Illinois Dunesland Restoration Project

06/10/2026

Hello Dunesland friends,

Come out to the beach this Saturday, June 13th, 9 to noon. The growing season is in full swing, and the range of stewardship priorities is expanding. This week we can pull white sweet clover, spray crown vetch, girdle trees, and also collect seeds and inventory plants.

Let’s meet at the Nature Center parking lot a few minutes before 9. Bring water and a snack to share if you'd like. Everyone is invited to come, learn, lead, eat and make a difference.

https://friendsofillinoisnaturepreserves.org/illinois-beach/

06/05/2026

A harrowing tale of one mood of the Dead River, shared by ace volunteer Donna McKlusky:

Here's an excerpt from Raymond Wiggers Chap. 9 from his book Geology Underfoot in Illinois.

p. 72 has an especially exciting bit

In the spring of 1995, I saw the Dead River pouring through the breached spit. A temporary drainage channel in a trough along the beach fed the river mouth with pulse after pulse of rain and surf water that carried a considerable quantity of suspended fine sediments. These sediments came to rest in a broad, fanlike delta on the north side of the river mouth. When I returned the following day, the sun was shining, the lake was calm, and the delta looked for all the world like terra firma. But when I stepped out onto the new landform's landward side, I sank to almost hip level before I managed to clamber out of it. May that prove to be my one experience with quicksand—material that appears stable at the surface, but is supersaturated with water.

Photo of the Dead River in a placid mood.

06/03/2026

Come out to the beach this Saturday, June 6th, 9 to noon as we work to bring sunlight to the savanna and remove invasive threats to its amazing biodiversity. The spring flowers are blooming. Let’s enjoy the show!

https://friendsofillinoisnaturepreserves.org/illinois-beach/

05/27/2026

Last week , we celebrated Girdlepalooza at Illinois Beach. Using saws and hammers, we girdled overabundant trees south of the Dead River. While trees are beloved, in the decades of sometimes challenging fire management, they have overpopulated and are shading out sections of one of the largest and highest quality sand prairies in the state.

At this moment of rapid spring growth, we have the opportunity to restore balance without herbicide. We can girdle the trees, removing a ring of “bark” (mostly phloem, actually).

Additional priorities for the day included flagging crown vetch and pulling spotted knapweed.

There’s still time to address these priorities. Come out this Saturday. https://friendsofillinoisnaturepreserves.org/illinois-beach/

05/20/2026

Springtime has arrived at Illinois Beach, and the bounty of diversity is blooming. Now volunteers get to enjoy the results of our work through the dormant season.
Next week we’ll be going south of the Dead River, working on a range of stewardship projects. Come see what’s happening in one of the largest remnant sand prairies in the state.

https://friendsofillinoisnaturepreserves.org/illinois-beach/

05/13/2026

The arrival of spring makes workdays ever more exciting. Come help out the emerging plants, and the creatures they support. There’s more every week!

https://friendsofillinoisnaturepreserves.org/illinois-beach/

05/06/2026

The plants are waking up! Come out and make their space more welcoming. Special location this Saturday, May 9th, 9-noon, meeting at IBSP North Unit/Hosah Park parking lot, 100 Shiloh Blvd, Zion IL

https://friendsofillinoisnaturepreserves.org/illinois-beach/

05/02/2026

More ways to support Illinois Beach.

Your local State Park needs your help! 😃

We are actively recruiting volunteers! If you care about the park and want to make a difference, then we want you!

Contact our naturalist Chase Firth at [email protected] or 847-748-4713 with any questions or for more information. We hope to see you soon!

04/29/2026

We took advantage of the cool spring to burn brush piles, opening up the savanna surface to sunlight. Come out on Saturday, May 2nd, and be a force for good. It’s fun!