Preserve Restoration

Rollins Savanna

The oak woodland, savanna, prairie and wetland communities at Rollins Savanna will be restored as part of a massive habitat restoration and preservation project, representing the largest restoration effort ever undertaken by the Lake County Forest Preserves. Since acquisition of Rollins Savanna in the mid-1980s, primary use of the Preserve has been agriculture along most of the southern portion with scattered fields located along Rollins Road and habitat restoration along the Mill Creek corridor.

Over the past five years, the Forest Preserve has begun implementing the following habitat restoration projects along the Mill Creek corridor: selective removal of invasive woody species from oak woodlands and savannas; seeding of these areas; dry prairie seeding of oak savanna knoll; wetland restoration of small 25-acre wetland along Mill Creek; control of invasive species including purple loosestrife; and re-introduction of prescribed fire to woodland, wetland, and prairie communities. Several baseline studies have been completed on the site in preparation for the master planning process, including:

• Wetland Evaluation - 1988 by EnCap, Incorporated
• Waterfowl Habitat Project Investigation - 1995 by R.A. Smith and Associates
• Drain Tile Investigation - 1999/2000 by Huddleston and McBride
• Wetland Delineation - 2000 by Hey and Associates, Inc.
• Reptile and Amphibian Inventory - 2000 by Tams Consultants

The master plan calls for the restoration of large wetland areas that are currently being artificially drained by agricultural drain tiles. It is anticipated that approximately 200 acres of wetlands will have their hydrology and native vegetation restored. Surrounding these wetlands will be several hundred acres of former agricultural lands that are being restored to native grasslands. The restoration of wildlife habitat will provide haven for several grassland bird species that require large open areas. The wetland restoration will provide additional habitat for several endangered and threatened wetland bird species.

Throughout the planning process, the Forest Preserve has solicited technical assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The District is cooperating with Ducks Unlimited, Inc., in the preparation of hydrological restoration plans and has received grants totaling $203,000 for the implementation of the approved plans. The District has also applied for funding support from the NRCS in the amount of $147,000 for wetland restoration. In 1999, a $75,000 grant was received from the IDNR for riparian restoration along Mill Creek.