Historical Timeline
Activities in the Nature Study Area
| 400,000,000 years ago | Tropical Silurian Sea occupies Central United States with extensive coral reefs Age of bedrock | |
| 1,600,000 years ago | Glaciers advance through most of Illinois | |
| 8,000-10,000 years ago | Glaciers retreat from area Lake Chicago occupies area Beach ridges form |
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| 8,000 years ago to present | Mother Earth activities continue | |
| 1974 | Moraine Valley Board of Trustees establishes Nature Study Area | |
| 1975 | Wildlife tree/shrub perimeter planted | |
| 1976 to present | Prairie reconstructed and rehabilitated | |
| 1977 | Pond establishment Archaeological studies/site registered |
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| 1978 | Wetland habitat established | |
| April 22, 1990 | Earth Day 20th anniversary celebration | |
| 1990 | Nature Study Area rededicated | |
| 1991 | Wetland restoration completed | |
| 1992 | Sullivan Spring cleanup G. Jack Bradley Observation Deck constructed |
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| 1993 | New pier built on pond | |
| 1994 | Wood duck nest boxes installed in pond | |
| 1995 | Buckthorn eradication Trail closures |
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| 1996 | Additional prairie planting Second pond established |
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| 2001 | Nature Study Area rededicated West parking lot established Schulenberg inventory of prairie |
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| 2003 | Observatory added to observation deck Selected prairie sites rehabilitated |
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| 2005 | New inventory and assessment of prairie grasses and forbs begins (ongoing, annual inventory) | |
| 2008 | Prescribed prairie burn Dragonfly monitoring begins |
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| 2009 | Prescribed prairie burn Removal of invasive European Buckthorn |
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| 2010 | Construction of rain garden Burr oak tree planted by east entrance Frog monitoring begins Honey bee population abundance and diversity study begins Installation of bird observation and feeding station near Jack Bradley Deck |
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| 2012 | Removal of invasive European Buckthorn PhragNet research project begins |
Other Activities Completed
Past—Scientific analysis of site as to
- soil types and characteristics
- plant communities
- animal populations
- hydrology
- geology
- ecological investigations
- clean out of Sullivan Spring
- chemical analysis of pond environment
- growth studies of pond inhabitants
- mapped bottom contour of pond
- made and erected signs identifying area
- established beehive
- constructed and erected bird nesting boxes
- instituted a program of controlling undesirable species
Present—
- periodic grass/forb planting
- periodic mow to eliminate competition
- annual prescribed burns
- annual litter collection
- scientific study by students and staff
- periodic tours by grade school and high school classes, garden clubs, senior citizens groups, and other community groups
Future—
- continue present activities
- establish walking path
Prairie Restoration
Click on map to see enlarged view
