Groups concerned about Kickapoo mountain bike trail plans
Nov. 21—OAKWOOD — Illinois Department of Natural Resources officials are reviewing a new report regarding mountain bike trail plans at Kickapoo State Park, and having internal discussions on the issue, according to an IDNR representative.
Local groups have expressed concerns about the proposed mountain bike trail, by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, at Kickapoo State Park.
Due to the severe environmental impact this project would have on the proposed area, the following groups asked that the project be canceled, or moved to more suitable areas within the park (i.e. strip-mined areas): Prairie Rivers Network, Illinois Sierra Club, Prairie Group Sierra Club and Middlefork Audubon Society.
In response, IDNR commissioned a private company to conduct an environmental assessment of the area, according to Kevin Green, with the Prairie Group Sierra Club board.
Despite the conclusion that the project would irreversibly damage this environmentally sensitive area, it appears IDNR plans to forge ahead with their plans, according to Green.
According to the report: the IDNR requested botanical surveys to be conducted at Kickapoo State Recreation Area in the area known as the Dynegy Tract where new mountain bike trails are proposed. The primary purpose of the study is to locate federal and/or Illinois endangered and threatened plant species within the proposed trail corridor.
In addition, the study included recording a botanical inventory of the vascular plants observed in the trail corridor.
The area of interest is about 9.6 miles long through deciduous woodlands and along shrub/scrub/grass edges to woodlands. As directed by Eric Smith of IDNR, the focus was on searching for Wolf's bluegrass populations with attention to other state-listed plant species that may be present, including any observed in a previous study the by Illinois Natural History Survey (2021).
The study recorded 190 plant species in the corridor of Trail 1 (includes Old Field-River Bluff inventory) and 170 plant species in the corridor of Trail 2. The botanical survey results show a high species richness indicating high-quality natural communities within the project area. The Native Mean C values and Native Floristic Quality Index values also suggest natural area quality.
The lack of invasive shrubs is remarkable and a factor contributing to the high species richness and diversity observed. Particularly sensitive habitats, including valley bottomlands, ravine heads, steep slopes and bluff ridge lines are especially likely to provide habitat for threatened and endangered species and other species in greatest need of conservation at Kickapoo State Recreation Area.
These systems of ravines and uplands associated with the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River hold significant biodiversity and warrant further planning by IDNR to protect sensitive landscape features and species that may be impacted by trail construction and use.
Of particular concern are the trail alignments that run along the crest of the ravine slopes such that any erosion of the proposed trail would compromise the ravine slope.
The construction of the proposed trail alignment in these locations could start accelerated erosion of the ravine side slopes. Once in use, the sharp curves planned for the trail provide opportunities for erosion of the slopes as bikers put pressure on the outside bends in the trail.
Overall, a coordinated monitoring and management plan that integrates evaluation of sensitive habitats, species of concern, trail assessments and invasive species would best inform and protect the significant natural resources present at Kickapoo State Park, the report reads.
