Restoration Planning and Implementation - Lusk Creek Illinois Audubon Sanctuary

Restoration Planning and Implementation - Lusk Creek Illinois Audubon Sanctuary Wildlife Preservation Fund Grant #11-012W Project Final Report Submitted by: Tom Clay, Executive Director Illinois Audubon Society Submitted to: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Resource Conservation One Natural Resources Way Springfield, Illinois 62702-1271 January 19, 2012 Final Report Wildlife Preservation Fund Grant #11-012W Project Title Restoration Planning and Implementation – Lusk Creek Illinois Audubon Sanctuary Grantee Tom Clay, Executive Director Illinois Audubon Society P.O. Box 2547 Springfield, Illinois 62708 217.544.2473 [email protected] Timeframe of Project November 24, 2010 through December 31, 2011 Project Objective The mission of the Illinois Audubon Society is to promote the perpetuation and appreciation of native plants and animals and the habitats that support them. Wilderness is to be “protected and managed as to preserve its natural conditions…” (The Wilderness Act of 1964, Sec 2(c)). 1. Development of a site management plan consistent with the mission of the Illinois Audubon Society and the Wilderness Act (future wilderness designation is likely) is intended to provide guidance toward the following goals and objectives: • Provide primitive recreational opportunities such as hiking, bird and wildlife watching, enjoyment of scenery, wildflowers, geology and opportunity for solitude • Promote and steward ecological integrity of the land and health of Lusk Creek INAI • Promote and steward native resident fish and wildlife populations • Maintain remote character of the area • Promote and restore wilderness character by eliminating the noticeable imprints of man’s work and by restoring native plant communities 2. Implementation of priority action items identified in the site action plan will provide the actions vital to restoring and protecting native plant and animal communities as well as restoring and enhancing the wilderness character of the site. Management objectives are likely to include controlling or eliminating certain non-native invasive species, restoring old fields to native hardwoods, obliterating and re-vegetating old roads, giant cane restoration, and conduct some site clean-up. However, Illinois Audubon will seek qualified contractor to develop a plan that provides the Society with specific management direction. []2 Project Summary The Illinois Audubon Society purchased a 57 acre inholding surrounded by the 6,800 acre Lusk Creek Wilderness area of the Shawnee National Forest, northeast of Eddyville in Pope County. IAS acquired the land to protect its varied natural features, including the upper reaches of Lusk Creek INAI site flowing through the parcel. While the overall natural quality of the IAS parcel is high, it does contain localized impacts from human use including several infestations of non-native invasive plant species. The project concentrated on the development of a management plan and management actions consistent with the IAS mission while taking the Wilderness Act of 1964 into consideration for wilderness users and possible future wilderness designation of the parcel. The desired management actions should protect the existing natural features and restore wilderness character to the land where the imprint of man’s work is obvious. The project started with a survey and inventory of the site to identify and evaluate management concerns. Literature reviews of recent studies conducted on the site were undertaken and concerns, threats, and priorities were discussed in developing the plan. The plan was drafted, edited, and finalized with Illinois Audubon Society staff and board member input. Several management plan priority action items were implemented with this project as well. Non native invasive plant species control was undertaken with the primary autumn olive treatments in the old field sites completed. Bush honeysuckle control treatments along the road and refuse/debris cleanup efforts were also undertaken. A hand-held sprayer and 2 gallons of Crossroads herbicide were provided to IAS volunteers by the contractor. Discussions with U.S. Forest Service staff regarding gating and closing the public road into the Wilderness area took place. Requests for Forest Service assistance in removing some debris from the site were also made. Reimbursement Requested: $2,000.00 Project Objectives Met The IAS contractor (Christopher Evans) developed a comprehensive site management plan (see attached) with goals and objectives consistent with the Illinois Audubon Society mission and wilderness values. The plan contains descriptions of the natural resources found on the site and an analysis of the present conditions, with specific management concerns for different portions of the property. It also makes management recommendations, prioritizes the recommendations and sets a timeline for their implementation. With the help of a volunteer, the contractor implemented the first priority action item/recommendation of primary autumn olive control treatments, including equipment maintenance and supplies. To facilitate the ongoing volunteer efforts of non native invasive species control at the site, the contractor provided volunteers with a pump sprayer and herbicide. []3 Volunteers have addressed the bush honeysuckle infestation along the road on Shawnee National Forest land to prevent future invasion on to the IAS site and have begun the debris cleanup efforts at the site. An additional visit by volunteers to monitor the parcel for horse and off road vehicle use took place in late November. A volunteer also assembled literature, maps and photos of the site for use in establishing the plan and met with the contractor on several occasions to inventory the site and to discuss the plan and management issues. Volunteer time was spent talking to Forest Service officials regarding gating the road at the Wilderness boundary and a request was made to enlist the agency’s help in debris removal. A total of 47 volunteer hours were spent. Future implementation of the plan is ongoing and scheduled, including the first of 2 volunteer cleanup days in 2012, the first which is tentatively scheduled for March 3 or March 31st. The first date is subject to change depending on weather and soil moisture conditions. A visit to the site in late spring is planned for invasive species control as well (predominately for autumn olive & bush honeysuckle control). More research on best practices for direct seeding the open fields will be conducted. Another visit is expected by the Cooperative Weed Management Strike Team to treat Chinese yam and evaluate Japanese stilt grass infestations. These planned volunteer activities are in line with the management plan’s priority recommendations and timeline. []4 Detailed Budget Project Total WPF Funds Requested Cost Share Personnel (volunteer hours) 5hrs.toassembleinformationforplan $ 100.00 40hrstoimplementactionitemsinplan 800.00 $900.00 Contractual Services DevelopmentofMgmt.Plan 750.00 Implementation of priority action items 1,250.00 $2,000.00 Detail Total Cost of Project $2,900.00 $2,000.00 $900.00 Actual Budget Project Total WPF Funds Requested Cost Share Personnel (volunteer hours) 5hrs.toassembleinformationforplan $ 100.00 42hrstoimplementactionitemsinplan 840.00 $940.00 Contractual Services DevelopmentofMgmt.Plan 864.00 Implementation of priority action items 1,136.00 $2,000.00 Detail Actual Total Cost of Project $2,940.00 $2,000.00 $940.00 []5 A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY’S LUSK CREEK PROPERTY, POPE COUNTY ILLINOIS 2012 - 2016 Report to the Illinois Audubon Society Submitted December 23, 2011 by Chris Evans Table of Contents Introduction………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Statement of Management Goals and Objectives……………………………………………………………….. 2 Site Description ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2 Summary Analysis of Current Situation...………………………………………………………………………….. 7 Summary of Major Management Concerns……………………………………………………………………….. 8 Detailed Analysis of Management Recommendations ………………………………………………………. 10 Upland Old Field ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 Regeneration/Management of all Old Fields ………………………………………………………… 11 Removal of Junk and Debris from Property…………………………………………………………… 12 Management of Glade Community ………………………………………………………………………. 13 Management and Regeneration of Cane Stands ……………………………………………………. 14 Invasive Species Management……………………………………………………………………………… 15 Additional Management Recommendations………………………………………………………….. 19 Timeline and Priority Recommendations for Plan Implementation …………………………………… 21 Plan Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 23 Figures …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 24 Appendix A: Plants Listed by Group, Then Family …………………………………………………………….. 26 Appendix B: Invasive Species Identification and Management Information ……………………….. 32 Appendix C: Resources for Management ………………………………………………………………………….. 42 INTRODUCTION This management plan for the Illinois Audubon’s Lusk Creek Property was written for the Illinois Audubon Society using funds from the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund Program. This plan gives detailed information about the current state of the property, an analysis of future conditions, a statement of the goals and objectives of the management efforts, and details the steps necessary to meet those goals and objectives. This small parcel of land is incredibly diverse, both in species numbers and habitat types. Everything from riparian habitats to dry

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