OWR Coastal Waukegan Dunes Invasive Control

Native Restoration Services, Inc. was awarded a contract by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Office of Coastal Zone Management Program to conduct invasive species management at the Waukegan Dunes Natural Resource Area. The contract, valued at $9,911.00, covers treatment of 6.9 acres within the 61.2-acre natural area, with a specific focus on controlling invasive plant species including phragmites and narrowleaf cattail. The project is designed to be executed over 187 total man-hours, utilizing selective herbicidal treatment methods to reduce invasive species populations by 98% in this rare dune and swale ecosystem along Lake Michigan's southwestern coastline.

The contract period runs from September 16, 2025, to December 31, 2026, with primary treatment scheduled for fall 2025 and potential retreatment in late summer or early fall 2026. Native Restoration Services will employ specialized techniques including foliar spray and hand wick herbicide application, with all personnel holding either Illinois Herbicide Operator or Applicator licenses. The work will be closely coordinated with IDNR biologist Brad Semel, who will verify treatment effectiveness and conduct post-treatment monitoring to ensure the project's ecological management objectives are achieved.