Hello everyone,

It has been a grueling yet wonderful few months here at the Preserve, and I am happy to say the my first joint NEPA/CEQA document is complete and currently out for public review. In my nearly four years here working for the BLM (first in Pathways Program and now as a CLM Intern), I have written several small Environmental Assessments, but this current document was far more complex, time consuming, and rewarding. I have now also just submitted my first round of permit applications for Section 404, and 401 of the Clean Water Act, along with a State Lake and Streambed Alteration Permit and Incidental Take Permit.

The goal of the project I am managing is to restore habitat for the state and federally listed “threatened” giant garter snake (GGS)(Thamnophis gigas). The project area contains two separate but connected units which will require varying levels of excavation, grading, scraping, and other earth-moving activities to restore a lake (which is infested with the highly invasive weed yellow water primrose (ludwigia hexapetala), and an area of ruderal agricultural land (~25 acres) back to habitat for GGS.

Badger Creek Restoration Project vicinity. The Horseshoe Lake site is outlined in yellow. The Bjelland Unit site is outlined in purple.

Reduction of open-water within the Horseshoe Lake Unit

August, 1998: 52.85 acres of open water

August, 2005: 11.34 acres of open water

August, 2013: 2.83 acres of open water

In the coming weeks I will be moving forward with the permitting process, meeting with contractors for the earthmoving/excavation work, responding to public comments on the NEPA/CEQA document, and getting to work on ordering the seed mix and plants for the upland/wetland restoration which will follow the initial phases of the project. I will provide more updates as I move forward, and I am excited to join many of you in Chicago in just a few days for the CLM Workshop!

Patrick