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FORESTED WETLAND RESTORATIONat the Heritage Quarries Recreation Area

© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFPTABLE OF CONTENTSPROJECT OVERVIEW………………………………...………... 3APPENDIX …….………………………………………………….10TFCA STATEMENT …………………………….…………..……17FORESTED WETLAND RESTORATIONat the Heritage Quarries Recreation AreaPUBLISHED MAY 20242

PROJECT OVERVIEWForested Wetland Restoration at theHeritage Quarries Recreation Area3© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFPTitle photo – Illinois state endangered Blading’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

PROJECT OVERVIEWA UNIQUE FORM OF WETLANDForested wetlands differ from true swamps in that they lack continuously standing water, although repeated flooding is common. Differences in the length of inundation give rise to a variety of community types within this classification. Large timbered areas bordering swamps or rivers with frequent flooding often have a poorly developed, very open understory. Silver maple, sycamore, and cottonwood are common, and the forest floor is littered with rotting logs and woody debris deposited by flood water. In contrast, drier areas where flooding is not as prolonged have a greater diversity of plant species with oaks, elms, and hickory common in the canopy. The forest floor in these areas is often covered by a variety of annual and/or perennial plants.v Wood duck (Aix sponsa)v Barred owl (Strix varia)v Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)v American mink (Mustela vison)v Eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)v Spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)v White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)WHO LIVES IN A FORESTED WETLAND?4© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFPWood duckPROJECT OVERVIEW

WHERE IN THE HQRAForested wetlands occur all across Illinois. At the Heritage Quarries Recreation Area, much of the southeastern and eastern sides of the site are classified as such. Dolomite prairie, marsh, and woodland border these areas.PROJECT OVERVIEW5© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFP

WHY SAVE THE FORESTED WETLANDSForested wetlands are unique ecosystems that contain wide varieties of life due to their mixed conditions. The overgrown nature of the ecosystem at the HQRA is not conducive to healthy plant and tree growth. This has marked impacts on the biodiversity of the area. Honeysuckle dominates the area, blocking sunlight from reaching the understory and siphoning valuable nutrients. As a result, other plants cannot grow, and herbivorous animals have nothing to eat. Birds do not nest in these trees, and the fruits produced are not nutritious. After a point, all that is left is honeysuckle. The conditions in the forested wetlands are already approaching this point; it is a critical time to act.Currently, native vegetation in the forested wetlands is reduced to small areas due to significant amounts of invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle suffocating plant life. Restoring the forested wetlands will have additional benefits to surrounding ecosystems. Most notable is the dolomite prairie bordering the southeastern section of forested wetland. Removal of invasive plants from the forested wetland region will decrease external pressures on the dolomite prairie and improve efficiency of restoration efforts. Outside of neighboring ecosystems, forested wetland restoration will improve the area’s stormwater and water filtration capacity. This is an important bonus – the wetland area is an identified flooding corridor that is directly involved with mitigating the flooding of Main Street, Lemont and surrounding land. This street is located at the bottom of a large hill, paralleling the HQRA on its southern side. In its present state, heavy rains often flood the road and reduce public safety.WHAT DOES THIS AFFECT?PROJECT OVERVIEW6© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFP

7© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFPPROJECT OVERVIEWINVASIVE PLANT CONTROLRESEED AND PLUG PLANTPRESCRIBED BURNSSTEWARDSHIPv Opens space for the planting and propagation of beneficial plantsv Decreases competition over valuable water and nutrients v Reduces likelihood of invasive plant spread to other areasv Provides a healthy and beautiful natural environment the community will appreciate and supportv Supports the local ecosystem as native plant populations recoverv Matured plants provide food and shelter for various wildlifev Clears dead stems and leaves of grassy plants without killing rootsv Stimulates local ecosystem by recycling nutrients and maintaining ground level ‘openness’v Provides needed support for the developing ecosystemv Helps immature plants compete with invasive plants and weedsv Demonstrates a community example that will inspire future stewardsWHAT DO WE NEED?

8© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFPPROJECT OVERVIEW10-YEAR BUDGETTask Task Frequency Est 10-year Cost DescriptionInvasive Woody Removal & Tree Thinning1 / year * 2(Winter)$240,000Removal of invasive woody species (buckthorn, honeysuckle, tree-of-heaven, and multiflora rose are prime candidates). Requires cutting and herbicide treatment.Woody Re-sprout Control1 / year * 5(Spring / Summer)$120,000Follow up treatment of removed woody plants. Required to manage invasive resprouts and root suckers.Herbaceous Invasive Control1 / year * 4(Spring / Summer)$100,000Removal of herbaceous invasive species (garlic mustard, burdock, other plants as identified).Native Seeding1 / year * 1(Winter year 3)$33,000Seeding of native plants to establish restored native ecosystem. Requires ample removal of invasive species prior to seeding.Prescribed Fire1 / year * 2(Spring years 4, 5)$15,000Controlled burning of area to remove dead grasses, brush, and other detritus and open the landscape. Added benefit of returning nutrients to soil.Stewardship (years 5-10)1 / year * 5(Varies, year 5+)$95,000Long term stewardship to maintain and support restored ecosystem via weeding, further invasive plant control, pruning, and other upkeep.TOTAL: 10 years $603,000TFCA will hire and oversee licensed contractor to complete all forested wetland restoration. Work will consist of invasive woody removal, woody re-sprout control, herbaceous invasive control, native seeding, native plant installation, prescribed fire, and stewardship. Cost estimates were provided by our environmental consultant, Stantec, and do not include administrative or operational costs. An additional timeline is provided in the appendix (page 12).

Eastern tiger salamander, (Ambystoma tigrinum)© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFP9

APPENDIX10© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFPTitle photo – Illinois state endangered Showy lady’s slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

11© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFPCURRENT STATUSDescription (Stantec):Plant Associates:Dangers:Forested Wetland (NE)Wetter growing conditions, subtle depressions. (1.6 acres)Grass Sedge (Carex jamesii), Prairie Wooly Sedge (Carex pellita), Fowl Manna Grass (Glyceria striata), Bluejoint Grass (Calamagrostris canadensis)Honeysuckle, Buckthorn overgrowth.Silver maple trees need thinning (selective).Forested Wetland (SE)More drained, otherwise similar to above. (38 acres)Same as aboveSame as aboveThe forested wetlands will be deemed as ‘successfully restored’ once invasive plant species have been removed, targeted trees have been trimmed, native plant species have been reseeded and reestablished in the ecosystem, and animal life has returned. Long term stewardship will be needed (and provided) by TFCA.We anticipate decreased flooding on Main Street once the ecosystem as the ecosystem establishes and stabilizes itself.Fowl manna grassAPPENDIX

APPENDIX12© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFPRESTORATION TIMELINEOn the right are three target woody species for removal or trimming:1. Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica, Frangula alnus) – all size classes; remove 100% 2. Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii, Lonicera tatarica) – all size classes; remove 100%3. Silver maple (Acer saccarinum)– various1. 0”-8” remove 75%2. 8-14” remove 50%3. >14” remove 25%Silver mapleInvasive honeysuckleInvasive buckthorn

APPENDIX13© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFPPLANTS FOR REINTRODUCTION*Wild mintNodding beggarticksWood reed (aka. sweet woodreed)*Source: Stantec

APPENDIX14© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFPTARGET SPECIES FOR REMOVAL AND PROTECTION Target Species for Removal and Protection – Forested Wetland Units Scientific Name Common Name Size Class (DBH: inches) Removal Goal Acer negundo box elder All size classes Remove 100% Acer platanoides Norway maple All size classes Remove 100% Acer rubrum red maple 0”-18” Remove 100% Alianthus altissima tree of heaven All size classes Remove 100% Acer saccharinum silver maple 0”-8” Remove 75% 8-14” Remove 50% >14” Remove 25% Acer saccharum sugar maple All size classes No Removal Berberis thunbergii Japanese barberry All size classes Remove 100% Carya cordiformis bitternut hickory 0”-8” No Removal Carya ovata shagbark hickory 0”-8” No Removal Catalpa speciosa Catalpa All size classes Remove 100% Celastrus orbiculatus Oriental bittersweet All size classes Remove 100% Celtis occidentalis hackberry 0”-3” Remove 50% 4”-12” Remove 25% >12” Remove 10% Cornus racemosa gray dogwood All size classes Remove 50% Crataegus spp. all hawthorns All size classes No Removal Elaeagnus umbellata autumn olive All size classes Remove 100% Euonymus alatus burning bush All size classes Remove 100% Frangula alnus glossy buckthorn All size classes Remove 100% Fraxinus americana white ash All size classes No Removal Fraxinus pennsylvanica green ash, red ash 0”-3” Remove 100% >3” No Removal Gleditsia triacanthos honey locust All size classes Remove 100% Juglans nigra black walnut 0”-8” Remove 25% black walnut >8” Limited Removal Juniperus virginiana eastern redcedar All size classes Remove 100% Scientific Name Common Name Size Class (DBH: inches) Removal Goal Ligustrum vulgare common privet All size classes Remove 100% Lonicera maackii Amur honeysuckle All size classes Remove 100% Lonicera tatarica Tartarian honeysuckle All size classes Remove 100% Malus pumila, M. sieboldii, M. toringo non-native apples All size classes Remove 100% Ostrya virginiana hophornbeam All size classes No Removal Populus alba white poplar All size classes Remove 100% Populus deltoides eastern cottonwood 0”-12” Remove 75% >12” Remove 10% Populus grandidentata large-toothed aspen All size classes No Removal Prunus serotina black cherry 0”-3” Remove 100% 4”-12” Remove 50% >12” Remove 10% Prunus virginiana chokecherry All size classes Remove 25% Ptelea trifoliata hop tree All size classes No Removal Pyrus calleryana callery pear All size classes Remove 100% Quercus alba white oak All size classes No Removal Quercus bicolor swamp white oak All size classes No Removal Quercus macrocarpa bur oak All size classes No Removal Quercus palustris pin oak All size classes No Removal Quercus rubra red oak All size classes Limited Removal Quercus velutina black oak All size classes No Removal Rhamnus cathartica common buckthorn All size classes Remove 100% Rhamnus frangula glossy buckthorn All size classes Remove 100% Rhus glabra smooth sumac All size classes Remove 100% Rhus typhina staghorn sumac All size classes Remove 25% Ribes americanum wild black currant All size classes No Removal Ribes missouriense wild gooseberry All size classes Remove 25% Robinia psuedoacacia black locust All size classes Remove 100% Rosa multiflora multiflora rose All size classes Remove 100% Rubus allegheniensis common blackberry All size classes Remove 50% Rubus occidentalis black raspberry All size classes Remove 50%

APPENDIX15© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFPTARGET SPECIES FOR REMOVAL AND PROTECTION (2) Scientific Name Common Name Size Class (DBH: inches) Removal Goal Salix amygdaloides peach-leaved willow All size classes No Removal Salix interior sandbar willow All size classes Remove 100% Sambucus canadensis elderberry All size classes No Removal Tilia americana basswood; linden 0”-3” Remove 50% >3” Remove 10% Ulmus americana American elm 0”-8” Remove 50% >8” Remove 25% Ulmus pumila Siberian elm All size classes Remove 100% Ulmus rubra red elm All size classes No Removal Viburnum dentatum Southern arrow-wood All size classes Remove 100% Viburnum lentago nannyberry viburnum All size classes No Removal Viburnum opulus European highbush cranberry All size classes Remove 100% Viburnum prunifolium black haw All size classes No Removal Viburnum rafinesquianum downy arrow-wood All size classes No Removal Viburnum recognitum smooth arrow-wood All size classes Remove 100% Criteria for removal and thinning determinations shall include position within the localized woodland structure, competitive relationships with adjacent desirable species, wildlife habitat value, and overall specimen

© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFP16Chorus frog

OUR VALUESThe Outdoors MatterWe believe the outdoors is an integral part of the human experience that enriches and enlivens us. Our commitment to protecting the natural landscape is uncompromising, and we are committed to enhancing, preserving, and sharing naturally beautiful outdoor experiences with our neighbors for generations to come.Well-being is a Lifestyle to be Enjoyed by EveryoneWell-being is not just a jog around the block. Well-being is a mental and physical journey that fluctuates and changes daily. We are dedicated to crafting spaces that enable this life-long mental and physical journey. Moreover, we are committed to providing access and opportunity to enjoy nature to people of all ages and abilities.Conservation Goes Beyond the LandWe are committed to preserving history and restoring the natural landscape of the locations we choose to support for generations to come. This promise fuels our operating strategy and is fundamental to our mission.The Forge Charitable Adventures exists to help IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITIES by RESTORING and PRESERVING NATURE, PROMOTING ACTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, and PROVIDING ACCESS TO OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND RECREATION to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.17© The Forge Charitable Adventures, NFPEstablished in 2019 by Jeremie Bacon, Chris Gladwin, Bart Loethen, and Jeanette Virgilio, The Forge Charitable Adventures (TFCA) is a unique environment-focused non-profit serving a dual mission to: 1) protect, restore, and re-invigorate natural ecosystems that have been degraded by overuse and under investment, while 2) partnering with local governments, stakeholders, and companies to develop outdoor education and recreation resources that can be enjoyed and maintained in cooperation with their residents.As a long-term focused, conservation-minded organization, we seek to produce and promote impactful programs that help TFCA achieve:v Significant impact by engaging our local communities in conservation and personal health & wellness effortsv A respected presence as a devoted caretaker in the places we servev Long-lasting partnerships with communities, companies, and individualsv Enlightened communities where conservation, restoration, and wellness are cherished as core valuesOur vision is a future where people of all ages, abilities, and economic circumstances can freely enjoy authentic outdoor experiences while learning to respect the diversity of life and developing an appreciation for conserving the scarce resources and fragile ecosystems required to support it.We accomplish our mission by identifying projects and raising funds from private and public sources to execute them. We consider ourselves successful when we are able to:v Restore and protect natural areas that jointly serve as wildlife habitats and places where people can enjoy nature foreverv Establish and nurture public and private partnerships that accelerate the pace of land preservation for the enrichment of allv Deliver social benefits in the form of clean and healthy forests, streams, wetlands and lakesv Provide people with opportunities to understand and embrace conservation, and act to preserve the environment

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