Oakton College
OP-10: Biodiversity

Yes, our Des Plaines site contains 72 acres of high quality remnant woodland, of 4 different woodland types, which cannot be recreated if lost. 

We are also bordered by a river on one side, and Forest Preserves of Cook County properties on the other three sides: Kloempken Prairie, Camp Pine Woods, and Lions Woods. Our remnant areas are a vital piece of connecting corridor both between these three protected areas.and also along the avian migratory pathway along the river. 

The Des Plaines campus is home to 72 acres of conservation importance. These remnant woodlands are a vital link to history- living museums that cannot be recreated if lost. They comprise ecological communities including northern flatwoods, mesic upland forest, and dry-mesic upland forest. They all have floristic quality indices and mean C values above average, and are high priority for conservation.

(Critically endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near threatened, Least concern.)

Carex formosa (endangered), Carex bromoides (threatened), and Rubus pubescens (threatened).

The vast biodiversity importance of the Oakton Des Plaines land is best seen in the context of the Earth’s ongoing sixth mass extinction. Species extinctions are occurring at the highest rate the Earth has ever seen, largely due to manmade pressures such as habitat fragmentation. The location of the Oakton Des Plaines campus positions it as a vital puzzle piece connecting forest preserve habitat on the north, east, and south sides. This connectivity is even more important since Oakton’s western border is the Des Plaines River- allowing Oakton to be the vital bridge for all species in these forest preserves to travel unimpeded between properties and to a critical water source. 

42.23 acres of Oakton’s IPM-managed land at the Des Plaines campus is remnant oak-hickory woodland, which has a tremendous biodiversity compared to other local forest types.

Oakton hired ecological assessors to create management plans for our 72 acres of natural areas. These assessments assigned quality grades and conservation priorities amongst the different parts of our natural areas. Oakton hired ecological assessors to create management plans for our 72 acres of natural areas. These assessments assigned quality grades and conservation priorities amongst the different parts of our natural areas. Additionally, students and faculty have completed assessment and establishment of a Monarch Waystation on the Des Plaines campus for endangered Monarch butterflies.

The scope of the assessment included the 72 acres of remnant woodland on the Des Plaines campus. No assessment has yet been done for the de novo prairies on this campus, or at the Skokie campus at all.

Ecological contractors are hired on two year contracts to help maintain the remnant ecosystems on the Des Plaines campus. Their work includes tree thinning, brush pile burns, prescribed fire, invasive species removal, hand-pulling, and select herbicide usage, per specifications set by Oakton’s full-time Naturalist. 

The Naturalist also directs ecological stewardship activities undertaken by student Naturalist Assistant employees, community volunteers, and faculty who bring their classes outside for the mutual benefit of both ecosystems and students.

Conventionally managed turfgrass areas are being converted to IPM-managed prairies, including de novo 5-acre prairie-wetland parcel, a 1-acre tallgrass prairie, and a new 2-acre shortgrass wet prairie.

In addition, the Des Plaines campus is home to a tiger salamander program, spear-headed by longtime professor of environmental science Bill Strond. This approximately half-acre habitat in an oak-hickory northern flatwoods has allowed extant tiger salamanders from the neighboring forest preserve to successfully begin reproducing on Oakton grounds.