Lake Metroparks continues to manage Lake County’s unique
natural resources with an eye toward biological diversity and
the protection of critical habitat. We strive to balance the
needs of recreational park users with careful planning and
active resource management. Evolving methods including
state-of-the-art technology are used. Geographic information
systems and digital mapping utilize a multitude of physical and biological data sets.
Through the year, professional natural resources staff
actively manage diverse habitats throughout the county.
Techniques like prescribed burning of meadows and GPS mapping have greatly increased both effectiveness and
efficiency in managing and tracking resources.
The construction, maintenance and monitoring of several
hundred artificial nest structures continues to be an
important part of wildlife habitat enhancement and a
source of unparalleled wildlife watching opportunities for
park visitors. In addition, Lake Metroparks continues to
stock ponds throughout the park system with fish and has
continued its annual stocking of Paine Creek and Veterans
Park pond.
The monitoring and treatment of invasive, exotic plant
species is a high priority. Efforts to control the spread of
these species have been important in stabilizing biological
diversity in our parks. Although it will never be possible
to completely eliminate these invaders, we can have very
positive impacts by managing exotic plant infestations,
especially in critical habitats.
Biological inventories
Park staff conduct annual surveys of the 8,000 acres
of park properties. These surveys consist of visually
monitoring all park land and management projects.
Studies are conducted to examine the presence of
all types of plants and animals from breeding birds,
mammals and insects to common reptiles and
amphibians as well as rare plants and invasive species.
As a result, Lake Metroparks has extensive biological
inventories that help staff determine how best to
manage natural areas and design programs for visitors
that illustrate the natural wonders in the parks.
Watch a video on trail preparation
Although Lake Metroparks maintains a proactive hazardous tree removal program, active forest management is seldom an issue. The park system does however monitor its forested land to ensure exotic plant and pest infestations do not threaten forest health.
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