Volunteers planted these trees on Plum Island along the Illinois River. - FWS photo

The Plum Island site plan, prepared by Rock Island Field Office. - FWS photo

The Rock Island Field Office (RIFO) through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program has partnered with the Illinois Audubon Society (Starved Rock Chapter), Illinois DNR (Starved Rock State Park), and Living Lands and Waters to restore a 20 acre forested island just downstream of the Starved Rock Lock and Dam (Plum Island). 

Over the past century the Illinois River has undergone ecologically significant changes as levees were built, floodplains drained and water levels manipulated.  From these changes and other natural events (i.e. flood of 1993) the forest habitat along the river has been reduced and diversity has declined.

In an effort to protect the island from development and future habitat modifications, the Illinois Audubon Society purchased Plum Island in 1999, with the assistance of a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Commission.  Shortly after purchase of the island, Chad Pegrackee and his nationally renowned river crew conducted a full scale clean-up of the island and removed three barges full of debris and other trash from the island. 

In addition to the clean-up, Mr. Pegrackee provided 100 nursery RPM gown trees for planting on the island.  Being “plum” out of funds and needing to get the trees in the ground, the Illinois Audubon contacted the Partners for Fish and Wildlife office in Rock Island and the final preparations were put in place. 

At the advice of the Illinois DNR state forester, Fiscal Year 2005 Partners funds helped purchase deer exclusion material (i.e. fence posts and wire) to give the trees a fighting chance against a  large and damaging deer herd. 

This approach was used in other areas that had significant deer pressure and has proven to help survival rate of the trees.

On October 13^, agency representatives were pleasantly surprised to be met by 30 willing and ready volunteers to plant the 100 trees on Plum Island.

Rock Island Field Office, Illinois Audubon and Illinois DNR plan to continue working together to complete reforestation of the entire island over the next several years. 

The overwhelming support of local volunteers and park staff will be leveraged to maintain and mange this unique habitat for years to come. 

Recently, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Fiscal Year 2006 funds were used to purchase an additional 100 trees to be planted next month.