The goal of this project is restoration of rusty patched bumble BEE habitat along the lake michigan

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 awarded the Illinois Department of Natural Resources a $130,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Endangered Species Recovery Implementation (CFDA 15.657) program. The goal is restoration of Rusty Patched Bumble Bee habitat along Lake Michigan through invasive species removal and native plant regeneration from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2024. Specifically, the Department of Natural Resources will reduce populations of invasive woody plants and thin canopies of native trees to increase light levels and native pollinator plants. This aims to benefit the endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee by providing more foraging opportunities. As the sub-awardee, the Department of Natural Resources will hire qualified contractors to chemically treat 100% of non-native woody species and certain native trees to restore degraded natural areas for multiple protected species.

The objective is toreduce populations of invasive and exotic woody plants and achieve higher light levels more conducive to native pollinatorplant species growth. This will increase nectaring plants, increasing foraging opportunities for rusty patched bumble BEE.numerous additional federal and state-listed plant and animal species will also benefit. This project will expand upon thirteen successful years of restoration activities focused on reversing the degradation of highquality natural areas through removal and chemical treatment of pervasive and disruptive invasive species. This project willfund critical follow-up on invasive species regrowth and canopy thinning of native tree species. Species to be treated INCLUDE100% of non-native woody species, 100% of cottonwood (populus deltoides), quaking aspen (populus tremuloides), sandbar willow (salix interior), and boxelder (acer negundo), and canopy thinning to achieve 50% canopy cover of black OAK(quercus velutina) and black cherry (prunus serotina).the illinois department of natural resources will hire qualified contractors to complete the activities of the grant utilizing thestate of illinois' procurement system.