Funding to enhance wildlife habitat,
help threatened and endangered species

45 projects receive financial support         

[JULY 16, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich has announced the award of funding to support 45 projects statewide that will enhance animal habitat and protect and restore threatened and endangered species. The projects are financed through Illinois citizens' donations to the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund. The fund distribution is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

"The support of these projects is demonstration of how, in working together, we Illinois residents can make a big difference," Blagojevich said. "Small donations add up in the Wildlife Preservation Fund, and as a result, we are able to provide financial assistance for projects that benefit virtually every part of the state of Illinois."

The Wildlife Preservation Fund is a voluntary contribution checkoff option on the Illinois state income tax form. In the 22 years of the program, a combined total of more than 900 large and small projects have been funded throughout the state through checkoff donations totaling more than $4.5 million. More than a half-million people have supported the program by making voluntary donations. The funds have been used to support projects ranging from habitat enhancements to species restoration.

"The projects supported by thousands of Illinois citizens are truly helping the future of wildlife and habitat in the state," said Joel Brunsvold, director of the Department of Natural Resources. "From upland and grassland birds to plants and aquatic life that thrive in wetlands, these projects and studies help us gain a better understanding of our natural world and how to protect and preserve it."

Donations to the Wildlife Preservation Fund are tax-deductible. They may be made through the state income tax form or directly to the Wildlife Preservation Fund by mailing contributions to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Resource Conservation, Division of Habitat Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271.

The approved projects include 16 with funding ranging from $2,000 to $25,000, which are listed below:

• Eastern Illinois University, $7,980 for development of a website: Aid to Restoration Featuring Fruits, Seeds, and Seedlings for Illinois Prairie Plants. A comprehensive description resource with detailed information related to Illinois prairie plants at all stages of development, focusing on fruits, seeds and seedlings. Contact: Janice Coons, [phone]

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources, $15,000 for a mussel bed survey of Mississippi River Pool 26. To collect basic data on bed composition, size and location to aid in the recovery of the dwindling mussel populations. Contact: Dean Corgiat, [phone]

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources, $10,000 for the Highway 96 Hill Prairie Complex Project, Phase 2. The project involves contracting out the brush and herbicide work for the Pleasant Hill Prairie and the Calhoun County Hill Prairie Sub-Complex. Contact: Dean Corgiat, [phone]

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources, $5,000 for a special edition of Outdoor Illinois Magazine: Illinois Endangered and Threatened Species. To assist with additional expenses related to the development of an expanded issue of Outdoor Illinois on endangered and threatened species. Contact: Kathy Andrews, [phone]

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources, $10,000 for "Biodiversity of Illinois" CD-ROM series revision. To revise, press new copies and print new sleeves for the three volumes of this series. Six thousand copies of each volume to be produced for distribution. Contact: Val Keener, [phone]

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources, $3,250 for freshwater mussel surveys of the Mackinaw and Iroquois rivers and tributaries. A survey of these rivers' watersheds for the presence, abundance, recruitment and community composition of freshwater mussels species at each sample station. Contact: Robert E. Szafoni, [phone]

• Illinois State Museum, $24,968 for Changes Institute Field Guides to Illinois Wildlife. To support the hiring of an educator for six months to work with the Illinois State Museum staff to develop the content of a series of field guides for the "Changes" exhibition at the museum in Springfield. Contact: Bonnie Styles, [phone]

• The Morton Arboretum, $9,912 for GIS mapping and database linkage for prairies and wetlands in the Chicago area. To provide GIS map files and database for prairies and wetlands originally described and sampled by the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory. Contact: Marlin L. Bowles, [phone]

• The Nature Conservancy, $25,000 for the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Update Plan. To cover some of the expenses related to completing the planning phase of the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Update. Contact: Fran Harty, [phone]

• Southern Illinois University, $9,940 to monitor the effect of disturbance on the growth and development of planted giant cane, in order to improve success of canebrake restoration. Contact: Jim Zaczek, [phone]

• University of Illinois, $5,940 to study vegetation of isolated sand deposits along the lower Illinois River. Baseline taxonomic and ecological studies of the plant communities of potential natural areas along the Illinois River and parts of the Mississippi River. Contact: Loy R. Phillippe, [phone]

• University of Illinois, $6,820 to study spatial ecology of the Blanding's turtle at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve, Will County. Purchase of 10 radio transmitters to survey juvenile movements and habitat requirements of Blanding's turtles. Contact: Michael J. Dreslik, [phone]

• University of Illinois, $8,313 for inventory and monitoring of two state-listed snakes, Kirtlands water snake and the eastern massasauga, in Piatt County. To provide continued monitoring and research of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake and the start of Kirtland's water snake monitoring within the study site. Contact: Chris Phillips, [phone]

• Western Illinois University, $6,509 to study diversity of ground beetles in relation to forest stand characteristics and prescribed burning. To produce information on the usefulness of ground beetles as indicators of habitat characteristics as well as on the ecology of ground beetles in west central Illinois. Contact: Dr. Kenneth W. McCravy, [phone]

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources, $2,000 for constructing ephemeral wetlands at Crawford County State Fish and Wildlife Area. To construct ephemeral wetlands on a bottomland site where nearby uplands provide habitat for adults but not breeding and larval habitat. Contact: Mike McCulley, [phone]

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources, $2,000 for poster on Illinois spiders. Develop 10,000 copies of a two-sided Illinois Spiders poster to be added to the Illinois Flora, Fauna and Habitats series of posters available for educators and others. Contact: Val Keener, [phone]

Funding of $2,000 or less was awarded for 29 other projects to be conducted by a variety of organizations, groups, institutions and individuals throughout the state. They are listed below:

• Michael Allen, $864 for a study of the impact of habitat fragmentation on zooplankton species composition and life history traits. Contact: Michael Allen [phone]

• Simon R. Bade, $1,880 for herpetofaunal survey of Salt Lick Point and Luella Schaefer Memorial Hill Prairie Land and Water Reserves. To determine the presence or absence of several species of reptiles and amphibians on the sites. Contact: Simon R. Bade, [phone]

• Ballard Nature Center, $2,000 for shorebird nesting island. To create a secure shorebird nesting island as part of a 7-acre shallow-water wetland surrounded by a 25-acre prairie restoration project. Contact: Karan Greuel, [phone]

• Timothy Bell, $2,000 for population viability analysis of eastern prairie fringed orchid, pitcher's thistle and savanna blazing star. To learn advanced methods in population viability analysis, analyze this demographic data and provide management recommendations for these species. Contact: Timothy Bell, [phone]

• Ronald A. Brandon, $2,000 for resurvey of dusky salamander sites in Illinois. To re-examine the 23 known species sites in Illinois; search for new populations, compare and evaluate data and monitoring methods. Contact: Ronald A. Brandon, [phone]

• Bryan Cross, $439 for to study biotic characterization of three stream segments in Macon County. To collect baseline monitoring data at four stream locations to establish the existing condition prior to restoration activities. Contact: Bryan Cross, [phone]

• Eastern Illinois University, $1,996 to study adaptive mechanisms of silvery bladderpod (Lesquerella ludoviciana) to survive marginal conditions of Illinois sand prairies. To understand how this species has adapted to marginal habitat conditions. Contact: Thomas Over, [phone]

• Eastern Illinois University, $1,997 for workshops for Illinois nursery industry to promote use of native plants in landscaping. Contact: Janice Coons, [phone]

• Eastern Illinois University, $1,968 to study gall wasp species diversity in the prairies of central and southern Illinois. Survey the diversity of the species group in 27 prairies and glades owned or managed by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. Contact: Zhiwei Liu, [phone]

• Eastern Illinois University, $2,000 to study the effectiveness of artificial riffles in Illinois streams. To evaluate these riffles as techniques for increasing stream habitat and aquatic diversity. Contact: Robert Fischer, [phone]

• Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, $2,000 for a post-release study of barn owl survival and dispersal in northeastern Illinois. To gather baseline data to aid future reintroduction programs and to assess the habitat needs and limitations of this species in northeastern Illinois. Contact: Erik Neidy, [phone]

• Hamilton County Unit 10 Schools, $1,000 for Bear Creek Restoration Project. To assist with the purchase of grasses and forbs seed and educational signs for the development of an interpretive trail and study stations along three acres of Bear Creek. Contact: Frederic Vallowe, [phone], ext. 1000

• Timothy V. Horger, $1,545 for survey for snakes in the Mineral Mash Nature Preserve and McCune Sand Prairie Conservation Area during May-July. To assess the conservation status of species associated with these open sand prairie communities. Contact: Timothy V. Horger, [phone]

• Illinois Audubon Society, $1,000 for establishment of interpretive trail at H and B Bremer Wildlife Sanctuary, Hillsboro. Contact: Marilyn F. Campbell, [phone]

• Illinois Audubon Society, $1,000 for "Grassland Birds: The Habitat Connection." Development of a brochure for use in educating the general public about the plight of grassland birds and their dependence on adequate quality habitat. Contact: Marilyn F. Campbell, [phone]

• Illinois Audubon Society, $1,000 for trail brochure for Dirksen-McNaughton Woods Land and Water Reserve. Contact: Marilyn F. Campbell, [phone]

• Illinois Audubon Society War Bluff Valley Sanctuary, $1,000 for War Bluff Valley Sanctuary. To develop a brochure explaining the sanctuary purpose, provide interpretive information and a self-guiding map, and for kiosk construction. Contact: Terri Treacy, [phone]

• Illinois Audubon Society War Bluff Valley Sanctuary, $1,800 for herpetofauna inventory of War Bluff Valley Sanctuary. Gather baseline data on the herpetofauna of the sanctuary. Contact: Terri Treacy, [phone]

• Macon County Conservation District, $1,287 for bat inventories, with emphasis on locating potential Indiana bat colonies in Macon County at Sand Creek Recreation Area and Friends Creek Regional Park. Contact: Kathleen Merner, [phone]

• John Palis, $2,000 for a long-term mark-and-recapture study of a southern Illinois population of the timber rattlesnake. To summarize the first eight years of demographic data collected and collect a ninth year of data on timber rattlesnakes in southern Illinois. Contact: John Palis, [phone]

• Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, $2,000 for Midwest Birding Symposium. Four days of field trips, hands-on activities and lectures aimed at exploring the diversity of birds in the Mississippi River Valley. Contact: Joe Taylor, [phone], ext. 116

• Southern Illinois University, $1,997 for inventory and management of forest openings in Giant City State Park, McClure School Shale Barrens and Berryville Shale Barrens. Contact: Dr. David Gibson, [phone]

• University of Illinois, $1,488 for a survey of the reptiles and amphibians of Kickapoo State Park and the Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area. Investigate and monitor the populations of Blanding's turtles and four-toed salamanders. Contact: Anne Readel, [phone]

• University of Illinois, $1,973 for faunal inventory of auchenorrhynchous homopter (Insecta: Homopter: Auchenorrhyncha) or leafhoppers on Illinois tallgrass prairies. Contact: Adam Wallner, [phone]

• University of Illinois, $2,000 for freshwater mussel surveys of three northwestern Illinois river basins: Menomiee River, Sinsinawa River and Galena River. Contact: Jeremy S. Tiemann, [phone]

• University of Illinois, $2,000 to study the restoration of sand prairie in Illinois, focusing on seed banks and existing vegetation. To compare the vegetation of native sand prairie to the present and potential vegetation of former sand prairie. Contact: Adrienne L. Edwards, [phone]

• University of Illinois, $1,485 to study ecological impacts of invasive reed canary grass. To compare arthropod abundance and diversity, small mammal abundance and diversity, and use by songbirds between areas dominated by reed canary grass and native vegetation. Contact: Edward Heske, [phone]

• Urbana Park District, $2,000 for Busey Woods BioBlitz. To support a comprehensive study done to assess the total diversity of species that reside within the 59-acre boundary of Busey Woods

• University of Illinois, $2,000 for evaluation of Newbury weirs rock riffles for improving habitat quality and biotic diversity in Illinois streams. Contact: David H. Wahl, [phone]

[Illinois Department of Natural Resources news release]

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