2008 Year in Review

WC Prairie Hill Receives International Conservation Award

Employees at Waste Management, Inc.’s Prairie Hill Recycling and Disposal Facility received international recognition for their contributions to wildlife habitat conservation at the Wildlife Habitat Council’s (WHC) 20th Annual Symposium, 20/20 Vision: Celebrating the Past, Looking to the Future. Waste Management, Inc. demonstrates its commitment to environmental stewardship and increasing native biodiversity by achieving habitat certification at the Prairie Hill Recycling and Disposal Facility.

“This year, our 20th Anniversary, WHC celebrates two decades of solid leadership and on-the-ground achievements by our members in wildlife habitat preservation and conservation education,” said Robert Johnson, WHC President. “WHC members are continuing to lead the way to further define and demonstrate how corporations can use their lands to preserve our biodiversity, while preparing new generations through conservation education to understand how to be better leaders and managers for tomorrow’s sustainable businesses and communities. Congratulations to Waste Management, Inc. for their volunteer-based efforts to preserve the biodiversity of their community and the world, and to connect people to nature.”

The Prairie Hill RDF occupies 423 acres and is located in Whiteside County in Northwest Illinois. The site was purchased by Waste Management, Inc. (WM) in 1992. As part of the initial licensing process, site manager Mike Wiersema and the site development team developed a closure plan. The closure plan envisioned the site as a community resource with publicly accessible bike trails, a nature trail with interpretative signage and learning stations and perhaps a full-blown Nature Center. In the interim, whenever possible, the site is managed in accordance with this vision.

In 1995 a decision was made to convert some unused land around the site's entranceway into a restored natural prairie. Working with the Whiteside County Soil Conservation and Natural Area Guardians (NAGs), a prairie was established with native grasses and locally collected native prairie wildflower seed. The seed was collected by the WCSC, NAGs, at the Sauk Valley Community College prairie. A management plan was developed and followed and after approximately 3 growing years of mowing, general maintenance, and patience, the prairie finally was established, not only to the site's enjoyment, but also that of drivers-by and the local pheasant and northern bobwhite quail populations. The prairie is maintained through scheduled burns in cooperation with the soil conservation office and control of invasive species by occasional mowing and targeted applications of herbicide.

In accordance with the future vision for the site, educational opportunities are being pursued. For example, every year from August through October the soil conservation office in conjunction with NAGs arrive to harvest seeds which are sold as a fundraising event for their group. Future plans include enlisting local school children in creating a demonstration garden with ID tags to help site employees and visitors become familiar with prairie plants.

Prairie Hill Recycling and Disposal Facility was one of 214 sites recognized at the 2008 Symposium for creating a Wildlife at WorkSM program. In addition, 97 Corporate Lands for LearningSM programs reach thousands of learners from schools and scout groups to master gardeners and university researchers. Since 1990, WHC has certified 489 programs worldwide. The certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites, and offers third-party validation of the benefits of such programs. Certification requirements are strict and require that sites apply for periodic renewal.

Celebrating 20 years in conservation, the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) is a nonprofit, non-lobbying organization dedicated to increasing the quality and amount of wildlife habitat on corporate, private and public lands. WHC devotes its resources to building partnerships with corporations and conservation groups to create solutions that balance the demands of economic growth with the requirements of a healthy, biodiverse and sustainable environment. More than 2.4 million acres in 46 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 16 other countries are managed for wildlife through WHC-assisted projects. To learn more, visit Wildlife Habitat Council.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
December 8, 2008