Some of Illinois’ last prairie land could be destroyed

Only one hundredth of one percent of Illinois’s original prairie lands still exist today.

By Christian Elliott
Closer Look Prairie Chickens
In this June 2014 photo, a sign that depicts a greater prairie chicken marks some of the grassland at the Prairie Ridge State Natural Area near Newton, Ill. The natural area is part of an Illinois Department of Natural Resources project try to build up state's dwindling population of the greater prairie chicken by importing the ground-dwelling birds from Kansas. But people have objected to the cost of transporting the birds by air. AP Photo/David Mercer
Closer Look Prairie Chickens
In this June 2014 photo, a sign that depicts a greater prairie chicken marks some of the grassland at the Prairie Ridge State Natural Area near Newton, Ill. The natural area is part of an Illinois Department of Natural Resources project try to build up state's dwindling population of the greater prairie chicken by importing the ground-dwelling birds from Kansas. But people have objected to the cost of transporting the birds by air. AP Photo/David Mercer

Some of Illinois’ last prairie land could be destroyed

Only one hundredth of one percent of Illinois’s original prairie lands still exist today.

By Christian Elliott
WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Bell Bowl Prairie on the Rockford International Airport’s property represents five of just 18 acres of dry gravel prairie left in Illinois – thePrairie State – and is home to rare plants and an endangered species of bumble bee. The Greater Rockford Airport Authority agreed to preserve it back in 1977 but now plans to destroy the prairie as part of a $50 million expansion.

Reset learns more about where efforts to save the prairie stand.

GUESTS: Kerry Leigh, executive director, Natural Land Institute

Robbie Telfer, Save Bell Bowl Prairie campaign manager, Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves

Matt Evans, managing ecologist of woodlands at Chicago Botanic Garden