John Wesley Powell Audubon

by Angelo Capparella, Conservation Chair

Illinois is known as "The Prairie State" because 60% of its pre-settlement landscape was 

covered in that ecosystem. However, few native prairies remain, and we are still losing 

remnants along railways and roadsides.  Indeed, less than 0.01 percent (2,200 acres) of the 

original 22,000,000 acres exist, making this loss much worse than the tropical rain forest. 

Along with the loss of the prairie is the loss of prairie ecosystem free services, including 

wildlife habitat, groundwater recharge, water purification, and carbon sequestration.

McLean County originally had 90% of its landscape covered in prairie, but now the 5-acre

Weston Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve in the northeastern part of the county is all that is

left of the original prairie.  Despite its small size, Weston contains more than 100 native plant

species, although the surrounding agricultural activity continues stressing the site.  Directions

to Weston: http://dnr.state.il.us/INPC/Directory/Sitefiles/Area5/wesmc.htm

To experience today what the native prairies of Illinois and McLean County were like, to walk

through and hear the waving tall grasses, to enjoy the beauty of the wildflowers, and to see and

hear the prairie animals during breeding season, all motivate interest in restoring this damaged

part of our natural heritage.  The science of ecological restoration and the passion of prairie

volunteer restorationists are making this a reality.

Prairie restoration is challenging.  Native seed can be expensive, and collecting them from remnants is time consuming, difficult, and not permitted in Illinois nature preserves.  Some species germinate easily, while others may require special treatment.  Many may lie dormant for several years before growing so that even a carefully seeded prairie needs time to develop.  But excellent results can occur and the effort is important for Illinois to earn again its nickname as "The Prairie State".

Restored prairies vary from postage stamp to several hundreds of acres in size, and they vary greatly in the extent to which they support the biodiversity of the original prairie.  Fortunately, we have a number of local prairie restorations under way. We recommend visiting them throughout the year as the prairie expresses itself in ways unique to each season.     

Sugar Grove Nature Center at Funk’s Grove, McLean County:   This large prairie is located by the Nature Center to its east and north; directions at: www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/Visitor-Information.htm  The diversity is high, and a mowed trail allows for easy access. One of the best ways to learn about this prairie is to volunteer for the prairie restoration group for a hands-on experience year round: 

www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/Making-A-DifferenceVolunteer.htm

by Angelo Capparella, Conservation Chair
 
1.  Attended the 13 October public hearing by Clark Dietz Inc. on the East Side Highway study status. The next step will be an Environmental Impact Study, and I'll serve on the Citizen's Advisory Group-Environment Section to continue representing our interests.
 
2.  Will be attending the 19 October public hearing by the McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals regarding the expansion of the Horizon Wind Farm. Earlier, Horizon gave me a copy of their technical habitat and wildlife site assessment. Under my name only, I did write a letter supporting their expansion.
 
3.  Will be attending the 22 October Lake Bloomington/Evergreen Lake Watershed Oversight Committee meeting.
 
4.  Will be attending the 6 November "Growing the Greenways Plan and Trail" which dovetails with many of our interests.
 
5.  Received an invitation from Mayor Koos to join the Water Quality working group of the Town of Normal's Sustainability Task Force.  I've accepted and it will be interesting to see what this entails.
 
6.  We have been working for over five years with two local groups (Friends of Kickapoo Creek and SEWERS) and one state-wide group (Prairie Rivers Network = PRN) to deal with the lack of proper sewage treatment by rural subdivisions throughout McLean County. Our county is well known for not requiring developers to establish sewage treatment systems that meet state standards; those developers then leave a mess for the local homeowners association which becomes the liable party. Because the IEPA has been underfunded, enforcement of the rules weren't happening. Once we starting insisting on enforcement (which was helped by involvement in the Lake Bloomington watershed plan), a number of noncompliance issues finally
received attention and there was a major IEPA public hearing here last year on 5 rural subdivisions that have been violating water quality rules for up to a decade.  Because of our continual pressure, IEPA finally insisted that these subdivisions meet state standards, and this month those requirements are finally being enacted. Only one rural subdivision is refusing to
comply, and IEPA is backing off further enforcement, so PRN is preparing a lawsuit against them. Progress is slow, but with persistence and cooperation it can happen.

by Angelo Capparella, Conservation Chair

A public meeting occurred October 13 regarding the second stage of 

the East Side Highway Corridor study, which encompasses a large area

 of the Kickapoo Creek watershed along with smaller areas of Money 

Creek and Six Mile Creek. At the conclusion of the first stage study 

last March, a 500'-wide corridor was recommended in which an 

alignment could occur, called the N1-M2-S2M. The central part of the

corridor (M2) is a half mile east of Towanda-Barnes Road, but crosses

 it to the west at the north (N1) and south (S2M) ends (see link to 

map below). The step two study requires: 1) an environmental impact 

study (EIS) of all potential corridors, including comparison to the 

selected corridor; and 2) reduction of the selected corridor width to

200-250'.

 The corridor study is an outgrowth of 

decisions made by the McLean County 

Regional Planning Commission (MCRPC) in

 cooperation with Bloomington, Normal, 

Towanda and Downs in terms of desired 

growth areas (east side) and preferred 

dominant mode of transportation 

(passenger vehicles using roads). 

Therefore, if people disagree with 

those two drivers of the corridor study,

the place to be involved is at the 

MCRPC and municipality level with their zoning and planning processes.

The corridor study operated within those constraints.

JWP Audubon and Friends of Kickapoo Creek are involved with the 

process through representation on the Citizens Advisory Group. 

We want to ensure that the step two study EIS includes: 1) all 

environmental impacts; 2) mitigation of environmental impacts; and 3)

 choice of a corridor that minimizes damage to Kickapoo Creek, a 

biologically significant stream. A public meeting to launch the step 

two study will occur in about six months.

The East Side Highway Corridor website (www.eastsidehighway.com) 

has maps and the full report of the step one study. The map of the 

recommended corridor (N1-M2-S2M) is Figure 31 of Appendix A; scroll 

down on this page 
to load that map:  www.eastsidehighway.com/index_files/Page848.htm

North American waterbirds are a diverse group of beautiful species that share with us numerous and various freshwater and marine habitats. Their important roles in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems make them sensitive indicators of the health of these environments so important to many species, including our own. Throughout history, these birds have enriched and supported human existence and experience in many ways - economically, culturally, and aesthetically.

The Important Bird Areas Program (IBA) is a global effort to identify and conserve areas that are vital to birds and other biodiversity. By working with Audubon chapters, landowners, public agencies, community groups, and other non-profits, Audubon endeavors to interest and activate a broad network of supporters to ensure that all Important Bird Areas are properly managed and conserved.

The Important Bird Areas Program recognizes that coupled with global warming, habitat loss and fragmentation are the most serious threats facing populations of birds across America and around the world.By working to identify and implement conservation strategies at Important Bird Areas, we hope to minimize the effects that habitat loss and degradation have on birds and other biodiversity... Learn More!