Students learned about the important role that geology plays in ecological restoration, which is especially critical in the glacially-derived landscape of the conservancy. Our guide, McHenry County Conservation District Research Ecologist Dr. Tom Simpson, noted that “in most cases about 85% of the distribution of vegetation is controlled by geology.”

The trip started with an introduction about the glacial geology and Indigenous People’s history in the area. Since most of the landscape within Glacial Park was formed during the most recent deglaciation, and humans are estimated to have been in this area for much of the time since then, Tom made the point that the native Oak Savannah has always had human influence. This would have been most notably through the application of fire as a means of controlling vegetation by early humans. The more recent migration of Europeans to the area and their agricultural practices that included grazing livestock, draining of wetlands through the use of tiles, and channelizing (straightening) creeks all increased humans’ role in shaping the local environment. The question was therefore posed by Tom, “What do we aim to restore the landscape back to?” This then led to an explanation of the process used by the conservancy to reestablish the meanders of Nippersink Creek.

Another stop on the trip included an explanation of kettle and kame formation at an overlook from where both types of features could be easily seen. Kettles are bowl-shaped depressions in the landscape formed when large blocks of ice that were stranded during glacial retreat have outwash sediment deposited around them; when the ice melts the bowl-shaped basin is left behind. Kames are irregularly-shaped mounds of glacial till that are left behind when glacial ice melts. Students also had the opportunity to hike along an esker, which is a ridge of glacially-derived sediment that formed from streams flowing within ice-walled tunnels below the glacial ice.

Students also spent some time assisting with native coneflower seed collection. Coneflowers are pollinator-friendly and critical to monarch butterfly migration. These seeds will be used to re-vegetate agricultural land that was recently added to the conservancy.

The Geology Department’s annual beginning-of-the-semester field trip is generously funded by Richard “Skip” (’59) and Mary Ann Davis.

Conservancy Research Ecologist Dr. Tom Simpson discusses the geology of Glacial Park with students.
Credit: Jim Rougvie

Students receive an introduction to the regional glacial geology before the trip departed.
Credit: Jim Rougvie

 

Discussion of kame formation at an overlook; kame in background.
Credit: Jay Zambito

 

Native Cup Plant Flowers, a key pollinator-friendly plant, at the conservancy.
Credit: Nikolas Hafele

Students collect native flower seeds.
Credit: Jay Zambito