Groundbreaking Set For Project At 2 Will Co. Forest Preserves

WILL COUNTY, IL — A public groundbreaking ceremony for a 700-acre aquatic ecosystem restoration project will take place Monday, Aug. 6, to celebrate the work now underway at Prairie Bluff Preserve in Crest Hill and Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve in Lockport Township. The cost of this multi-million dollar Army Corps project at the two spots is being shared with the Forest Preserve District, and is being done to remove invasive species and encourage native plant growth, according to the Forest Preserve District. The project's current initial phase will cost around $2.5 million, with overall construction estimated at $4.3 million.

The groundbreaking celebration will be held at 2 p.m. at the Prairie Bluff Preserve access area, located on Renwick Road, east of Weber Road.

According to the Forest Preserve District, among those scheduled to attend are U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski, whose district includes the preserves, and Col. Aaron Reisinger, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District. Forest Preserve officials expected to attend include Board President Suzanne Hart, Vice President Annette Parker, Commissioner Lauren Staley-Ferry and Chief Operating Officer Ralph Schultz.

"It's exciting to see this important restoration project begin to come to fruition," said Hart, in a release. "The work being done protects endangered and threatened species and habitats, and improves the quality and function of our Will County forest preserves."

The project is estimated to take five years initially, with the possibility of future contract options.

The work will also renew Prairie Bluff's underground water system so it flows to Lockport Prairie, where you'd find an extremely rare patch of habitat. The district adds that the Lockport Prairie features wet and wet-mesic dolomite prairie, one of the most critically imperiled natural communities on Earth, in addition to more than half of the high quality wet dolomite prairie in the world is located at the preserve.

"With strong partnerships like this, we can overcome any environmental challenge and get the work done to restore these preserves for the people of Will County and the region," said Col. Reisinger, in a release.

According to a release, Lockport Prairie inhabitants include the federally-endangered Hine's emerald dragonfly, lakeside daisy, the federally-threatened leafy prairie clover, Two federal candidate species - the spotted turtle and Blanding’s turtle, the state-endangered golden corydalis, and the state-threatened stiff sandwort.

More information: ReconnectWithNature.org.

Photo: This federally-endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly is an example of the type of creature that will be helped by an U.S. Army Corps ecosystem restoration project at two Forest Preserve District of Will County sites, Prairie Bluff Preserve in Crest Hill and Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve in Lockport Township. A public groundbreaking for the project is set for 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, at Prairie Bluff. (Photo Courtesy of Marla Garrison)