Vol. 16, No. 11 
Page 3 
the long-term mean for the prehunt estimates (33*6 quail per 100 acres), and re¬ 
presented an increase of 215 percent from the prebreeding estimate (10.4 quail 
per 100 acres). 
Responses of Prairie Chickens to Habitat Manipu1 ation 
R. L* Westemeier, 
D. R. Vance 
The electrical power generating complex now under construction in Jasper 
County by Central Illinois Public Service Company (CI PS) appears to have con¬ 
siderable potential for prairie chicken management provided a cooperative program 
can be agreed on. The CIPS project involves about 8,000 acres immediately west 
of the Bogota Study Area, about 2,000 of which will become a lake for steam and 
cooling purposes. The plant site, coal and ash storage areas, flume, railroad 
yard, transmission lines, dam site, and related facilities will occupy much of 
the 6,000 acres of upland. Also, much of the upland area surrounding the lake is 
unsuitable for prairie chicken management due to extensive tracts of oak-hickory 
forest and rough topography. However, through the use of new (1972) aerial 
photos, topographic maps, soils maps, and cover-mapping in the field, four 
management units were delineated as possible prairie chicken management areas. 
The four units range in size from 130 acres to 470 acres, more or less, depending 
upon the scope of management implemented. Each unit lies adjacent to extensive 
areas of privately owned prairie farmland. The four units total about 1,000 
acres and thus have the potential for doubling the present sanctuary acreage of 
1,000 acres in Jasper County. 
About 560 acres of cropland in the four units are suitable for a redtop (6 
to 8 years) - soybean (1 year) - oats (1 year) - redtop (6 to 8 years) type of 
rotation. About 200 acres of rough but essentially open pastureland are suitable 
for continued grazing, but at a reduced intensity. At least 200 acres of woodlots 
are included in the proposed management units. An ideal arrangement would involve 
complete clearing of about one-fourth to one-half of the wooded acreage because 
of the hemming-in effect or psychological barrier they present to prairie chickens. 
The remaining woodlands should be scheduled for prescribed burning, selective basal 
spraying, and light grazing, which should eventually convert them to parklike 
savanna communities. Pasture areas should also be treated by periodic prescribed 
burning, selective basal spraying, and light grazing, and, in addition, an ideal 
treatment should include disking and seeding to native prairie grasses. 
In addition to the four possible management units, a 5-mile right-of-way 
for power lines and a railroad is being constructed north and south between the 
main project area and the Illinois Central Railroad. This right-of-way is 110 
yards wide, thus amounting to 40 acres per square mile or a total of 200 acres. 
The right-of-way extends through flat open prairie farmland, where some potential 
for prairie chickens can be envisioned if the strip were subject to grassland 
management. 
