C-16 Prairie Reconstruction History

The Cherokee County Road Department began preparation of the C-16 road reconstruction in earnest in the summer of 2002. Reconstruction required acquisition of land from bordering landowners on either side of the original road right-of-way. Some of these parcels of acquired land, as well as some of the original road ditch areas, had well established stands of native prairie grasses and forbs. In the process of roadbed preparation, these valuable stands of native plants were, unfortunately, destroyed.

Interested citizens met with local officials in the fall of 2002 and asked that the County Board of Supervisors consider planting the new C-16 Road right-of-way to native prairie grasses and forbs. The Supervisors were very aware of the many advantages of native vegetation and expressed their willingness to seriously consider such a project for the approximately 54 acres of road ditch area that would require seeding sometime in the Spring of 2003.

On Tuesday, February 25, 2003, the Cherokee County Prairie Coalition again met with the County Supervisors. They presented a petition signed by more than 90 percent of the residents and landowners adjacent to the C-16 road right-of-way asking that native prairie grasses and forbs be used for the road ditch seeding.

"In as much as native prairie grasses are known to best retain moisture, promote the health of our groundwater through filtration, retard the speed of heavy rainfall and snow melt run-off, decrease soil erosion, foster an increase in biodiversity, enrich the soil organically, control invasive unwanted species of vegetation, require reduced long term maintenance costs, and offer aesthetic as well as economic benefits; we the undersigned, respectfully request that the county rights-of-way on either side of County Road C-16 situated between Highway 59 and County Road M-12 be seeded to a varied mix of native prairie grasses and amounts of native forbs as economically feasible."

The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors voted to instruct the contractor to proceed with the purchase of the DOT recommended native grasses and forbs seed mixture, and to seed the entire area as soon as the contractor feels this is prudent.

The C-16 Prairie Reconstruction was a reality!

The C-16 Prairie Reconstruction Project that was responsible for the formation of the Cherokee County Prairie Coalition is now underway! The seeding bid has been let and seeding of the prairie grasses and forbs will begin as soon as the weather permits in the Spring of 2003.

View the C-16 Prairie Reconstruction Project in its current state and return often to follow our progress!