Cherry Valley ROW Prairie

About the Program
Exelon’s ComEd Cherry Valley Right-of-Way (ROW) Prairie is in Rockford Illinois, about 80 miles northwest of Chicago. The Kishwaukee River riparian corridor is located just south of the site. This 18-acre site is situated on a transmission ROW in a mixed-use landscape with residential, agriculture, natural area, and golf course bordering the site. ComEd's prairie initiatives are part of the company's biodiversity management plan committed to conserve the environment through ecosystem management. The goals of this project aim to increase the quality of the prairie habitat through invasive species management, seeding with natives, monitoring and meeting the UIC ROW HWG's standards for pollinator habitat.

Practices and Impacts

• The team uses a meander survey to collect data to determine the quality of the grassland. In addition, a Floristic Quality Assessment is run on the data to determine native species richness and the Floristic Quality Index.
• Management activities consist of selective herbicide treatments targeting invasive species and woody growth.
• ComEd partners with contractors that provide expertise in vegetation management.
• Tall native warm season grasses are the dominant species in grassland.