title
PROPOSED CONTRACT
Department(s): Resource Management
Vendor: Openlands, Chicago, Illinois
Request: Authorization for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County to enter into and execute
Good(s) or Service(s): Large-scale restoration services at Deer Grove West, to be funded through the O'Hare Modernization Mitigation Account
Contract Value: No financial impact
Contract period: Sixty (60) months from notice to proceed
Estimated Fiscal Impact: $0.00
Accounts: N/A
Contract Number(s): N/A
Concurrences:
The Chief Financial Officer and Chief Attorney have approved this item.
District(s): 14
Summary: On 2/11/2015, the Board of Commissioners approved the development of a large-scale management and monitoring plan to facilitate restoration of valuable remnant wetland communities and the surrounding watershed at Deer Grove West.
The Project will be funded via the O'Hare Modernization Mitigation Account (OMMA), which provides mitigation of off-site wetland impacts associated with the airport expansion under the O'Hare Modernization Program. Openlands, in conjunction with the Chicago District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will act as the contracting agent and financial administrator for the project. The Project will be implemented at no cost to the Preserves.
The work plan will involve improving the ecological function of existing wetland and upland plant communities through removal of invasive species, canopy thinning to increase ambient light levels, natural revegetation of the site with diverse native species, and hydrological restoration initiatives. Management practices proposed for implementation on the Project site are consistent with objectives for restoring and improving wetland function through wetland and surrounding watershed restoration. Restoration strategies on the Project site will work toward accomplishing goals for the conservation of existing vegetative and wildlife resources, including...
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