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"This program and the people who
support it continue to make a difference in our efforts to protect
wildlife and our state's natural heritage," Blagojevich said. The
Wildlife Preservation Fund is a voluntary contribution checkoff
option on the Illinois state income tax form. In the 24 years of the
program, a combined total of more than 1,000 large and small
projects have been funded through checkoff donations totaling more
than $4.9 million. The funds have been used to support projects
ranging from habitat enhancements to species restoration.
"The Wildlife Preservation Program is a great way for everyone to
contribute to the natural health of the state of Illinois and our
native animals who need our help to survive," said Acting Illinois
Department of Natural Resources Director Sam Flood. "The tax
checkoff donation is an easy way to ensure protection of our
threatened and endangered species."
Donations for the
Wildlife Preservation Fund, which are tax-deductible and may be
made on Line 28a of the IL-1040 form, can be sent to the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, Office of Resource Conservation,
Division of Habitat Resources, One Natural Resources Way,
Springfield, IL 62702-1271.
The Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund Advisory Committee
approved more than $197,000 in funding for 51 projects this year.
They include 14 projects with funding ranging from $2,000 to $19,890
and are outlined below:
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Augustana College,
$14,487 for a project on Demographic and Genetic Evidence
to Determine the Rarity Status of Wild Blue Larkspur in
Illinois. To support listing this species as "threatened," a
thorough survey must be conducted to document the number of
occurrences, population sizes and the range in Illinois. The
survey will be conducted in Mercer, Henderson, Pike and Adams
counties.
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Chicago Botanic
Garden, $13,000 for development of a formal Statewide Recovery
Plan for the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake in Illinois -- Phase
1 of three-phase project. To develop this plan with the primary
goals of securing or delisting the species in Illinois, as well
as precluding federal listing of the animal by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
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Hyerczyk, Richard
D., $3,387 for Lichen Flora of Illinois Beach State Park Nature
Preserve. To document the lichen flora at Illinois Beach State
Park Nature Preserve and to write and publish a report of the
lichen vegetation found there.
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Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, $15,000 for Mississippi River
Pool 22 and Chain of Rocks Ebonyshell Mussel Survey. To locate
and determine the status of existing ebonyshell populations in
these areas, provide information for the development of a
management strategy for this species and its associated habitat,
locate potential parent stock, and update the Illinois Natural
Heritage Database.
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Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, $6,000 for Illinois Wild
Mammals and Illinois Woodland Wildflowers Posters. To produce
these two double-sided posters to be distributed to educators
and the general public. This will fulfill needs in the poster
series.
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Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, $8,443 for Avian Ecological
Investigation: 25 Years Later. To obtain abundance and
distribution information of breeding birds and the collection of
vegetation stratum ranking information. Also to collect transect
and census points with a GPS unit so further avian analysis can
be done.
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River to River
Cooperative Weed Management Area, $4,000 for River to River
Cooperative Weed Management Area Outreach Support. To develop
outreach materials on invasive weed management.
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Southwestern
Illinois RC&D Inc., $10,000 for Illinois Cave Amphipod Recharge
Area Delineation in Monroe County. For contractual services
related to dye-tracing activities of the recharge areas
important to the federally endangered Illinois cave amphipod.
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Three Rivers
Environmental Assessments, $19,890 for Status Survey of the
Northern Madtom, Notorus stigmosus, in the Lower Ohio and Wabash
Rivers. To perform focused sampling to determine the present
distribution and abundance of the northern madtom in the lower
Ohio River and to identify and describe habitats where they are
collected.
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University of
Illinois, board of trustees, $4,631 for Status of Three
Freshwater Snails Species in the Lower Ohio River Basin in
Illinois. To sample the freshwater snail assemblage of the lower
Ohio River basin in Illinois to obtain data on distribution and
abundance with emphasis on declining taxa.
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University of
Illinois, board of trustees, $9,152 for Vegetation of Natural
Plant Communities of the Kankakee Sand Area. This study will
involve baseline taxonomic and ecological studies of the sand
communities of the Kankakee Sand Area to determine similarities
and differences in vegetation composition and structure between
the major sand deposits of Illinois.
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University of
Illinois, board of trustees, $5,723 for New Invaders Watch List:
Mapping Target Plants and Adding New Species. To assist in
adding five new target plant species to the New Invaders Watch
List and the building of an interactive Web mapping of
occurrence records in the Chicago Wilderness area.
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University of
Illinois, board of trustees, $5,000 for Wetland Occupancy and
Connectivity Patterns of Blanding's and Western Painted Turtles
in the Green River Valley. To survey all wetlands in a
900-hectare area in Lee County to assess how landscape structure
affects the distribution and connectivity of the Blanding's
turtle, using the western painted turtle as a comparison
species.
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University of
Illinois, board of trustees, $13,668 for Evaluating Hill Prairie
Quality in Illinois using Auchenorrhynch Homoptera (Insecta:
Homopter) and Vascular Plants. Conduct quantitative inventories
of AH and vascular plants on 15 hill prairies, calculate and
perform statistical testing, and construct a database of species
encountered.
Funding of $2,000 or less was awarded for 37 other projects to be
conducted by a variety of organizations, groups, institutions and
individuals throughout the state. They are as follows:
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Bade, Simon,
$1,900 for Survey for Hexalectris spicata, the Endangered
Crested Coralroot Orchid. The focus is on conducting a
population count at the existing sites, and expanding searches
around prairies and glades in the vicinity of the existing sites
in southwest Illinois.
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Bade, Simon,
$1,976 for Herpetofaunal Survey of New Addition to Fults Hill
Prairie Nature Preserve, Brickey-Gonterman Nature Preserve, and
Angela's Prairie Land and Water Reserve. To determine the
presence or absence of several species of herpetofauna at these
Monroe County sites, which contain numerous hill prairies. The
results of the survey will allow appropriate management plans to
be made for these sites.
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Bi-State Airport
Authority, $2,000 for Lawrence County Wetland Restoration. For
restoration of a 19-acre ephemeral wetland located on airport
property to a diverse herbaceous community that would provide
structure and cover for amphibians, marsh birds and other
species once a dense stand of black willows is removed.
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Boutelle, Tracy,
$2,000 for Friends of the Cache River Watershed -- Outreach
Education Initiative. To educate Illinoisans, especially
residents near the Cache River, about the importance of this
wetland and its native plants and animals by developing
marketing materials, including a newsletter and online site,
along with other outreach activities.
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Brookfield
Conservation Commission, Brookfield, $2,000 for Brookfield Oak
Savanna Riparian Habitat Improvement. To create a series of
vernal pools in lowland areas adjacent to Salt Creek to attract
riparian species native to the region but not currently found in
the target area.
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Campton Township,
$2,000 for Harley Woods. To hire a contractor to remove garlic
mustard, dames rocket and other aggressive plants to restore
this Kane County ecosystem.
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Deer Run East
Property Owners Association, $2,000 for Water Control Structure
for Deer Run Wetland. To install a water control valve in an old
agricultural drain tile in order to maintain and control the
water level in a marsh owned by the association and by adjacent
private landowners who are members of the association in Kane
County.
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Eastern Illinois
University, board of trustees, $1,912 for Macrofungi Associated
With Tree Windfalls in Brownfield and Trelease Woods. To help
address a trend observed in mixed forests in the Midwest where
northern red oaks are rapidly being replaced by sugar maples.
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Eastern Illinois
University, board of trustees, $2,000 for Comparison of Plant
Species and Soil Traits at Sites Where Physaria ludoviciana
(silvery bladderpod) Is Present or Absent in Three States. To
survey plant species and to compare soils in parallel areas
(within close proximity of each other) where the plant is
present or absent in three states.
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Eastern Illinois
University, board of trustees, $2,000 for Distribution of
Brochures and Installation of Plaques for Gardens Demonstrating
Illinois-adapted Native Plants. To print and distribute these
brochures and to produce and install plaques in the prairie and
woodland demonstration gardens on the campus of EIU.
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Eastern Illinois
University, board of trustees, $2,000 for Distribution of
Posters and Implementation of a Logo to Identify Native Plants
Available for Landscaping. These will be used at garden centers,
nurseries, native centers, schools and county Extension offices
throughout the state to help with quick identification of
Illinois plants.
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Eastern Illinois
University, board of trustees, $2,000 for Assessment of Stream
Valley Segments as Determinants of Stream Habitat Quality. Funds
will help determine if valley segments are a valid way for
selecting stream locations for determination of habitat quality.
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Eastern Illinois
University, board of trustees, $2,000 for Using Geomorphology to
Predict Fish Assemblages in Eastern Illinois Streams. To
potentially provide insight into how geological features may be
limiting stream biological potential, thus providing
implications for stream naturalization or restoration.
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Grand Prairie
Friends, $2,000 for East-central Illinois Natural Areas
Internship. To hire interns to supplement the stewards
controlling exotic and invasive plant species and other
maintenance at Grand Prairie Friends property.
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Hahn, Marianne L.,
$2,000 for Survey of the Moths, Butterflies and Leafhoppers at
Sweet Fern Savanna Land and Water Reserve. To conduct a survey
of the conservative insect taxa that inhabit the Sweet Fern
Savanna, with special attention to the large suite of
conservative butterfly and moth species that historically have
been found in sand ecosystems in the region.
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Illinois Audubon
Society's Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, $1,000 for Burn Equipment
Purchase. To purchase protective gear and water pumps to be used
by volunteers during prescribed burns (four FireLine classic
one-piece jumpsuits, three Indian "Smokechaser" fire pumps and
four Bullard Wildfire firefighter's helmets).
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May, Thomas, $620
for Census of Wintering Population of Two Illinois Endangered
Species (Short-eared Owl and Northern Harrier) on Reclaimed
Strip-mined Land. Perform a comprehensive census to determine if
there was an actual increase in the number of owls and to trap
them for banding purposes.
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McCusker, Courtney
E., $1,260 for Response of Avian Communities to Invasive Bush
Honeysuckle. To determine the composition of the avian
communities in sites with an infestation of the plant and
compare them to sites containing only native shrubs.
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Palis, John,
$2,000 for Bantam Sunfish (Lepomis symmetricus) Survey of WRP
Wetlands at Grassy Slough Preserve. To resurvey the wetland
where bantam sunfish were previously observed and survey
additional WRP wetlands on GSP to determine the extent of
colonization of these Johnson County wetlands by bantam sunfish.
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Perry County Soil
and Water Conservation District, $407 for DuQuoin State
Fairgrounds Wetland Site Enhancement for Educational Purposes.
To make some improvements to the site to make it more accessible
to students and the public and enhance its use for educational
purposes.
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Pilgrim Park Camp
and Conference Center, $1,344 for Prairies and Woodlands: A
Hands-on Environmental Education Project. A prairie restoration
for summer visitors and woodland activities for fall through
spring weekend retreat groups at the site near Princeton.
Includes a prairie restoration and education project, and a
woodland trail marking and exotic plant removal project.
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Piskin, Kurt,
$1,825 for Genetic Diversity of Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated
With the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid, Platanthera leuccophaea,
in Illinois Prairies. To assess the distribution and diversity
of fungal species throughout the prairies of Illinois to assist
land managers in finding the correct fungi to propagate this
species in their area.
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River Trails Park
District, $1,476 for Woodland Trails Habitat Restoration
Project. To remove invasive species of plants, specifically
European buckthorn and garlic mustard.
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Round Lake Area
Park District, $2,000 for Hart's Woods Nature Trail. To design
and install a trailhead sign at the entrance to the nature trail
and design and produce trail maps and a tri-fold brochure.
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Southern Illinois
University, board of trustees, $2,000 for Management and
Restoration Analysis for Kankakee Sands: Black Oak Sand
Savannas. To provide land managers a science-based plan to help
formulate, implement and monitor effective management and
restoration of the endangered black oak sand savannas.
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University of
Illinois, board of trustees, $2,000 for Mapping the Invasion
Dynamics of Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard). To sample CCDC
Collins Woods near St. Joseph five years after the initial
survey to generate a spatiotemporal map of an ongoing garlic
mustard invasion and to document the impact of the aggressive
invasive species on groundlayer flora.
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University of
Illinois, board of trustees, $2,000 for Ecophysiology of the
Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus). To capture
approximately 60 Eastern massasaugas, with equal numbers of
male, female and juveniles; measure resting metabolic rates and
digestive efficiency; and calculate an energy budget. All of
this will be used to test several hypotheses to assist in
predicting the response to future management strategies.
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University of
Illinois, board of trustees, $1,956 for Presence of the
Bird-voiced Treefrog Hyla avivoca According to Call Surveys in
Southern Illinois. To conduct calling surveys at seven sites in
southern Illinois to determine the presence of the bird-voiced
treefrog at these sites and the impact of these sites on the
conservation of this species.
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University of
Illinois, board of trustees, $1,988 for A Site Inventory of
Spring Bay Fen Nature Preserve, Woodford County. To conduct a
comprehensive vouchered inventory of vascular plants occurring
in this last known remnant of Illinois River cold-water tall
shrub fen.
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University of
Illinois, board of trustees, $1,991 for Impact of the Invasive
Species Coronilla varia (crown vetch) on Pollinator Guild and
Pollen Deposition to Stigmas of Native Prairie Plant Species. To
determine the pollinator guild in areas with crown vetch and the
impact of crown vetch on pollen deposition to stigmas of native
prairie plant species.
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University of
Illinois, board of trustees, $2,000 for Survey and Status of the
Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus) and Kirtlands Snake
(Clonophis kirtlandii) at Allerton Park, Piatt County. To
determine the status of the eastern massasauga and Kirtland's
snake at Allerton Park through visual encounter searches.
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University of
Illinois, board of trustees, $1,982 for Identifying the
Distribution and Habitat of Jefferson's Salamander, Ambystoma
jeffersonianum, in Illinois -- Modeling the niche of A.
jeffersonianum in Illinois, generating predictive distribution
maps of the species and subsequently conducting site surveys
within their predicted range. This project is to determine the
efficiency of niche modeling as a conservation tool, and to
better understand the distribution and habitat of this species
in the state.
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Viers, Brittney
L., $1,993 for the Impacts of Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) on
Native Oak/Hickory Plant Communities. To measure and compare the
species composition and diversity of both native hardwood
communities and stands of naturalized loblolly pines to
determine their impact in southern Illinois.
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Why Not Now?
Incorporated, $545 for Wildlife and Habitat Education Project.
To educate children and adults with disabilities about the
indigenous populations and habitats of the birds, mammals and
aquatic life at this 102-acre accessible camp in Fulton County
by studying the educational material and personal observations.
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Winfield United
for a Better Community, $2,000 for Community Outdoor Classroom.
The second of a three-phase project that involves designing,
purchasing and installing five educational signs to be placed in
the newly developed outdoor classroom area in the front yard of
the Winfield Public School.
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Free Again, Inc.,
$2,000 for Free Again Rehab -- To repair flight pens at the
Williamson County facility.
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TreeHouse Wildlife
Center, $900 for Nocturnal Predator Barrier for Avian Caging.
The project will involve use of 4-foot-by-8-foot sheets of
fiberglass-reinforced paneling to surround outdoor caging to
make it too slick for mink to climb, preventing the loss of
protected, listed birds at the Macoupin County facility.
[Text
from file received from the
Illinois Office of Communication and Information]
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