University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A Botanical Assessment of Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Sites in Illinois

Ellis, James; Rye, Timothy; Forrest, Jessica

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/18203

Description

Title
A Botanical Assessment of Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Sites in Illinois
Author(s)
  • Ellis, James
  • Rye, Timothy
  • Forrest, Jessica
Issue Date
2010-02-05
Keyword(s)
  • Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
  • monitoring
  • biological assessment
  • Critical Trends Assessment Program
  • Illinois Department of Natural Resources
  • CREP
Abstract
Biological assessment and monitoring of properties enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) in Illinois has been lacking. To remedy this situation, scientists from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Natural History Survey teamed up in 2009 to conduct a pilot study to make general botanical assessments of 11 sites comprising 17 private properties in central Illinois enrolled in CREP. Each site was visited once, and a list of plant species and general vegetation structure were noted. Sites ranged from being dominated by native herbaceous species like common goldenrod to being dominated by tree species like silver maple and eastern cottonwood. Native plant species were generally more abundant than non-native species, but invasive species like reed canary grass, field thistle, and amur honeysuckle were present on some sites and could pose future management concerns. Compared to randomly selected wetland and grassland sites sampled as part of the Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP), the CREP sites were more botanically rich and diverse, but as sites mature without management or disturbance, plant diversity is expected to decline.
Publisher
Illinois Natural History Survey
Series/Report Name or Number
Technical Report INHS 2010 (09)
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/18203
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
INHS Technical Report Prepared for Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Copyright and License Information
This document is a product of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and has been selected and made available by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested.

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Illinois Natural History Survey PRIMARY
Reports produced by INHS staff, usually as deliverables for assessment projects funded by federal or state agencies or non-governmental organizations.