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Fermilab Natural Areas
News Archives

2009

The annual meeting of the membership of Fermilab Natural Areas was held at Fermilab on February 19th. Rod Walton presented a review of first-year accomplishments as well as future goals. In addition, a slate of Directors was elected to the Board and Mr. Jim Kleinwachter from The Conservation Foundation presented practical home conservation tips in "Doing Your Part to Further Conservation".

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Attendees enjoyed cake to celebrate the one-year anniversary of FNA
Small Successes!! The natural shoreline along Swan Lake is doing well after less than one year. We spent approximately $250 to purchase plants to supplement seeds and plugs collected on site to create a shoreline of native species that range from shallow water to the banks.
More Small Successes!! To enhance the Margaret Pearson Interpretive Prairie Trail north of Pine Street on the west side of the Lab site, we installed a new bike rack in the existing parking lot.
FNA and Fermilab conducted two very successful seed harvests as usual this year on October 4 and November 1. In addition, we conducted a special harvest for students from the Wheaton-Warrenville South High School on November 8.
Fermilab received a Native Landscaping Award from Chicago Wilderness and the Great Lakes National Planning Office of U.S. EPA.

2008

The most recent meeting of the Board of Directors was held at Fermilab on May 15th. The meeting included a site tour focused on recent and potential restoration projects, including the Margaret Pearson Interpretive Prairie Trail, Nepese Marsh, the Main Injector wetland mitigation, the Main Ring prairie & savanna and the south shore stabilization of Swan Lake.
On Thursday, May 22nd, FNA hosted a volunteer planting event at Fermilab. Volunteers added native plants to the south shore of Swan Lake to create a more natural shoreline that will resist erosion and provide texture and color.
Bob Lootens and Ryan Campbell led a Woodland Flower walk on May 14th.
FNA sponsored Fermilab's Arbor Day celebration on April 30th. Sixty-five people turned out to plant 50 trees.
Rod Walton represented FNA at recent regional events, including the Linking Watersheds Conference on April 22nd and at the Holmstad Retirement Community in Batavia on April 25th. Bob Lootens represented FNA at the Fermilab Education Office Family Outdoor Activity Fair at the Lederman Science Center on April 27th . FNA also had a presence during the recent Fermilab tornado seminars hosted by Tom Skilling on April 5th.