Restoration of Emiquon may begin next year

It is amazing to me that these resilient seeds can lie around for decades and still germinate!

Also amazing that the lakes revive so quickly, wildlife included. Or perhaps it isn't so surprising...I can remember from my childhood in Florida that tadpoles would appear in puddles of water after just a week or two.

Restoration of The Nature Conservancy's 7,100-acre Emiquon Preserve west of the Illinois River could begin in earnest sometime in 2007 now that agreements between the conservancy and the federal government have been completed.

....

Beverlin said the conservancy conducted a trial run of sorts in 2004 by allowing about 500 acres of water to return to the preserve. Despite 80 years of tillage and intensive agriculture, the lakebeds remained pretty much intact, and waterfowl returned almost as quickly as the water.

As the work progresses, the NRCS will monitor progress at the site and provide an additional $500,000 to support technical work. Planners expect wetland plant seeds - lying dormant in the soil for decades - to revive when proper conditions return.

Link: SJ-R.COM - Restoration of Emiquon may begin next year.