Habitat restoration to begin near Wheeling

The Forest Preserves of Cook County will begin restoring 259 acres of forest preserve land near Wheeling this winter, removing nonnative trees from the Portwine, Dam #1 Woods and Willow-Sanders properties, from Willow Road north to Lake-Cook Road. The restoration will restore habitat for plants and animals native to our prairies and woodlands. Removing trees increases the sunlight that reaches the ground, encouraging the growth of grasses, sedges and wildflowers which in turn provide food and shelter to a greater diversity of wildlife, as well as reducing soil erosion. "Some parts of the landscape may look fairly bare for a while. But give them a season or two, and they will rebound very well with grasses and wildflowers," said Chief Ecologist Chip O'Leary. Many of the trees being removed are invasive species; others were planted in the middle of the last century. The work is being done in winter, when plants are dormant and the ground is frozen and less subject to compaction. The Des Plaines River Trail will remain open.