Cook County Soil and Water (CCSW) is currently working with East Bay Suites to develop a native planting area that will help with erosion between East Bay Suites and the beach. The project area is 4,320 square feet and Prairie Restorations, Inc. designed the plan.
Because a portion of the project will be located in the city’s right of way on First Avenue East, a license between the city and CCSW was drawn up. Council reviewed the contract crafted by city attorney Chris Hood and approved it at the June 14 meeting.
Before anything new is planted the site will be cleared of all existing woody and exotic vegetation. The remaining vegetation will be treated with herbicide to kill existing weeds, and the ground tilled and harrowed to provide smooth seedbed, then seeded with native grasses and wildflowers. A straw erosion blanket will be placed over the seedbed to protect the seeding and enhance the germination.
Plans are to seed the 4,329 square feet with native meadow grasses and wildflowers that are adapted to the well-drained, sunny conditions. Low growing dwarf bush honeysuckle shrubs will be added in designated areas to add structure to the planting.
Six types of grass will be seeded by hand and raked into the soil between Sept. 20 and freeze-up. Following the raking, 20 types of flower seeds will be spread by hand onto the soil surface. Some of the wildflowers will be columbine, harebell, New Jersey tea, long-leaved bluets, common ox-eye, black-eyed susan, gray goldenrod and golden alexandria, etc.
The shrubs will first be grown in containers then mulched in continuous beds with shredded hardwood bark at a depth of 3-4 inches. Protective fencing may be installed to protect the plants from foot traffic and hungry deer, rabbits, or geese that happen by. Should a fence be needed, it will surround the entire perimeter for the first season and then be removed.
Restorations estimate three years for the vegetation to become established on this site.
Cost of the project without a fence is $7,044, with a fence $9,544. Estimated maintenance costs for three years are $800 per year.
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