Volunteers Needed for Genoa Project
The Genoa prairie restoration and wildlife improvement project has started getting a lot of attention lately. Genoa’s Arborist, Janice Melton, emphasizes the hard work that has gone into Genoa’s Prairie Project. Melton added, “All the hard work that everyone has contributed is starting to show good progress.”
The 80 acres of wetland, savanna and forested areas are slowly being transformed. The City of Genoa received WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program) funding with the help of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS), and is working with Paul Searl from NCRS, who is helping them navigate the contract requirements. The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for conservation-minded landowners who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat on agriculture land, nonindustrial private forest land, and Indian land. This project is targeted for completion in the year 2016.
The wetland areas have proven to be a challenge with the cool rainy seasons experienced the past two years. “Just getting these areas cleared of young saplings and tall weeds was a big project itself.” Says Melton. The initial mowing uncovered a lot of debris in these areas. The upland savanna areas were accessible, so it was determined that this location was a good starting place. Randy Nelson, a local farmer of the Kingston area, planted 15 acres of soybeans this spring in the prairie and savanna areas of the project. “Round-Up ready soybeans were planted as a requirement of the contract to choke out weeds and get nitrogen in the soil. Randy Nelson was a big help to us and he was the beneficiary of the crop yield this area produced. It was a win win for all of us.” Says Melton.
Terry Hannah, DeKalb County Forest Preserve, is very experienced with prairie restoration and has been available for continued guidance throughout the process. “The support we have received from Terry in seed donations and shared knowledge has been outstanding. His continued support in all aspects of this project is greatly appreciated,” says Melton. Peggy Doty, University of Illinois Extension Educator, and Al Roloff a land management resource, have contributed a lot of time, effort, and expertise to the project. “I seeded some of the wet areas by hand this fall and Peggy and Connie Handel, of the Natural Resource Center, gave me the extra hands I needed to get the job done.” says Melton.
Next on the agenda is invasive plant specie control in the forested areas this winter. We have targeted the last three Saturdays in February, the 13th, 20th and the 27th for volunteer work days. Peggy Doty and Al Roloff are helping with this endeavor. The City is hoping to complete invasive plant removal on 18 acres of forest habitat this winter. They are relying on volunteer groups and individuals in the community to help. “This is where the community can really make a difference. People keep asking what they can do to help and now is the time we need it”, says Melton.
The work has been started to clear the parcel where the second phase of upper savanna planting area will be located. The pine and spruce trees that were on the parcel needed to be removed to have soybeans planted in the spring of 2010. The City worked with Jim Slater from the GK School District and determined that these trees would be best utilized to create a wind break for the soccer fields and a visual enhancement between the Riverbend subdivision and the High School property. Working with the GK School District made it possible to transplant many of the pine and spruce trees in areas that would benefit both the high school and the adjacent subdivision. Jim Slater and the GK School District have received many positive comments from residents appreciating the “instant impact” that the trees provide. The School District also helped by loaning equipment the City did not have to work in prairie seed after planting.
When completed, the Prairie project will be a wonderful amenity to the community and a statement to other communities in DeKalb Co.
For information and volunteer lists please contact The Natural Resource Center at 815-784-2000, or Janice Melton at 815-784-2271, ext. 31.
