EnviroWatts Grant Helps Protect Wildwood Nature Preserve

EnviroWatts Grant Helps Protect Wildwood Nature Preserve

EnviroWatts Program

The KREMC EnviroWatts Grant Program is a voluntary program created in partnership with Wabash Valley Power Alliance that gives residential members the opportunity to purchase green energy while also giving back to their community.

Members who choose to participate donate 1 cent for each kilowatt-hour they use, up to 750 kWh. Those pennies – a maximum of $7.50 a month per member – make up the EnviroWatts fund, which then goes back to the community through grants to local environmental projects, and those kWh are guaranteed to be generated from renewable, environmentally-preferred sources.

One recipient of the EnviroWatts grant last year was ACRES Land Trust for Wildwood Nature Preserve near Silver Lake, Indiana. Their project was focused on weeding out invasive species, specifically Japanese stiltgrass, at their location and preserving the native plants, animals, and habitat. Read on to learn more about this cool project.

Wildwood Nature Preserve

At Wildwood Nature Preserve, visitors can experience a remarkable variety of natural habitats. Wetlands, forests, prairie areas, ponds, and abundant wildlife make the preserve one of the most popular destinations in the ACRES Land Trust system. School groups, families, hikers, and nature enthusiasts visit throughout the year to explore its trails and learn about the natural world. Its trails are open to the public from dawn to dusk every day.

A bird’s-eye view of Wildwood would show an island of dark green woods amid a sea of farmland. The preserve indeed serves as an oasis for many wild plants and creatures. Some of the animals Wildwood is home to includes birds, ducks, beavers, otters, deer, frogs, and many more different species.

This all supports ACRES Land Trust’s mission of protecting natural and working lands, and inspiring people to value, appreciate and support these places for the benefit of all.

Conquering Japanese Stiltgrass

Protecting a nature preserve like this takes ongoing work, especially when invasive species threaten native habitats, such as Japanese stiltgrass.

Through the EnviroWatt Grant, Wildwood Nature Preserve is continuing its efforts to combat Japanese stiltgrass, an invasive plant that can quickly take over natural areas and crowd out native vegetation.

“Japanese stiltgrass is the only invasive species that kind of keeps me up at night,” shared the Regional Manager of the Western Service Area for ACRES Land Trust and Wildwood Caretaker, Gavin King, explaining how difficult it is to get rid of the grass.

A Growing Threat

Japanese stiltgrass may look like an ordinary grass, but land managers know it can create major problems.

King has been monitoring the grass at Wildwood for the past five years. What began as a relatively small infestation eventually expanded into additional areas of the preserve, likely spreading from an old trail.

“One plant, if we miss it, can produce up to 1,000 seeds. The seeds can stay in the soil for years,” King explained.

Japanese stiltgrass seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 10 years, making eradication a long-term challenge. Even after an area has been treated, new plants may continue to emerge from the seed bank buried beneath the surface.

Fighting Back

Managing Japanese stiltgrass requires persistence and precision. Wildwood staff use targeted backpack spraying rather than broad applications, allowing them to treat invasive plants while minimizing impacts to surrounding native vegetation. The preserve has also begun using a new herbicide mixture recommended by other conservation professionals.

“The other part of this herbicide mixture that we’re using is a pre-emergent, so it actually soaks in the soil and prevents seeds from germinating. So, that’s been really helpful,” explained King.

The results are already visible. Along several sections of trail, visitors can see bare patches where dense stands of Japanese stiltgrass once grew. While these areas may appear empty today, they represent an important step toward restoring native habitat. In many locations, the invasive grass had already crowded out most native plants. With the stiltgrass removed, native species will have the opportunity to return and reclaim those areas.

Staff also use mapping technology to track infestations and treatment areas, helping ensure that no patch is overlooked and that previously treated areas continue to be monitored.

Education Is Part of the Solution

Removing invasive species is only part of the challenge.

Japanese stiltgrass spreads easily when seeds hitch a ride on hiking boots, equipment, vehicles, or mowing machinery. In fact, preserve staff believe foot traffic may have played a role in introducing the plant to portions of Wildwood.

“For our equipment, anytime we use our side-by-side, our skid steer, our mowers, any of that, if it’s on a site that we know has this (Japanese stiltgrass), it will get power washed,” King talked about the precautions they are taking.

ACRES Land Trust is working on new interpretive signage throughout the preserve. The signs will help visitors identify Japanese stiltgrass, understand the impact invasive species can have on native ecosystems, and learn simple steps they can take to reduce the spread.

The preserve is also exploring the addition of boot-brush stations, which allow hikers to remove dirt and seeds from their footwear before heading to another trail or natural area.

By combining habitat management with public education, Wildwood hopes to make every visitor part of the solution.

Protecting a Natural Treasure

Wildwood Nature Preserve is home to beavers, river otters, butterflies, wetlands, forests of varying ages, and prairie habitat. Its diverse landscape attracts visitors from across the region and provides opportunities for recreation, education, and wildlife observation.

The work being done today will help ensure those habitats remain healthy for future generations.

Through the EnviroWatts Grant Program, KREMC members are helping local organizations take meaningful action to protect natural resources, educate the public, and strengthen the environmental health of our communities. Wildwood Nature Preserve’s fight against Japanese stiltgrass is just one example of how those investments are making a lasting difference. If you haven’t opted in to contribute to this program, contact our Members Service Team today to join!