Et cetera : NCCC Cedar 2 Restores Prairies in Jo Daviess County

The team removes Canadian Thistle at Wapello Land & Water Reserve.

Mike Malon hosts the team for a delicious dinner at the closing of their first week.

By Ilexis Elba

AmeriCorps NCCC team Cedar 2 is stationed in Jo Daviess County doing environmental conservation and restoration work until August 2. They have been working with Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The teamhelped in restoring the Wapello prairie land and cleaning up an old abandoned military base, now named Lost Mound National Wildlife Refuge. The team is excited to be working with such experienced staff and act as an extension of their efforts to make the upper Mississippi area habitat-friendly.

One of the exciting parts of working on this project is showing the impact an NCCC team can have for an extended period of time in an area and familiarizing the community with the NCCC mission. The town has extended a giving hand in making sure the team is comfortable and has access to amenities such as a pool and beach area as well as multiple dinner invitations. The team has been able to work with volunteers in the area that are well-educated with conservation techniques as well as prairie restoration.

Team leader Zak Kahn excitedly compared the project with his fond memories as land steward at Knox College’s Green Oaks Biological Field Station following his senior year, where he worked on prairie restoration. His background in environmental work offers previous knowledge that he can bring to the table and he is eager to expand his understanding and experience through the current project.

The team was brought to Jo Daviess County after their sponsor, Mike Malon, worked one day last June with another NCCC team stationed in Savanna, Ill. After realizing the impact a group of individuals could make, he applied for a team and much has been accomplished so far.