# data[].attributes.body
Members of the Hudson Ag 4-H Club (pictured above) helped plant 25 oak trees Tuesday near Lake Bloomington, laying the groundwork for a 6-acre natural savanna. Members of the youth agricultural organization teamed up with the McLean County Soil & Water Conservation District and the City of Bloomington's Public Works Department to plant the oak saplings.

# data[].attributes.headline
Lake Bloomington Prairie Restoration Project

# data[].attributes.subject
Lake Bloomington Prairie Restoration Project

# data[].attributes.body
This prairie restoration project was in partnership with Pheasants Forever. The area was previously turf grass and is now a developing prairie. Implemented with the City of Bloomington, this area has both native grasses and pollinator habitat actively growing. Management of this location includes invasive species control, prescribe burning, and monitoring.

# data[].attributes.headline
Lake Bloomington Prairie Restoration Project

# data[].attributes.subject
Lake Bloomington Prairie Restoration Project

# data[].attributes.body
This prairie restoration project was in partnership with Pheasants Forever. The area was previously overgrown with invasive species and is a developing prairie. Implemented with the City of Bloomington, this area has both native grasses and pollinator habitat actively growing. Management of this location includes invasive species control, prescribe burning, and monitoring.

# data[].attributes.body
This prairie restoration project was in partnership with Pheasants Forever. The area was previously overgrown with invasive species and is a developing prairie. Implemented with the City of Bloomington, this area has both native grasses and pollinator habitat actively growing. Management of this location includes invasive species control, prescribe burning, and monitoring.

# data[].attributes.headline
Lake Bloomington North Park Prairie Restoration Project

# data[].attributes.subject
Lake Bloomington North Park Prairie Restoration Project

# data[].attributes.body
Tour North Park at Lake Bloomington and enjoy this prairie restoration project. Implemented with the City of Bloomington, this area has both native grasses and pollinator habitat actively growing. Management of this location includes invasive species control, prescribe burning, and monitoring.

# data[].attributes.body
The shoreline’s obvious erosion issues were becoming a hazard, but now after completion serves as excellent habitat for aquatics and a stable shoreline for the park. Additional shoreline projects continue to take place and are being installed currently.

Partners included:
McLean County SWCD
The City of Bloomington
The Environmental Protection Agency

# data[].attributes.body
The shoreline’s obvious erosion issues were becoming a hazard, but now after completion serves as excellent habitat for aquatics and a stable shoreline for the park. Additional shoreline projects continue to take place and are being installed currently.

Partners included:
McLean County SWCD
The City of Bloomington
The Environmental Protection Agency

# data[].attributes.body
The shoreline’s obvious erosion issues were becoming a hazard, but now after completion serves as excellent habitat for aquatics and a stable shoreline for the park. Additional shoreline projects continue to take place and are being installed currently.

Partners included:
McLean County SWCD
The City of Bloomington
The Environmental Protection Agency

# data[].attributes.body
The shoreline’s obvious erosion issues were becoming a hazard, but now after completion serves as excellent habitat for aquatics and a stable shoreline for the park. Additional shoreline projects continue to take place and are being installed currently.

Partners included:
McLean County SWCD
The City of Bloomington
The Environmental Protection Agency

# data[].attributes.body
The shoreline’s obvious erosion issues were becoming a hazard, but now after completion serves as excellent habitat for aquatics and a stable shoreline for the park. Additional shoreline projects continue to take place and are being installed currently.

Partners included:
McLean County SWCD
The City of Bloomington
The Environmental Protection Agency

# data[].attributes.body
An effort to promote more pollinator habitat and diversify the landscape conjoining the lake. Invasive species were removed from this area and a new seeding of pollinator friendly species was planted.

This partnership was made possible by:
Comlara Park
McLean County Pheasants Forever
McLean County SWCD

# data[].attributes.body
Installation of 1,100 feet of shoreline protection, and 100 feet of fish lunkers at Comlara Park, Evergreen Lake.

This partnership was made possible by:
Comlara Park
McLean County Pheasants Forever
McLean County SWCD

# data[].attributes.body
Stabilization and restoration of a severely eroding streambanks. Willow Posts, Bendway Wiers, Stream Barbs, Pool and Riffle and Stone Toe Protection are examples of SSRP methods. Methods and design are determined and designed by our Regional Streambank Specialist.

# data[].attributes.body
Stabilization and restoration of a severely eroding streambanks. Willow Posts, Bendway Wiers, Stream Barbs, Pool and Riffle and Stone Toe Protection are examples of SSRP methods. Methods and design are determined and designed by our Regional Streambank Specialist.

# data[].attributes.body
A nutrient management project for agricultural runoff.  The practice is used to reduce discharge, sediment loadings and nutrient loading from large floods.

# data[].attributes.body
Subsurface, perforated distribution pipes are used to distribute drainage system discharge beneath a vegetated buffer along a discharge channel. This practice was installed to reduce nitrate loading from a subsurface drainage outlet through vegetation uptake and denitrification.

# data[].attributes.body
The interpretative nature trail was installed for the enjoyment of the public to view the various conservation projects and native habitat.

# data[].attributes.body
With Bloomington’s Stormwater funding, the city matched federal funding with the IDR’s State Wildlife Grant for habitat enhancement and NRCS’s Conservation Innovation Grant  for nutrient management in agricultural runoff.  The US Geological Survey will monitor discharge, sediment loadings and nutrient loading of large floods to measure nutrient reductions and sedimentation rates within the Phase 3 restoration. IDNR stream fishery staff will monitor stream fishery populations as the two stage ditch evolves during flooding and the maturing prairie vegetation. Bloomington Park staff and their consultants will determine the maturity of the prairie and wetland plant community.

To learn more: http://www.mcleancountyswcd.com/two-stage-ditch-project/

# data[].attributes.body
The shoreline’s obvious erosion issues were becoming a hazard, but now after completion serves as excellent habitat for aquatics and a stable shoreline for the park. Additional shoreline projects continue to take place and are being installed currently.

Partners included:
McLean County SWCD
The City of Bloomington
The Environmental Protection Agency

# data[].attributes.body
Installation of 1,100 feet of shoreline protection, and 100 feet of fish lunkers at Comlara Park, Evergreen Lake. The project required 1,250 ton of RR4 rock to accomplish the job. The shoreline’s obvious erosion issues were becoming a hazard for the Comlara beach area, but now after completion serves as excellent habitat for aquatics and a stable shoreline for the park. Additional shoreline projects continue to take place and are being installed currently.

Partners included:
McLean County SWCD
The City of Bloomington
The Environmental Protection Agency

# data[].attributes.body
The wetlands for this project are known as nitrate removal wetlands and are specifically located and designed to intercept and treat agricultural drainage water. These wetlands have a strong record of success both in Illinois and Iowa in reducing nitrogen levels by 40-90%. Typically they are small wetlands (2-5 acre pool size), and are made by digging down a few feet to drain tile. These Wetlands are designed NOT to interfere with cropland drainage.

# data[].attributes.body
The wetlands for this project are known as nitrate removal wetlands and are specifically located and designed to intercept and treat agricultural drainage water. These wetlands have a strong record of success both in Illinois and Iowa in reducing nitrogen levels by 40-90%. Typically they are small wetlands (2-5 acre pool size), and are made by digging down a few feet to drain tile. These Wetlands are designed NOT to interfere with cropland drainage.

# data[].attributes.body
Learn more about our watershed initiative at: http://www.mcleancountyswcd.com/evergreen-lake/

# data[].attributes.body
Learn more about our watershed initiative at:
http://www.mcleancountyswcd.com/lake-bloomington/

# data[].attributes.location_name
McLean County Soil and Water Conservation District, North Kays Drive, Normal, IL, USA

# data[].attributes.headline
McLean County Soil and Water Conservation District

# data[].attributes.subject
McLean County Soil and Water Conservation District

# data[].attributes.body
402 N. Kays Dr.

Normal, IL 61761

Phone: 309-452-3848 Ext. 3

Hours

M-F 8am-4:30pm

www.mcleancountyswcd.com

# data[].attributes.body
1 mile of Pollinator Habitat installed.

This highly visible area is in the process of a habitat conversion. The current vegetation is being converted to high diversity pollinator habitat.
Click Here to Learn More about how McLean County is working to improve Monarch Butterfly feeding and breeding habitat: http://www.mcleancountyswcd.com/monarchs/
In partnership with:
Illinois Department of Transportation
Illinois Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever