Empire wet meadow restoration blooming

The 50-acre wet meadow/wet prairie restoration on the banks of the Vermillion River that was initiated in the fall of 2003 at the Empire Wastewater Treatment Plant is now coming into its glory. At the start of the project, the site was mostly a corn/soybean field, with about 10 acres of wetlands dominated by reed canary grass, an invasive species. After nearly five years and a lot of hard work, the site now supports over 50 native wildflowers and grasses, and at least 55 species of birds.

Five of the breeding bird species recorded at the site — sedge wren, eastern wood pewee, dickcissel, willow flycatcher, and rose-breasted grosbeak — have been identified by the Department of Natural Resources as Species of Greatest Conservation Need. One of the hopes for the site — that it would provide habitat for migrating shorebirds — was realized one day this spring when wave after wave of common snipe was flushed during a site walk-through. In spite of setbacks from de-watering and drought, the native plants have thrived and now dominate the site.

You can almost hear the hum of the insects!

The wet meadow/wet prairie restoration site at the Empire Wastewater Treatment Plant is flourishing this summer.

Another view of the restoration area.

An abundance of native plants: (clockwise from the top) yellow coneflower, cup plant (with taller yellow flowers), obedient plant (foreground, with white-violet flowers), Canada wild rye (brown grass in foreground), and ironweed (purple flowers).

A swallowtail butterfly.

A wasp alighting on a swamp milkweed flower.

Monarch butterflies are drawn to obedient plant. Obedient plant takes its name from the fact that when bend on their stems, the plants flowers will stay in their new position.

Monarch butterfly on obedient plant.