Restoration
A raccoon visiting
a small stream in Oak Ridge Marsh leaves only footprints. Our influence on the park
hasn't been as light. In times past, we eliminated fires and introduced buckthorn as
a hedge.
Buckthorn has thrived in our rich soil where previously only oaks and a few other
trees could survive the fires. The result of this human influence is that plant life
is rapidly disappearing, being starved of the sun. To reverse the damage being
done, the first step is to remove the buckthorn from the central areas, particularly
the areas that still have a variety of native plants.
Does That Mean Trees Will be Cut?
To those unfamiliar with the process of restoration, it may seem counter-intuitive
for "tree-huggers" to be cutting down trees, but in reality, these particular shrubby
trees do not belong here and are killing life. Shrubs that do belong here will stay,
such as high-bush cranberry.
The buckthorn starts with starving out the smaller plants, and then young oaks and
hickories. Without intervention, in time when the old oaks die they will
have no replacements and Lake Zurich would have lost a piece of its ancestry. Just like
a gardener will remove weeds, starting with those taking away the most sun and water,
we must start with removing the invasive European buckthorn and honeysuckle.
No mature oaks or hickories will be cut, in fact this is done to protect them and
some of their young offspring. A
side benefit is that the trails will be made safer to walk on with better sight lines.
But it looks so green
This is true, particularly along the walking trail and outside edges. The trail
itself has been kept free of trees and shrubs, so plant life can survive along the
narrow border of the trails and the brush
above them also is crowded with leaves. Much of the greenery is actually invasive
introduced species. But behind the trails, you will
often see little more than a tangle of dead branches and bare dirt.
What happens next?
There is still a good variety of quality native plants and shrubs at Oak Ridge Marsh.
This includes Pennsylvania sedge, rue anemone, shooting stars and foxglove. These
plants should come back with more vigor. Also, the new influx of sunlight on the
ground may reach seeds that have lain dormant for several years (the "seed bank"),
and plants will resprout on their own accord. Such areas will need to be
weeded as thistles and garlic mustard will also want to regrow. Later, as we restore
areas that have lost all native life, seeds will need to be collected, from this
property or other properties in the Lake Zurich area, and sown by hand.
Wildflower rescues may occur, where a property that is going to be developed will
be checked for spring wildflowers or other plants that are hard to restore from
seed, and those plants will be transplanted.
Effect on Neighbors
We will minimize the effect on neighboring houses. Buffer areas will be left untouched,
as a privacy screen. Other than the entrance, the only initial change will be an increase
in the variety of bird species that visit their backyards as species other than European
house sparrows and
starlings find the park attractive. The final result will be a natural park setting
of native grasses and plants under the tall oaks and hickories, like this restored
region of Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve.
We hope that neighbors will see and understand
what we are doing, and will want to look out on a landscape you can actually see into,
as opposed to a wall of leaves and a tangle of dead branches. New views to Echo Lake
may be opened up. Where neighbors
approve we can clear buckthorn and replant up to the property line, and of course we
invite all of the neighbors to pitch in!
