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Glenbard Pollinator Habitat

Glenbard Wastewater Authority has identified several plots for establishing native pollinator habitats to reduce mowing costs and increase local biodiversity by providing vegetation for local pollinators and insect species. Bees pollinate 75% of fruit, vegetable, and nut crops in the United States, so they are vital to our environment and economy. According to Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois had 22 million acres of prairie land in 1820, most of which was in the northern 2/3 of the state. Trees were only in groves and limited to Southern Illinois. By 1978, 2,300 acres of high-quality prairie remained. These prairies are what fueled the dense, nutrient rich soil we use for agricultural crops.

This also provides some flood resiliency as some of this grassy area has intermittent pooling of rainwater. The dense grass growth creates a sponge for rainfall and keeps soil from eroding.

Seeding was completed in early November of 2023. The real work begins underground, so the real beauty of this restoration won’t be seen much until Spring 2025. Visit this page for updates on GWA’s progress in restoring some of Illinois native habitat!