[BCNnet] Springbrook Prairie Story

Mon, 16 Dec 2002 09:57:13 -0600

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It is well that a trail has NOT been built thru prime grassland bird 
habitat. Among bird species, grassland birds are meritorious of the highest 
level of protection in Illinois.
I am replying because I think the statement, "You can't protect what you 
don't know is there." deserves to be explored.
We know from a variety of studies and direct observations that trails 
replace plants with an impervious surface. This has been written about and 
observed a sufficient number of times that by induction environmentalists 
accept that a trail or a road is going to have a negative effect on a lot 
more species than positive effects. We do not need to restudy this issue at 
every single site (though requesting such is the strategy of "wise use" and 
some local groups that seek to reduce management).  This I feel comfortable 
that asserting that preventing human economic activity from an area 
(including trail and shelter construction) will indeed protect the plants 
and animals living on the land without me knowing specifically what I am 
protecting.
Knowing what is being protected is nice, but can be reliably inferred from 
a quick look at the habitat by an even a weak naturalist. Specifically, if 
one has an Illinois field without any significant woody vegetation (this is 
where experience helps) that is greater than 25 acres one assumes that 
grassland birds nest at the site (unless a specific inventory indicates 
contrary information). Induction of experience leads to such a statement.
I would also note that in the case described no information on what was 
living in where the rerouted trail was put is presented. Without such 
information, I am left to wonder if, perhaps, the last nesting place of 
snapping turtles in Dupage county is being destroyed. Given only the option 
is that the trail WILL be built, it is appropriate to "know what is there" 
before deciding where to place the trail. Unfortunately, there are a lot of 
kinds of species living a lot of different life styles. Basing our decision 
on a single group is perhaps better than ignoring all groups, but I would 
need to know lots about the place that ended up taking the hit of the trail 
before I could congratulate the FPDDC for moving the trail.
Dennis Nyberg
At 08:51 PM 12/10/2002 -0500, you wrote:
THE VALUE OF GOOD DATA AND GOOD LAND MANAGERS

I have been monitoring bird populations at Springbrook Prairie since 1994 
and have been the Volunteer Steward for the DuPage Forest Preserve District 
for several years.  We probably always wonder if we are doing any good or 
if the information that we collect is valuable.  I am happy to report that 
our efforts can pay off and are very valuable, at least here in DuPage.

Recently I learned that a proposed limestone trail was planned to go 
through one of the fields at Springbrook.  From my monitoring data, the 
path of the proposed trail bisected habitat with the greatest diversity and 
density of grassland birds and the center of the Henslow's Sparrow 
population on the site (for those of you familiar with Springbrook this is 
the large fescue field west of Book Road and north of the stream).  I 
called my contacts at DuPage and told them of my concerns.   To make a long 
story short, DuPage Forest preserve staff recognized the problem and took 
action to reroute the proposed trail south of the field.  They did this 
despite the fact that the stakes to mark the trail were already in the 
field and construction is slated to start soon.

Kudos go to District staff John Oldenburg of the Natural Resources 
Department and Bob Vick of the Planning and Development Department for 
listening and taking immediate action to remedy the problem.  I am very 
happy to report that they recognized the value of the natural resource and 
took action to protect it.

Two points - without the data that I have been collecting over the years to 
document the bird populations and the location of threatened species on the 
site, DuPage County could have lost a significant breeding  population of 
grassland birds.  You can't protect what you don't know is there.

Second, this is a great example of how volunteer efforts can support and 
inform decisions on our remaining public lands.  It was great to get the 
cooperation and efforts of DuPage staff  to resolve the problem.

If you have an opportunity to do so, please express your thanks to John and 
Bob for their efforts.  Also, a note or email of thanks and support to 
Dewey Pierotti, DuPage Forest Preserve President, is in order.  I think it 
is important that they hear from us when something good happens and not 
only when we have something to complain about.

It was a good feeling to know that we can help save some of our natural 
heritage through our work and the concerns of our professional land managers.

Joe Suchecki
Naperville

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It is well that a trail has NOT been built thru prime grassland bird
habitat. Among bird species, grassland birds are meritorious of the
highest level of protection in Illinois. 
I am replying because I think the statement,
&quot;You
can't protect what you don't know is there.&quot; deserves to be
explored. 
We know from a variety of studies and direct observations that trails
replace plants with an impervious surface. This has been written about
and observed a sufficient number of times that by induction
environmentalists accept that a trail or a road is going to have a
negative effect on a lot more species than positive effects. We do not
need to restudy this issue at every single site (though requesting such
is the strategy of &quot;wise use&quot; and some local groups that seek
to reduce management).&nbsp; This I feel comfortable that asserting that
preventing human economic activity from an area (including trail and
shelter construction) will indeed protect the plants and animals living
on the land without me knowing specifically what I am protecting. 
Knowing what is being protected is nice, but can be reliably inferred
from a quick look at the habitat by an even a weak naturalist.
Specifically, if one has an Illinois field without any significant woody
vegetation (this is where experience helps) that is greater than 25 acres
one assumes that grassland birds nest at the site (unless a specific
inventory indicates contrary information). Induction of experience leads
to such a statement. 
I would also note that in the case described no information on what was
living in where the rerouted trail was put is presented. Without such
information, I am left to wonder if, perhaps, the last nesting place of
snapping turtles in Dupage county is being destroyed. Given only the
option is that the trail WILL be built, it is appropriate to &quot;know
what is there&quot; before deciding where to place the trail.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of kinds of species living a lot of
different life styles. Basing our decision on a single group is perhaps
better than ignoring all groups, but I would need to know lots about the
place that ended up taking the hit of the trail before I could
congratulate the FPDDC for moving the trail. 
Dennis Nyberg 
At 08:51 PM 12/10/2002 -0500, you wrote: 
THE VALUE OF GOOD DATA AND GOOD LAND
MANAGERS 
 
I have been monitoring bird populations at Springbrook Prairie since 1994
and have been the Volunteer Steward for the DuPage Forest Preserve
District for several years.&nbsp; We probably always wonder if we are
doing any good or if the information that we collect is valuable.&nbsp; I
am happy to report that our efforts can pay off and are very valuable, at
least here in DuPage. 
 
Recently I learned that a proposed limestone trail was planned to go
through one of the fields at Springbrook.&nbsp; From my monitoring data,
the path of the proposed trail bisected habitat with the greatest
diversity and density of grassland birds and the center of the Henslow's
Sparrow population on the site (for those of you familiar with
Springbrook this is the large fescue field west of Book Road and north of
the stream).&nbsp; I called my contacts at DuPage and told them of my
concerns.&nbsp;&nbsp; To make a long story short, DuPage Forest preserve
staff recognized the problem and took action to reroute the proposed
trail south of the field.&nbsp; They did this despite the fact that the
stakes to mark the trail were already in the field and construction is
slated to start soon. 
 
Kudos go to District staff John Oldenburg of the Natural Resources
Department and Bob Vick of the Planning and Development Department for
listening and taking immediate action to remedy the problem.&nbsp; I am
very happy to report that they recognized the value of the natural
resource and took action to protect it. 
 
Two points - without the data that I have been collecting over the years
to document the bird populations and the location of threatened species
on the site, DuPage County could have lost a significant breeding&nbsp;
population of grassland birds.&nbsp; You can't protect what you don't
know is there. 
 
Second, this is a great example of how volunteer efforts can support and
inform decisions on our remaining public lands.&nbsp; It was great to get
the cooperation and efforts of DuPage staff&nbsp; to resolve the
problem. 
 
If you have an opportunity to do so, please express your thanks to John
and Bob for their efforts.&nbsp; Also, a note or email of thanks and
support to Dewey Pierotti, DuPage Forest Preserve President, is in
order.&nbsp; I think it is important that they hear from us when
something good happens and not only when we have something to complain
about. 
 
It was a good feeling to know that we can help save some of our natural
heritage through our work and the concerns of our professional land
managers. 
 
Joe Suchecki 
Naperville&nbsp; 
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