A photo of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Elwood provides a good example of what the Main Campus will look like in three to five years after the restoration is complete. (Photo by Andy Neill)
 

 

A project to restore the natural areas at JJC to their pre-settlement state begins this month and will dramatically alter the look of the Main Campus.

The three year restoration project, which received approval at the December Board of Trustees meeting, will ultimately clear out non-native plant species and return 65 acres to their original, pre-1820s state.

"Like the Master Plan, the ecological restoration project is one of campus renewal after decades of neglect," Andy Neill, natural sciences professor, said.  "While the initial clearing will be shocking, it will be restored to a much higher quality native plant community that will be absolutely knock-out gorgeous once it starts to become established in three to five years."

According to the college's Natural Sciences Department, the ecosystems on the Main Campus are remnants of a vast wilderness of tallgrass prairie and forest. Currently, much of the natural areas on campus are choked with non-native species like European buckthorn and Hawthorne trees, which produce dense shade and prohibit native plant species.

Project manager Rick Lyman said the first thing people on campus will notice is the open space created from clearing the invasive buckthorn and Hawthorne trees.

"At first it may even appear unsightly, but this is a requirement prior to reintroducing natural trees, shrubs, perennials, etc.," he said. "This is a time-consuming process, and the new species planted will need time to mature and bring back the natural beautification. The added benefit is that during the process, this project can be used as an educational tool allowing students to observe the restoration process."

The total restoration process could take up to seven years by the time areas are cleared and natural species are introduced and begin to take over.

Lyman added that the project should not have a direct construction impact on the campus community like typical construction projects around campus, since the majority of the work is removed from campus population.