A WALK ON THE BEACH AND BLUFFS OF LAKE MICHIGAN SIGNUP

Where: Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, Highland Park, IL

When: Sunday, August 17 - 2:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

What: Spreading Juniper is a state-threatened, easily identified evergreen shrub known only from the bluffs and dune habitats along Lake County's Lake Michigan shoreline. Large populations occur at Illinois Beach State Park, with smaller populations known from the bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan from Lake Bluff to Glencoe. A few isolated populations occur at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, though exact numbers and locations are not fully known. This outing will be an opportunity to locate and count “all” the shrubs of this easily spotted evergreen. While there we will also monitor many other rare sand dune plants that occur only along the beach.

We need volunteers who are willing to work in small groups and help find and count the plants. We will use the Level 1 monitoring protocols of Plants of Concern and will provide all the equipment and training necessary before we start. We’ll do this rain or shine, and please be prepared for mosquitoes.