Theodore G. Munz S.J. Campus

Background

There are two wetlands and a small pond in the north east corner of the campus.  When we first acquired the property the wetlands were dominated by invasive buckthorn and loosestrife.  During the winter of 2003 our volunteer team cleared a trail through the impenetrable brush.  Later we contracted to have most of the buckthorn removed.  In the fall of 2003 we treated the wetlands with approved herbicides to reduce the loosestrife.  Winter of 2004 saw the removal of some of the larger trees that were shading the wetlands.  The north wetland was seeded and planted with plugs of native wetland plants.  The area was fenced and flagged to deter geese from disturbing the new plantings.  This past spring brought the immergence of arrowhead, wild iris, sedges and rushes.  The wetlands are sustained by natural seepage; the water is clear and full of invertebrate life.  We enjoyed a chorus of frogs as we worked on the project this spring and have sighted several turtles, herons, ducks and other wetland denizens.

The south wetland is our major project for the spring of 2005.  We installed a control structure that will allow the wetland to fill with clean seepage water and prevent backflow of dirty river water into the wetland.  The south wetland was planted in the spring of 2005.  The pond is a small backwater of the river; it has several mussel species we monitor each fall with the Shedd aquarium.  A segment of the Glenview village walking trail now allows access to the wetland and pond.

Student Use

The Loyola Biology club has been raising the loosestrife beetle in the lab at school.  Loosestrife is grown under lights and netting and then inoculated with a few adult beetles obtained from The Illinois Natural History Survey.  After the adults have laid eggs on the plants they are placed out in the wetland.  The beetles feed exclusively on loosestrife and act as a natural control of this invasive weed.  Students return to the wetland in the fall and recover the beetles to check on there progress.  Similar to the prairie project, Biology classes are tracking the changes in the floristic quality as the new wetland plants take hold.  The AP Environmental Science class studies ground water from the test wells we have installed; measuring depth to the water table and water quality as it seeps off the landfill.

Funding

The wetlands recovery was funded by grants from The Brach Foundation, The Rice Foundation and the Conservation fund.  Our primary partners have been Friends of the Chicago River , Integrated Lakes Management and The Conservation Design Forum.

Get Involved!

The E-Team has been active in clearing brush, identifying native plants and building “rabbitats” or brush piles.  We will need a similar effort in the coming year to complete the south wetland.  A detailed list of events will be posted in late August.  Contact any member of the Science Department or e-mail Mr. Hayes at phayes@loy.org.