1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,380 I call this forces or district of DuPage County Commission agenda to order. Today, Tuesday, September 1st, 206, right here at District Headquarters. 2 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,700 If we lose rise and join us, Stevenson, for the pledge of allegiance. 3 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:37,420 And this morning, we're excited to welcome Pastor Zachary Detake Wagner from the St. Paul, Luther and church in Ville Park for a invocation. 4 00:00:37,980 --> 00:00:38,880 Thanks for having me. 5 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,440 I made sure to join me in our prayer this morning. 6 00:00:43,060 --> 00:00:47,120 We're just God. We give thanks for each day. We give thanks for each passing season. 7 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:52,360 We even give thanks on steamy days like today, trusting that it is all part of your creation. 8 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:57,280 And so we are thankful for the opportunity to be gathered in this space to care for that creation. 9 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:07,240 Locally here to share each other's gifts in each other's wisdom as we seek to do with right with all the gifts that you've given us for all the people that are a part of this community. 10 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:19,460 And so we asked such you would continue to bless us with your spirit of guidance, your spirit of wisdom, your spirit of understanding and compassion, as we share this important work together in DuPage County, to care for all of your creation therein. 11 00:01:19,700 --> 00:01:21,220 This, we pray in your name. 12 00:01:30,950 --> 00:01:32,010 Will call please? 13 00:01:33,470 --> 00:01:34,470 Fisher's Gears? 14 00:01:34,870 --> 00:01:34,950 Here. 15 00:01:36,050 --> 00:01:36,350 Here. 16 00:01:36,770 --> 00:01:36,890 Here. 17 00:01:37,390 --> 00:01:38,570 President, he read. 18 00:01:38,830 --> 00:01:38,970 Here. 19 00:01:39,290 --> 00:01:40,110 Mr. Murphy. 20 00:01:41,130 --> 00:01:41,570 Oh, Mira. 21 00:01:42,650 --> 00:01:43,170 Painter. 22 00:01:43,190 --> 00:01:43,450 Here. 23 00:01:43,450 --> 00:01:46,850 Tyson Dan, here. All present, Mr. President. 24 00:01:47,530 --> 00:01:52,570 Thank you. As we turn the calendar to fall, I want to remind everybody that a night for 25 00:01:52,570 --> 00:01:57,350 nature's only two short weeks away. The annual benefit hosted by the Friends of the 26 00:01:57,350 --> 00:02:02,450 Forces of District of DuPage County will take place on Thursday, September 17th from 27 00:02:02,450 --> 00:02:09,270 5 to 830 PM at St. James Farm for Spurserve. A night for nature is always a wonderful evening 28 00:02:09,270 --> 00:02:13,070 featuring foods and drinks live music, wagon rides for the preserve, and an 29 00:02:13,070 --> 00:02:18,210 aggressive silent auction. This year's auction includes travel packages, tickets, artwork, 30 00:02:18,550 --> 00:02:23,430 and several unique forest reserve experiences. From a private tour of the new due page 31 00:02:23,430 --> 00:02:28,270 wildlife conservation center, to an opportunity to be among the first to play into the newly 32 00:02:28,270 --> 00:02:34,250 redesigned Mabel Meadows Golf Reserve when it reopens. More importantly, the event supports 33 00:02:34,250 --> 00:02:39,790 the Friends goal of raising $50,000 for native wildlife and habitat restoration throughout 34 00:02:39,790 --> 00:02:45,910 page force reserves. These funds help care for injured and orphan wildlife restore healthy habitats and 35 00:02:45,910 --> 00:02:50,490 support important species recovery programs for freshwater muscles, planning turtles, 36 00:02:50,990 --> 00:02:58,690 handsomal dragonflies, and other native species. Tickets are 125 per person and I encourage everyone 37 00:02:58,690 --> 00:03:09,770 planning to attend to purchase tickets by September 10th at dp4.org slash friends. If you 38 00:03:09,770 --> 00:03:13,130 or make a donation and support of this important work. 39 00:03:13,790 --> 00:03:18,530 On behalf of the forces of the District, I want to thank the Friends Board, volunteers, and staff 40 00:03:18,530 --> 00:03:23,110 for organizing the special event. I also want to recognize and thank all of the community sponsors 41 00:03:23,110 --> 00:03:28,810 and donors who generously make a night for nature possible. We hope you will join us 42 00:03:28,810 --> 00:03:33,890 for a memorable evening at St. James Farm and help us make meaningful difference for due page wildlife 43 00:03:33,890 --> 00:03:35,270 and wild areas. 44 00:03:37,820 --> 00:03:39,960 Secretary of Police, my understanding, we have no public comment. 45 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:41,760 That is correct, Mr. President. 46 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:43,000 Thank you. 47 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,120 With that, we'll move right into the regular agenda. 48 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,000 Mr. President, under R1, 49 00:03:48,140 --> 00:03:51,180 we have a motion approving and placing on file the open commission meeting 50 00:03:51,180 --> 00:03:53,140 minutes from 819-26. 51 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,440 The motion in a second, is there any discussion? 52 00:03:59,270 --> 00:03:59,810 Will Club please? 53 00:04:00,790 --> 00:04:01,170 Oh, Mira. 54 00:04:02,130 --> 00:04:02,590 Hey, Ter. 55 00:04:02,890 --> 00:04:03,190 Hi. 56 00:04:03,390 --> 00:04:03,630 Hi. 57 00:04:04,750 --> 00:04:05,190 Murphy. 58 00:04:09,950 --> 00:04:11,390 All eyes, Mr. President. 59 00:04:11,390 --> 00:04:12,350 Motion passes. 60 00:04:13,010 --> 00:04:22,310 Mr. President, under R2 we have a resolution number 26-201 authorizing the payment of goods and services for payment 9326. 61 00:04:22,510 --> 00:04:22,810 Backends. 62 00:04:22,910 --> 00:04:25,190 Have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? 63 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:28,820 Will call please? 64 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:29,780 Oh, Mira. 65 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:30,700 Hi. 66 00:04:30,700 --> 00:04:31,060 Hunter. 67 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:32,000 Hi. 68 00:04:32,260 --> 00:04:32,760 Tyson Dunn. 69 00:04:33,460 --> 00:04:33,960 Here is. 70 00:04:33,980 --> 00:04:34,300 Hi. 71 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:35,220 He's there. 72 00:04:36,100 --> 00:04:36,540 He read. 73 00:04:36,740 --> 00:04:37,200 Hi. 74 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:37,880 Murphy. 75 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:40,180 How eyes Mr. President. 76 00:04:40,580 --> 00:04:41,260 Motion passes. 77 00:04:42,300 --> 00:04:47,120 Mr. President, under R3, we have a remotion approving the guidelines for the development 78 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:51,020 of the fiscal year, 2027 district budget. 79 00:04:51,980 --> 00:04:53,160 The motion in a second. 80 00:04:53,460 --> 00:04:54,100 Is there any discussion? 81 00:04:56,670 --> 00:04:57,390 Will call please? 82 00:04:58,510 --> 00:04:58,990 Omera. 83 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:00,600 Aye. 84 00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:02,040 Hunter, aye. 85 00:05:02,340 --> 00:05:02,520 Aye. 86 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:02,560 Aye. 87 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:02,680 Hi, Senator. 88 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:03,400 Aye. 89 00:05:03,780 --> 00:05:04,120 Yes. 90 00:05:04,540 --> 00:05:04,760 Aye. 91 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:05,740 Hezer. 92 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:06,220 Aye. 93 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:07,320 He read. 94 00:05:07,500 --> 00:05:07,900 Aye. 95 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:08,500 Murphy. 96 00:05:09,940 --> 00:05:10,400 All right. 97 00:05:10,580 --> 00:05:11,160 Mr. President. 98 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:12,120 Motion passes. 99 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:17,920 Mr. President, under R4 we have a resolution number 26 to S198. 100 00:05:18,100 --> 00:05:22,520 Authorizing an execution of a contract for professional services between the 101 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:27,960 fourists who serve district of DuPage County and allow a lot of a box and amen LLP. 102 00:05:28,300 --> 00:05:28,600 Second. 103 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,280 If a motion has second, is there any discussion? 104 00:05:34,460 --> 00:05:34,920 Will couples? 105 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:36,620 Oh, Mira. 106 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:38,060 Hunter. 107 00:05:38,580 --> 00:05:38,600 Hi. 108 00:05:39,220 --> 00:05:39,580 Tyson Dan. 109 00:05:40,140 --> 00:05:40,820 Iris. 110 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:41,340 Hi. 111 00:05:41,740 --> 00:05:43,280 He read. 112 00:05:43,620 --> 00:05:44,200 Hi. 113 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:44,840 Murphy. 114 00:05:45,280 --> 00:05:45,420 Hi. 115 00:05:46,840 --> 00:05:47,400 Mr. President. 116 00:05:47,740 --> 00:05:48,520 Motion passes. 117 00:05:49,460 --> 00:05:55,080 Mr. President, under R5, we have a motion authorizing the execution of change order number 118 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:59,700 1 to professional services contract number 25-571. 119 00:05:59,700 --> 00:06:05,360 Between the Forest Reserve District of DuPage County and Stantec Consulting Services Incorporated, 120 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:11,820 we're continuing remediation services at White Farm in Hawke Hall of Forest Preserve. 121 00:06:12,260 --> 00:06:12,640 Seconds. 122 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:14,960 Have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? 123 00:06:17,530 --> 00:06:18,030 Will Koppos? 124 00:06:19,050 --> 00:06:19,530 Onlyera. 125 00:06:20,430 --> 00:06:20,990 Hey, Ter. 126 00:06:21,290 --> 00:06:21,890 Hi. 127 00:06:22,150 --> 00:06:22,450 Tyson Dan. 128 00:06:22,690 --> 00:06:22,930 Hi. 129 00:06:23,230 --> 00:06:23,730 Here is. 130 00:06:23,770 --> 00:06:24,170 Hi. 131 00:06:24,390 --> 00:06:24,910 He's here. 132 00:06:25,090 --> 00:06:25,690 Hi. 133 00:06:25,690 --> 00:06:26,070 He's here. 134 00:06:26,350 --> 00:06:26,650 Hi. 135 00:06:27,010 --> 00:06:27,330 Murphy. 136 00:06:28,610 --> 00:06:29,730 All eyes from his present. 137 00:06:30,250 --> 00:06:31,110 Motion passes. 138 00:06:31,110 --> 00:06:36,790 would do have an informational agenda item today. I1 is the Butterfly Monitoring Program. 139 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:51,380 Morning commissioners, President Hibriard, Executive Director Dorgon. My name is Jennifer Zouski, 140 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:56,400 ecologist in the Natural Resources Department. Thank you for the opportunity today to present 141 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:02,060 about the district's Butterfly Monitoring Program. Today I'll share some general details about the program, 142 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:08,340 or the district monitors butterflies, and how data collected through this program have been applied with the district and beyond. 143 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:16,760 The district's butterfly monitoring program is part of the Illinois butterfly monitoring 144 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,020 at work, which is a community science program. 145 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:24,320 Community science is a form of research in which community members, members contribute meaningful 146 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:27,300 scientific data to better understand key issues. 147 00:07:28,020 --> 00:07:32,480 One benefit of community science is that it can collect a large amount of data over a larger 148 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:36,780 geographic region in a much shorter amount of time than just a small group of researchers 149 00:07:36,780 --> 00:07:37,400 alone. 150 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:44,840 Engaging in community science benefits an individual's wellness through opportunities for social connection and continuing education. 151 00:07:46,140 --> 00:07:54,800 In 1987, the Nature Conservancy initiated the Northern Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network to explore the effects of habitat management on invertebrates. 152 00:07:54,800 --> 00:08:00,800 Dr. Doug Terran became the head of the program in 1989, when he joined Peggy Notabart in 153 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:07,060 each museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences in 1997, the Illinois Butterfly Monitoring 154 00:08:07,060 --> 00:08:10,380 Network became the Institution's flagship Community Science Program. 155 00:08:11,340 --> 00:08:16,400 Initially, the program monitored just seven sites across the Chicago land area, as the number 156 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:21,900 of volunteers has grown, today over 100 community scientists collect data on butterfly populations 157 00:08:21,900 --> 00:08:24,620 on over 100 routes across the state. 158 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:30,480 Since its inception, the Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network has served as a model for community 159 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:36,080 science programs, duplicated across the country, including Dragonfly, damsel flying, calling 160 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:40,840 frog surveys in Illinois, programs in which the district also participates. 161 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:48,160 While I monitor Butterflies, unlike other more difficult to study insects, Butterflies are 162 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:53,080 documented, their care is medic, and relatively easy to find and identify with some training. 163 00:08:53,980 --> 00:08:58,140 Butterflies are considered indicators species, their presence or absence in the landscape 164 00:08:58,140 --> 00:09:01,100 can tell us valuable information about ecosystem health. 165 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:06,700 And this is because butterflies have short life cycles, they're sensitive to temperature and weather patterns, 166 00:09:07,220 --> 00:09:10,900 and many species rely on specific host plants to complete their life cycle. 167 00:09:12,020 --> 00:09:16,500 Data collected about butterfly species, population numbers, and diversity of species, 168 00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:22,940 Help paint a picture of where butterflies are thriving or declining and how habitats are changing over time. 169 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:29,640 Therefore, the goal of monitoring butterflies is to identify and evaluate long-term trends of habitat health. 170 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:35,460 This information aids land managers such as the district and conservation planning and action. 171 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:38,100 How do we monitor butterflies? 172 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:44,840 The district's butterfly monitoring program is coordinated by natural resources and volunteer services staff, 173 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:47,620 working with the Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network. 174 00:09:48,700 --> 00:09:50,920 Interested volunteers applied for to the program, 175 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:53,160 and attend training workshops in early spring 176 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:54,860 to learn data collection protocol 177 00:09:54,860 --> 00:09:56,760 and how to identify common species. 178 00:09:57,840 --> 00:09:59,980 Train monitors are then assigned to route and make... 179 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:13,420 Take at least six site visits between Memorial Day and the first week of August. During these visits, monitors follow a standardized protocol and use a standardized form to record the species and counts of butterflies they visually observe on their route. 180 00:10:14,500 --> 00:10:18,960 These observations are then submitted to an online database called Pollard Base. 181 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:24,800 Here's an example of a Dynata butterfly monitoring route on collar base. 182 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:30,980 Monitor is upload their survey data to the online database and the district has access to that data. 183 00:10:31,900 --> 00:10:39,840 This online database connects over 35 butterfly monitoring programs across the country through the North American butterfly monitoring network. 184 00:10:40,780 --> 00:10:47,740 Therefore monitors, researchers, scientists have access to large butterfly monitoring data sets from different regions across the country. 185 00:10:50,330 --> 00:10:55,170 The district has been monitoring butterflies using this protocol since 1989. 186 00:10:56,290 --> 00:11:03,470 Over that time, 67 monitors have engaged with the program, the majority of which are volunteers, along with several ecology staff. 187 00:11:04,670 --> 00:11:15,670 33 preserves have been surveyed for at least one year. Over 4,000 surveys have been completed, yielding 33,800 recorded observations of butterflies in our database. 188 00:11:16,450 --> 00:11:27,110 Over this period, 102 unique butterfly species have been observed and identified, and for reference, there's roughly 150 species of butterflies in Illinois. 189 00:11:28,810 --> 00:11:35,310 The two longest monitor preserves are Waterfall Glen for 29 years, and what Chicago Prairie for 28 years. 190 00:11:36,150 --> 00:11:44,570 The most commonly observed species for most years is the cabbage white butterfly pictured here, which is a species introduced from Europe in the 1800s. 191 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:50,980 To highlight some butterflies of note throughout the district's butterfly monitoring program, 192 00:11:51,500 --> 00:11:57,380 13 special status species have been recorded. These rare species usually rely on high-quality 193 00:11:57,380 --> 00:12:03,680 remnant habitats, often where specific host plants exist. These at-risk butterfly species are listed 194 00:12:03,680 --> 00:12:09,480 as either state threatened, a species in greatest need of conservation, or part of the 195 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:15,540 Illinois Wildlife Action Plan. Two species in greatest need of conservation in Illinois 196 00:12:15,540 --> 00:12:18,820 have been consistently observed throughout the years of the program. 197 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,640 Those are the Dion Skipper and the Broadway Skipper, which are both pictured here. 198 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:32,700 Next, I'll highlight some general observations of butterfly populations in the DuPage County Preserves. 199 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:39,900 This graph shows the top 10 surveyed preserves with a highest number of butterfly species observed throughout the entire program. 200 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:46,060 The top three preserves with the most species observed are waterfall blend with 76 species. 201 00:12:46,060 --> 00:12:51,580 West Chicago Prairie was 62 species, and Prasplan Woods with 54 species. 202 00:12:55,670 --> 00:13:01,850 On average, we see about 55 species of butterflies observed each year, and this is from 203 00:13:01,850 --> 00:13:06,530 data from 2001 through 2025, and this is called species richness. 204 00:13:11,150 --> 00:13:15,530 This graph shows the amount of survey effort each year and the diversity of butterfly species 205 00:13:15,530 --> 00:13:16,030 observed. 206 00:13:16,730 --> 00:13:21,990 So, the purple upright bars, so the average number of butterfly surveys per preserve completed 207 00:13:21,990 --> 00:13:28,250 each year. The minimum survey is per preserved should be six per the protocol that I mentioned earlier. 208 00:13:28,990 --> 00:13:34,390 Some years of higher survey efforts than others. The dark line running across the top of the 209 00:13:34,390 --> 00:13:40,170 graph estimates the diversity of butterfly species observed each year. As shown on the right 210 00:13:40,170 --> 00:13:47,250 side of the graph is the measure of the average biodiversity index. The value is less than 1.5 211 00:13:47,250 --> 00:13:53,790 consistently. And this calculated value indicates a low diversity of species. So that means that 212 00:13:53,790 --> 00:13:59,070 the community of butterflies observed within the preserves is dominated by a few common species 213 00:13:59,070 --> 00:14:04,810 with many individual butterflies and some rare species with a smaller number of individual 214 00:14:04,810 --> 00:14:10,550 butterflies observed for those rare species. However, this index value also tells us that there 215 00:14:10,550 --> 00:14:15,370 are high quality or specialized habitats protected within force preserves where those rare 216 00:14:15,370 --> 00:14:18,950 species can exist and be observed, even if they are in smaller quantities. 217 00:14:22,430 --> 00:14:26,010 Beyond the value to the district in the state, the Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network 218 00:14:26,010 --> 00:14:32,070 data was part of a large 2025 publication by Colin Edwards at all, in science, one of 219 00:14:32,070 --> 00:14:33,870 the world's premier academic journals. 220 00:14:34,890 --> 00:14:39,270 This breakthrough study was the first to analyze butterfly monitoring data on a national 221 00:14:39,270 --> 00:14:43,310 scale, rather than a limited geographic region or a state. 222 00:14:43,310 --> 00:14:53,730 From analyzing 12.6 million butterfly observations in over 76,000 surveys, from 35 monitoring programs across the 223 00:14:53,730 --> 00:14:59,970 Contiguous United States, including data collected by our district volunteers and staff, the authors of the paper. 224 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:07,320 We found that the total butterfly abundance across the country decreased by 22%, between the years 2000 and 2020. 225 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:12,820 So, in 20 years almost a quarter of butterfly populations haven't declined. 226 00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:19,020 There are 13 times more individual butterfly species declining than increasing in populations. 227 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:23,340 And these declines are occurring in all regions of the United States. 228 00:15:23,340 --> 00:15:30,640 This important large-scale study reiterates the massive losses of invertebrate species currently occurring globally 229 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:32,180 dubbed the insect apocalypse. 230 00:15:33,180 --> 00:15:36,740 Enter highlights the critical need to protect butterflies and other beneficial insects. 231 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:42,580 The district actively engages in butterfly conservation by maintaining and restoring healthy habitats. 232 00:15:47,620 --> 00:15:49,380 Why does the decline of butterflies matter? 233 00:15:50,100 --> 00:15:53,240 The loss of many vertebrate and plant species is well documented, 234 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:59,140 But insects and other invertebrates are understudied despite their ecological and economic importance. 235 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:03,880 At least 75% of flowering plants rely on pollinator species. 236 00:16:04,780 --> 00:16:09,580 And vertebrates decompose organic matter, recycling nutrients back into natural systems. 237 00:16:10,540 --> 00:16:13,460 Beneficial insects keep other pests species in check. 238 00:16:14,540 --> 00:16:18,840 And insects and invertebrates are critical food sources for other wildlife, especially birds. 239 00:16:19,540 --> 00:16:24,560 Therefore, monitoring the state of butterfly populations is one measurable way to understand 240 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,120 the state of many other important invertebrate species. 241 00:16:29,580 --> 00:16:34,000 So, the current trajectory for the butterflies across the United States is alarming. 242 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:39,980 At the Collins at all 2025 paper, along with other research shows that butterfly populations 243 00:16:39,980 --> 00:16:43,320 have the potential for quickly rebounding with the right conditions. 244 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:48,000 Therefore, the work of the district is vital to providing those conditions. 245 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:55,940 We will continue the butterfly monitoring program to build along on the long-term information we already have. 246 00:16:56,080 --> 00:17:01,480 About butterfly population trends to inform our conservation planning and actions. 247 00:17:03,140 --> 00:17:06,560 The district actively preserves and restores native habitats. 248 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:12,820 Protecting habitat is one of the most critical actions outlined in that Hollins 2025 paper, 249 00:17:13,180 --> 00:17:15,800 not only butterflies but a wide range of native species. 250 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:22,280 Targeted habitat management can successfully lower or reverse the decline of at risk species. 251 00:17:23,100 --> 00:17:26,680 A district staff have shared information about our land management strategies, 252 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:31,460 with an author involved in this 2025 butterfly study, previously mentioned. 253 00:17:32,220 --> 00:17:37,620 I believe it was a particular in response to our Baltimore Tech or Spot Butterfly population that we have. 254 00:17:38,900 --> 00:17:44,800 The district also engages due page communities to take action and restoring native landscapes beyond the preserves 255 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:46,940 through public programming and native plant sales. 256 00:17:47,460 --> 00:17:50,080 So even small spaces such as roadside and backyard 257 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:52,000 can increase the amount of suitable habitat 258 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,880 for butterflies and other insects. 259 00:17:57,580 --> 00:17:59,560 To conclude, I want to thank the many efforts involved 260 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:01,100 in the butterfly monitoring program, 261 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:02,560 especially district volunteers, 262 00:18:02,740 --> 00:18:04,980 who have collectively put in many years of surveys. 263 00:18:05,940 --> 00:18:07,500 Natural resources staff, Kathy Leck, 264 00:18:07,620 --> 00:18:10,400 and Cindy Hedges, along with the volunteer services department, 265 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:12,840 coordinate the butterfly monitoring volunteers. 266 00:18:13,620 --> 00:18:16,760 Lewis Hacom, resource data analyst and natural resources. 267 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:21,760 Manages, analyzes, and reports yearly summaries of the monitoring data. 268 00:18:22,740 --> 00:18:27,880 Doug, parent and Alan Lawrence oversee the Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Survey, and thank 269 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:32,220 you to the Butterflies themselves for the ecosystem services they provide for our collective 270 00:18:32,220 --> 00:18:32,760 well-being. 271 00:18:33,980 --> 00:18:38,580 So before I skidaddle back to the field today, I would invite any questions you might have. 272 00:18:42,380 --> 00:18:43,300 So I have a quick one. 273 00:18:43,700 --> 00:18:48,560 With the numbers that we're saying decreasing over the last 10 years, are there any preserves 274 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:53,400 where we've done restoration work that we've seen increases or any other reserves that we've 275 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:58,640 have seen increases in the last number of years because it looked like the trend was going down. 276 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:07,340 Yeah, in general the trend of butterfly species is growing down. I don't think we've looked 277 00:19:07,340 --> 00:19:12,300 closely at the data to measure if they've gone up or down before and after restoration. 278 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,680 However, that is something that colleges department is working on now. 279 00:19:16,220 --> 00:19:19,980 pinpointing specific preserves where restoration projects are 280 00:19:19,980 --> 00:19:24,760 flated to happen and then getting like a big overall picture of what's happening before 281 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:29,240 and then after restoration over like several years so that we can have a better understanding 282 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:33,000 that would be great how that impacts line before and species. Thank you. 283 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:38,760 Thank you for a great presentation and I'm excited about to 284 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:43,680 page Monarch for Ajay that we participate in as a partner and I would think that would be a good 285 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:50,220 way to promote a pool of volunteers to keep the field work going, and so all this is exciting 286 00:19:50,220 --> 00:19:55,200 because I think it really resonates for the public, and if we can get more habitat and people 287 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:56,700 backyards that will help. 288 00:19:57,500 --> 00:19:59,960 There's another community science project going up. 289 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:29,980 On in the community, in this nation wide and up in the Canada, it has to do with rainfall data, and I participate in that. So I understand that I'll just go with this and explode and you have thousands and thousands of readings every day and it's included to page county. So there's tons of rainfall data that citizens are collecting as we speak. And that, because you mentioned that weather can affect populations. I just wondering if I can just forward that database, whoever wants to see it, to see if there's any. 290 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:34,920 value in that data, because if you have a rare butterfly that disappears when you're, 291 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,300 then it comes back, could that be weather-related? I guess that's, I don't know if you have 292 00:20:38,300 --> 00:20:43,020 ever looked at weather and, because the habitat might be there, but the weather's not quite 293 00:20:43,020 --> 00:20:47,640 pretty, you know. Right, yeah, monitoring the Baltimore checker spot, butterflies this year, 294 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:52,500 we saw a lower population, which is outside of the Illinois butterfly monitoring network, 295 00:20:52,500 --> 00:20:59,580 another project in the ecology project. But yes, we suspect that, you know, the extra amount of 296 00:20:59,580 --> 00:21:03,900 and whether this year played an impact at least on our ability to observe those 297 00:21:03,900 --> 00:21:08,980 butterflies. It would definitely be useful to look at whether data 298 00:21:08,980 --> 00:21:12,400 compared to that. It was just yesterday. There were tons of rain in certain parts of 299 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:17,460 the county and then central to page had hardly any rain. You can really drill down 300 00:21:17,460 --> 00:21:21,760 with the data if you wanted to. Yeah, thank you. Welcome that. 301 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:28,640 Um, do you utilize that information when you're working on, um, um, 302 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:34,740 reinforcing a different, uh, preserves, uh, that you may want to do specific plants, 303 00:21:35,060 --> 00:21:42,020 especially the plants that butterflies, or some species of butterfly only rely on the one plant? 304 00:21:42,460 --> 00:21:49,840 Right. Yes. So depending on which species are where there are certain butterflies that only specifically use one plant, 305 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:54,500 as their host plant for laying eggs or the caterpillars developing, or a suite of plants. 306 00:21:55,240 --> 00:22:01,880 So monitoring butterflies is one piece of the picture along with the other species that we do 307 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:08,640 monitor with plants and other wildlife and pippians and reptiles. So putting all of those pieces 308 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:13,160 together we can work with the folks that are doing the restoration to try to 309 00:22:13,740 --> 00:22:19,200 whatever we can do to make the restoration the best that it can be for the greatest amount of species. 310 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:21,800 And not to be a downer, 311 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:32,800 but this agency and other conservation agencies are doing all they can to preserve them, but still the numbers seem to be going down. 312 00:22:33,120 --> 00:22:36,140 Is this a losing battle or? 313 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:37,420 That's a big question. 314 00:22:40,020 --> 00:22:44,220 I think there's a lot of things going on in the environment currently. 315 00:22:44,220 --> 00:23:11,200 And so whatever we can do to mitigate and make ecosystems more resilient to some of the especially weather patterns that are changing or as temperatures are changing, you know, keeping up on what other organizations and agencies are doing as well and trying to fit the best restoration parameters that we can to do the best that we can to keep the population's going as long as we can. 316 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:20,780 I thought I heard that the man who was put on the endangered species list. Did you hear that? 317 00:23:21,060 --> 00:23:22,280 It's on hold currently. 318 00:23:24,340 --> 00:23:25,840 As far as officially being reading anything. 319 00:23:27,060 --> 00:23:34,000 What would it take? And what does it mean? Do you know if they get on the endangered species list? 320 00:23:34,100 --> 00:23:38,780 How does that affect them or affect anything? What does it do? 321 00:23:38,780 --> 00:23:44,620 For an endangered species to be a federally-elisted species, there are certain parameters that 322 00:23:44,620 --> 00:23:48,840 like the federal level government has to follow as far as protecting that species, 323 00:23:49,060 --> 00:23:54,220 or where development can happen, things like that. So each species has its own plan for recovery. 324 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,960 The Rusty Patch Bumblebee, for example, is a U.S. federally-elisted species. 325 00:23:59,420 --> 00:24:06,080 So there are our best practices in certain things that need to be followed in order to 326 00:24:06,700 --> 00:24:16,140 learn more about the species you know specifically about the minor. I don't know 327 00:24:16,140 --> 00:24:16,740 specifically. 328 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:25,000 I know that we've got a great partner in the DuPage 329 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:30,420 you know monitoring program and of course we've got a great partner in saving 330 00:24:30,420 --> 00:24:34,660 monarchs and so I think as we see you know changing weather patterns and 331 00:24:34,660 --> 00:24:38,880 extreme weather increase and recognize the devastation of climate change 332 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,760 hopefully more community groups and certainly governments will take action. 333 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:45,920 So thank you for this update and we're all pulling for the butterflies. 334 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:47,840 I can tell you that. 335 00:24:48,220 --> 00:24:48,960 Appreciate it, Jennifer. 336 00:24:49,260 --> 00:24:49,980 Thank you. 337 00:24:50,620 --> 00:24:51,400 Move to adjourn. 338 00:24:51,660 --> 00:24:52,660 Back in. 339 00:24:53,580 --> 00:24:54,800 Motion in the second to adjourn. 340 00:24:54,940 --> 00:24:55,660 Roll call please. 341 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:57,440 Painter. 342 00:24:58,520 --> 00:24:59,020 Tyson Dunn. 343 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:07,760 Aye, eezer, aye, eee, bryard, aye, Murphy, o' mira, aye, aye, aye, Mr. President.