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PROPOSED GRANT AWARD
Department: Department of Resource Management
Grantee: Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”)
Grantor: The Nature Conservancy via the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Request: Authorization to accept grant and to enter into grant agreement
Purpose: To conduct 94 acres of habitat restoration at Powderhorn Lake and Eggers Grove
Grant Amount: $225,000.00
Grant Period: 9/9/2025 – 11/30/2027
Fiscal Impact: $363,000.00 in direct cash match, plus in-kind staff support for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the programs
Accounts: Professional Services 51036.520840; Grant and Mitigation 51010.521314 and 51010.521444; and all future Professional Services accounts
Concurrences: The Chief Financial Officer has approved this item. Final agreement is subject to legal review and approval.
District(s): 4
Summary: The Forest Preserves has been sub-awarded funds from The Nature Conservancy through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Sustain Our Great Lakes Program in support of habitat restoration at Powderhorn Lake in Burnham and Eggers Grove in Chicago. Restoration activities include invasive shrub removal, along with prescribed burning and the collection and propagation of native seed to enhance plant diversity at each site. The project will feature extensive use of a recently constructed water control structure (Board Item No. 20-0169); this will enable adjustments to water levels beneficial for maintaining emergent vegetation and habitat for marsh birds.
Total project costs are $588,000.00 of which the Forest Preserves will contribute $363,000.00 or approximately 62% in direct cash match. Additionally, in-kind staff support may be provided for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the programs.
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