The project proposes to conduct restoration activities over a two-year period at bemis woods north and south, in proviso township in central cook county, illinois, a preserve of prairie, OAK…

The project proposes to conduct restoration activities over a two-year period at bemis woods north and south, in proviso township in central cook county, illinois, a preserve of prairie, OAK woodlands, and floodplain forests south of wolf road prairie nature preserves, west of salt creek nature preserve and adjacent to salt creek, an important corridor and home for wildlife and a tributary of the DES plaines river. A total of 63.4 acres would be restored. The site suffers a proliferation of invasive brush and herbaceous plants in the woodlands and floodplain including invasive honeysuckle, buckthorn, reed canary grass, common reed, and lesser celandine. The dominance of invasive species has decreased the available sunlight to the ground layer, resulting in bare soils that cause soil erosion and increased water runoff into salt creek. Removing these invasives from the landscape will restore localized small scale wetlands that will serve as BAT water and food source. Restoring the woodlands and floodplain will allow native plants, especially in the understory, to recover, decreasing bare ground and increasing higher root penetration into the soil. Recovered native plant community will also aide in habitat connectivity along the salt creek. These three outcomes will reduce surface runoff and increase water infiltration improving the health of salt creek and expanding and improving in quality the much needed habitat for native wildlife such as bats, insects including pollinators, and plants.