Description

Maple Woods is a 65-acre Class IV mesic upland forest with portions of wet-mesic upland forest, immature upland forest, vernal ponds and stream communities. It contains 258 native plant species including one state-endangered and 17 of special concern. The three- to five-year project will remove invasive woody plants, thin abundant woody native plants (primarily sugar maples), herbicide invasive woody and herbaceous plants, augment native species, and provide follow-up management.

Project Need

There has been some work at this site, which has an active volunteer steward, but it needs additional management, especially to remove the overabundant sugar maples. This project will greatly benefit this Class IV ecosystem, which is recognized by the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory and offers native plants and animals critical habitat in a heavily urbanized county.