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7685382 
Journal Article 
Prairie restoration at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie 
Glass, W; Ulaszek, E; , 
2003 
TRUMAN STATE UNIV PRESS 
KIRKSVILLE 
75-77 
WOS:000189468000016 
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is a joint grassland restoration project between the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Midewin is located on a portion of the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, approximately 64 km (40 mi) southwest of Chicago. Congress created Midewin in 1996, and 6102 ha (15,080 acres) were transferred to the USDA Forest Service in 1997, with additional land to follow. Historically the areas not used for TNT production were grazed or farmed. The ammunition plant was know for its populations of grassland birds, for some species the largest populations in Illinois. A plan for the next 10 to 15 y and an environmental impact statement have been completed and some restoration work started. A seed nursery has been established, which currently produces seeds from 70 species of prairie plants with plans for production of 300 to 400 species of prairie, wetland, and woodland plants in the future. A number of challenges exist in the restoration to native grassland habitat at Midewin. Exotic species and invasive woody vegetation are problems throughout the site. A balance of native grassland restoration and retention of cool-season grasslands is necessary to retain the populations of grassland bird species. Old Army infrastructure needs to be removed and contaminated areas cleaned up. Techniques need to be developed to reconstruct and restore rare dolomite prairie. The hydrology has been altered with field tiles and drainage ditches, and needs to be restored without impacting neighbors. Many of the challenges at Midewin require innovative and adaptive management techniques for this project to be successful. Grassland restoration at Midewin is a long-term prairie restoration project with many partners. 
Fore, S; 
1-931112-36-3 
18th North American Prairie Conference 
Kirksville, MO