and utilities; native plant seeds and plugs.
Summary: The Wetland Seed Production Facility follows the successful model set up for upland prairie seed production at Midewin, and is adjacent to that site. As in a nursery, native wetland species are planted in single-species rows to facilitate their maintenance and harvesting. Initial plantings have been completed.
One difference with the wetland seed production facility is that the water levels within the soil are going to be artificially augmented. Though the low ground of the facility's location is conducive to growing wetland plants, a well and pump will ensure that there is an adequate water supply at all times to help the facility to consistently produce quantities of viable wetland seed.
The on-site seed production facility will ensure a source for targeted, high priority plants, and it will reduce the costs of restoration. When fully operative in the near future Midewin staff estimates that this facility will produce enough seed to help restore or enhance up to 60 of wetland acres a year at Midewin.