Volunteers sew native plant seeds by hand in December 2015.

The new prairie at Willow Branch bloomed in July 2016.

After a successful fundraiser and matching grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation in June 2015, Macon County Conservation District volunteers and staff were able to restore part of Willow Branch Conservation Area in Macon, Illinois.

With funds raised, we removed garbage and debris from the site, planted over 1,000 native tree seedlings, installed and continue to monitor seven bluebird houses, and seeded 44 acres of prairie and 8 acres of savanna. The prairie and savanna seeds grew well and first bloomed in July 2016.

Jeannie Van Leeuwen Maxwell previously owned these 52 acres. Maxwell approached the Macon County Conservation District and its Foundation about purchasing the land because she wanted the property to remain undeveloped and preserved for wildlife. Thanks to a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, the Macon County Conservation Foundation was able to acquire it in 2012 and begin natural area restoration.

This site is particularly special because it adjoins another natural area that was graciously bequeathed by Verna King back in 2002. Together these two properties form Willow Branch Conservation Area.

Like other natural areas in Macon County, they help filter the air you breathe and the water you drink. These areas also provide a valuable oasis of habitat that native plants and animals depend on for survival.

Natural Area Restoration at Macon County Conservation District

With miles of tall prairie grasses, oak-hickory forests, and vibrant wildflowers it is easy to get lost in the beauty of Macon County Conservation District’s 3200 acres of nature and wildlife. The great outdoors captivates us but most of us do not know what goes on behind the scenes of our natural area restoration projects.

Before natural area restoration

“During the early stages people see the removal of trees from an area or the treating of invasive plants with herbicides,” Natural Resources Specialist, Rich Crowe said. “The removal stage of a project is usually the most unsightly, so some people become concerned at first.” Today, most of the areas we see covered with prairie grasses and tall oak trees were originally overrun with tangled brush and invasive plant species.

Restoration projects move slowly, taking a great deal of planning and time along with an
even longer time frame to see results. “With some prairie plantings it can take 8-10 years before a prairie restoration matures to a diverse stand.” Crowe explained, “It is important in the planning
process to consider the time and resources it will take to do the initial work but also maintain the restorations in the future.”

After natural area restoration

Oak Savanna Restoration

A project currently underway is the oak savanna restoration, a six acre site at Friends Creek Conservation Area, near Cisco, Illinois.

The project began in December 2010 and even though the beauty and uniqueness of the site is not yet evident, it will soon become a true gem of Macon County.

Savannas are unique in that they can be described as an intermediate habitat, a transition between tall grass prairie and forest. “Oak savannas are valuable to wildlife because they provide a variety of resources in one area, such as nesting, den cover, fruits, nuts, and nectar sources,” Crowe said.

The savanna restoration at Friends Creek Conservation Area will involve the removal of invasive trees and shrubs, followed by seeding native grasses and wildflowers. The site will then be mowed regularly to give the native seedlings time to establish themselves with minimal weed competition.

We encourage you to join us in watching this project grow and evolve. Even though it may be in the “ugly duckling” stage now, with time and care the plants and wildlife in this area will flourish making this a great destination to experience the outdoors.

Due to erosion our driveway at Sand Creek Conservation Area became so narrow our trucks almost ended up in a ditch!

A wetland was created to help prevent erosion and to also improve Decatur’s water quality

Due to erosion our driveway at Sand Creek Conservation Area became so narrow our trucks almost ended up in a ditch! We made lemonade out of a lemon by repairing the lane and creating a wetland to help prevent erosion and to also improve Decatur’s water quality by keeping silt out of Lake Decatur. The project began in June 2010 and drastic improvements are already visible. Mink, ducks, fish and many other species of wildlife have even been spotted in the wetland!

Site of Sugar Maple Infestation before

After cleanup

Even though sugar maples are not an exotic species, this situation is a perfect example of how a monoculture threatens the diversity of wildlife, devalues the quality of the habitat and of our own personal lives. With the aggressive nature of the sugar maples, the oak and hickory trees struggled to survive and many died in the shade cast by the maple trees. The project which began in December 2008, lasted approximately three weeks, and resulted in the planting of nearly 20 different types of wildflowers and five different native grasses. Long-term management for this site will consist of woodland burns which will allow a variety of native plants the best chance at survival. Today the site is flourishing and attracting new species of wildlife by providing a variety of shelter and food.

Site of Autumn Olive Plant before restoration

Site after restoration

With its aggressive and nearly indestructible nature the invasive autumn olive plant had taken over this area of Sand Creek Conservation Area. “In 2003, the project spread across 15 acres and it took nearly three weeks to clear out the invasive species and woody debris. Native wildflowers and grasses, planted in 2006, have come a long way with growth of native wildflowers and grasses and the attraction of new wildlife but the maintenance has and will continue to be a life long project requiring a high level of labor.