How native seeding is used for ecological restoration at Lake County forest preserves

Using native plants to attract pollinators, birds and wildlife to your yard can be a fulfilling practice but can come at a cost, especially if you have a lot of ground to cover.

Same for the Lake County Forest Preserve District, which just approved contracts for native seeds totaling nearly $2.67 million. And they still can’t get everything they wanted.

The total doesn't include 39 native plant species that were unavailable in the commercial market and another 64 species that were too costly at more than $500 a pound, according to the district.

And among those that were available and competitively priced, 17 species representing 709 pounds could not be supplied in the amounts requested, a market value shortfall of more than $833,000.

“We budgeted about $3.5 million but it goes to show you how many projects we plan to put on the ground and how large those projects are,” explained Pati Vitt, director of natural resources. “This is one of the district's most complex contracts.”

A key difference in the bidding from past practice is that for the first time, the contracts span five years rather than one. So, beginning with annual deliveries each November, the district will be good to go through the 2031 planting season.

However, in a perfect world it isn't enough, Vitt noted.

To determine what would be needed, all projects were considered and the acreage and habitat type determined. From there a series of seed mixes was designed.

Some common native seeds include Golden Alexanders, New England Aster, Switch Grass and Wild bergamot. But altogether, 274 species are involved in creating seed mixes, spread at about 10 pounds per acre.

“It's good, but we would love it to be more in order for us to ensure that we maintain species and that have really diverse eco-systems including (at) our new restorations,” Vitt recently explained to the forest board's operations committee, which recommended bid approval to the full board.

About 74 species can be grown in house at the district's Native Seed Nursery at Rollins Savanna near Grayslake, but it's a small-scale operation.

“Currently, the seeds that we produce in the nursery are kind of boutique — it's rare species, species that really are difficult to propagate on a large scale,” she said.

While the pricing was decent, Vitt noted that even if it’s a bit more expensive, the preference is to source native seeds of the area including southern Wisconsin, north to central Illinois and northwest Indiana.

“Even though it might be a little bit more expensive, we’ll actually get more plants on the ground to grow and establish themselves,” she said.