IDNR awards nearly $700,000 to support stewardship of Illinois natural areas

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced $697,816 in grants to support 14 grants stewardship programs managed by land trusts on land protected by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission (INPC).

The following grants were awarded:

Citizens for Conservation

Lake County

$43,174

Equipment for invasive species control and prescribed fire implementation at Barrington Bog Nature Preserve and Farm Trails North Nature Preserve.

Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves

Cook County

$59,608.50

Tools and equipment to build capacity for volunteer stewardship and contractual work for invasive species control at Superior Street Land and Water Reserve and Old Plank Road Prairie Nature Preserve.

Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves

Lake County

$24,872.25

Tools and equipment to build capacity for volunteer stewardship at Florsheim Park Nature Preserve and Morton Grove Prairie Nature Preserve.

Grand Prairie Friends

Coles County

$85,803.10

Staff time, equipment and supplies to implement prescribed fire and invasive species control at several sites, including Embarras Ridges Land and Water Reserve, Warbler Woods North Land and Water Reserve, Warbler Woods Nature Preserve, Warbler Bottoms North Land and Water Reserve, Warbler Bluff Land and Water Reserve, and Warbler Landing Land and Water Reserve.

Heartlands Conservancy

Monroe County

$38,583.33

Staff time, equipment and supplies to support firebreak installation, invasive species control and reduction of woody species encroachment at Trout Hollow Hill Prairie Nature Preserve.

Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation

Jo Daviess County

$71,126

Staff time, supplies and equipment for invasive species control, reseeding and planting with native species, and expansion of internal seed processing and propagation at Wapello Land and Water Reserve.

Land Conservancy of McHenry County

McHenry County

$22,600

Contractual support for invasive species control and suitable habitat expansion at Yonder Prairie Nature Preserve.

Natural Land Institute

Winnebago County

$20,000

Contractual support to reduce aggressive woody encroachment at Lost Flora Fen on Raccoon Creek Nature Preserve.

The Nature Conservancy

Cook County

$20,100

Trailer to improve efficiency and safety and expand site stewardship at Nachusa Grassland Nature Preserve, Nachusa Grasslands Land and Water Reserve, and Vassallo Land and Water Reserve.

The Nature Conservancy

Cook County

$27,350

Equipment to increase capacity for native, local-genotype seed processing at Gensburg-Markham Prairie Nature Preserve, Dropseed Prairie Nature Preserve, Markham Prairie-East Nature Preserve, Paintbrush Prairie Nature Preserve and Sundrop Nature Preserve.

Parklands Foundation

Woodford County

$98,340.46

Equipment and contractual support to implement invasive species removal and prescribed fire and increase stewardship capacity at Letcher Basin Land and Water Reserve, Lexington Land and Water Reserve, Ridgetop Hill Prairie Nature Preserve and Merwin Savanna Nature Preserve.

Pheasants Forever

Knox County

$29,082.31

Equipment and supplies to increase prescribed fire capacity followed by reseeding at Forever Fields Land and Water Reserve.

Prairie Hills Resource Conservation and Development

McDonough County

$99,890

Staff time, equipment, supplies and contractual support for prescribed fire, woody species removal and invasive species control at numerous sites, including Nenawakwa Land and Water Reserve, Thistle Hills Land and Water Reserve, Stony Hills Nature Preserve, Jamar Haven Land and Water Reserve, Short Fork Seep Nature Preserve, Crystal Glen Land and Water Reserve, Snyder Hill Prairie Land and Water Reserve, Charles "Chinee" Colvin Sand Prairie Land and Water Reserve, and Chandlerville Cemetery Hill Prairie Land and Water Reserve.

The Wetlands Initiative

Putnam County

$57,286.34

Staff time, supplies and contractual support to control invasive species, reduce woody encroachment and connect high-quality habitats at the Sandy Hollow Buffer Addition to the Thomas W. and Elizabeth Moews Dore Seep Nature Preserve.

About the Natural Areas Stewardship Grant program

Eligible applicants under the Natural Areas Stewardship Grant program are conservation land trusts exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and whose originating documents include in its purpose the restoration, stewardship or conservation of land for the preservation of native plants or animals, biotic communities, geologic formations or archaeological sites of significance.

Since 2001, more than $4.3 million has been awarded to conservation land trusts for supported activities including invasive species control, prescribed fire and restoration of natural communities. Grants also may fund equipment used for natural areas stewardship, including utility terrain vehicles, sprayers, personal protective equipment and hand tools for volunteers.

Funding for the grant program is derived from a portion of the Illinois Natural Areas Acquisition Fund. The fund must be used by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for the acquisition and stewardship of natural areas, including habitats for endangered and threatened species.

About IDNR