October 24, 2020–From The Prairie State Wire come news of a series of restoration and habitat improvement grants made by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to 11 wildlife habitat projects through the Illinois Habitat Fund Special Wildlife Funds Grant Program.  The awarded amounts, announced on October 18,  totaled more than $737,500.

The program enhances game and non-game wildlife habitat through projects developed by not-for-profit organizations and governmental entities. Funding for the Illinois Habitat Fund Special Wildlife Funds Grant Program comes from the sale of Habitat Stamps to sportsmen and sportswomen.  For more information on the grant program, go here.

Restoration Work Gets Funded

Among the grant awardees are:

“Fermilab Natural Areas – This project will fund habitat restoration activities for a 500-acre tract at Enola Grasslands in DuPage County, serving as a habitat for endangered and declining population grassland birds. The grantee will remove woody invasive vegetation and manage a shortgrass prairie at this site. $10,000 of state Habitat funds were awarded, with the grantee providing $32,000 in matching funds. https://www.fermilabnaturalareas.org/”

“The Wetlands Initiative – This Putnam County project will restore high quality mesic prairie, wetlands, woodlands, sedge meadow and seep habitat across 42 acres of Violet Meadow area at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge, which is open to the public 365 days a year and protected in perpetuity as a natural area. This site offers miles of hiking trails, as well as excellent nature photography, birdwatching, seasonal paddling, and summer fishing opportunities. The grantee will be removing invasive species, seeding and planting native plant plugs, conducting prescribed burns to restore mesic prairie and disconnecting tile drainage lines. $18,045 of state Habitat funds were awarded, with the grantee providing $92,346.23 in matching funds. http://www.wetlands-initiative.org/dixon-overview”

For a full list of the grant winners, go here