Tree maintenance crews for the Illinois Department of Transportation have been removing invasive Buckthorn from the IDOT Right of Way along the edge of Highland Park’s Skokie River Woods property located on U.S. Highway 41 north of Park Avenue. Skokie River Woods is managed by the Park District of Highland Park and owned by the City of Highland Park. Both the Park District and IDOT are members of the Northeast Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership (NIIPP) launched in 2010 to work toward the prevention and control of exotic plant invasions which are detrimental to Illinois’ natural landscape heritage.

The wooded property is the site of a wetland restoration project made possible by Watershed Restoration Funds provided by the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (LCSWMC). In addition to restoring and enhancing wetlands on the east edge of the property near the Skokie River (North Branch of the Chicago River) , the land is being restored to correspond with its origin as part of a larger Oak-Hickory and Northern Flatwood natural community, with appropriate seeding of native plants and planting of native trees and shrubs.

Buckthorn, technically Rhamnus catharica and R. frangula, is an exotic small shrub or tree that spreads rapidly in such wet wooded settings. By creating dense shade and absorbing nutrients, it has a negative impact on native plants such as trillium, mayapples, wild geranium, asters and other wildflowers that have been documented on the site.

In 2011 Governor Quinn signed a proclamation declaring May “Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month.” The Park District of Highland Park, along with other NIIPP partner agencies, will be celebrating this year with volunteer workdays and activities throughout the month. See www.pdhp.org and www.niipp.org for more information.

Contact: Rebecca F. Grill, Natural Areas Manager, rgrill@pdhp.org