LOCKPORT, IL — The Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve has received an award from the Illinois Park and Recreation Association for its habitat and ecological restoration, the Forest Preserve District of Will County shared in a news release.
The outstanding ecological restoration project was awarded by the IPRA's Forest Preserve and Conservation Leadership section.
The award was given to the six-year, 269-acre restoration project to restore native wetlands at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve, according to a news release from the preserve.
Work at the preserve focused on removing cattails and other invasive plants and replanting native species and conducting prescribed burns, said Restoration Ecologist Barbara Sherwood.
Lockport Prairie is home to the globally rare dolomite prairie.
Because of the rarity of the habitat, the preserve is home to several threatened and endangered plant and animal species, including insects and reptiles, Sherwood said.
The award helps bring awareness of the Forest Preserve's efforts and also hopefully promotes collaboration across similar agencies, Sherwood said.
"Seeing the improvements and changes on the landscape and protecting and enhancing the natural communities is rewarding," she said in a news release. "We hope our successes and lessons learned can inspire others to keep up the good fight and adapt methods as we acquire more knowledge."
Sherwood said Forest Preserve conservation crews will continue to control invasive species and monitor the area to enhance the health of the dolomite prairie and sedge meadows at Lockport Prairie.
"Due to the high quality and rarity of this site, we will prioritize restoration efforts there," she said.
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