Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

Native Landscape Contractors • Lemont Pine Dunes Preserve

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Additional goals of the restoration and expansion were to provide (ISTHA) as part of the Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project habitat for threatened native birds such as the red headed woodacquired 315 acres to expand the Pine Dunes Forest Preserve. pecker, eastern bluebird, and least flycatcher. Wetland birds, repThis area was used to perform over $8 million in wetland mititiles, and amphibians will be supported by planting and managing gation for ISTHA, providing approximately 85 acres of quality native prairie, savanna, woodland, and wetland communities. wetland habitat. Native Landscape Contractors, LLC was awardThis project included removal of drain tile, control of invasive ed the native vegetation establishment and maintenance contract species, planting of over 159,000 native aquatic and emergent in 2014. plugs, and seeding of over 200 acres of prairies, woodlands, and

The primary goal of the work was to provide quality wetland wetlands. NLC continues to perform maintenance and monitoring mitigation for impacts by off-site ISTHA construction projects. activities through 2019. The Landscape Contractor 9

June 2020