Author Archives: jmasonfpdwc

Tall Goldenrod Management Study

Posted on November 20, 2025 by jmasonfpdwc

Year-Three Results – August 2025 By: Karen Glennemeier – Habitat Research LLC and Jeff Weiss – Living Lands Conservation Company Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) has become one of our most aggressive invasive species, especially in newly-opened woodlands and young prairie … Continue reading →

Posted in Invasive species | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Clethodim Treatment Tracking – Reed Canary Grass

Posted on May 29, 2025 by jmasonfpdwc

By: Julianne Mason, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Illinois For the past decade or so, I have had a slow-burn obsession with tracking the outcomes of spring treatments of clethodim herbicide, to reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea). It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Invasive species | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Prescribed Burn Monitoring – Field Data Collection with ESRI Field Maps

Posted on December 10, 2024 by jmasonfpdwc

We have been using ESRI’s Field Maps app on our cell phones for natural resource management and monitoring data collection, and LOVING IT!  For ecological management data, we have data layers and maps for invasive species treatments and observations, seed … Continue reading →

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Prescribed Burn Monitoring – Fire Intensity and Vegetation Community Changes

Posted on December 3, 2024 by jmasonfpdwc

Part 2 – Why Bother Doing Prescribed Burn Monitoring The ecological effects of prescribed burns can vary a lot depending on seasonality, frequency, and fire intensity.  In recent years, we have been using a standardized protocol to monitor the intensity … Continue reading →

Posted in Prescribed Burn | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Prescribed Burn Monitoring – Fire Intensity

Posted on November 25, 2024 by jmasonfpdwc

Part 1 – Fire Intensity Monitoring Protocol I know, I know.  There’s a lot to do during prescribed burn season and monitoring typically isn’t high on the list of pressing priorities.  However, I would like to make the case that … Continue reading →

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Basal Bark Herbicide Treatments for Invasive Shrubs – the Type of Oil Carrier Matters!

Posted on May 1, 2024 by jmasonfpdwc

By: Julianne Mason, Ecological Management Supervisor, Forest Preserve District of Will County, IL If you haven’t read Kaleb Baker’s recent post about his study that showed the effectiveness of basal bark treating amur honeysuckle, an invasive shrub, please do so … Continue reading →

Posted in Invasive species | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Invasive Shrub Treatment Methods – Cut Stump and Basal Bark Comparison

Posted on December 7, 2023 by jmasonfpdwc

By: Julianne Mason, Restoration Program Coordinator It’s an understatement to say that woody invasives are a major threat to our natural areas.  They can displace native plant communities, alter wildlife habitat, and impact nutrient cycling and other ecosystem processes.  Here … Continue reading →

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Herbicide Treatments to Reed Canary Grass – Clethodim vs. Glyphosate – Follow-Up Observations

Posted on September 21, 2023 by jmasonfpdwc

By: Julianne Mason, Restoration Program Coordinator, Forest Preserve District of Will County Five years ago, my coworker and I put in some test plots to compare the effectiveness of spraying reed canary grass with glyphosate, a non-selective herbicide, compared to … Continue reading →

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