10.13.2008 - 04:28pm ET

(CSRwire) WILLMINGTON, IL. - October 13, 2008 - About 20 employees from The Dow Chemical Company's Wilmington and Channahon sites will become prairie volunteers for a day October 8, harvesting native seeds at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, which will later be planted elsewhere on the 18,000-acre natural area.

The volunteer effort corresponds with The Dow Chemical Company Foundation's recent grant to The Wetlands Initiative (TWI), a Chicago-based non-profit working to help restore rare wetlands and prairies at Midewin. The Dow Chemical Company Foundation contributed $10,000 to support TWI's efforts to improve hydrology, remove invasives, and plant native species within a 109-acre parcel within Midewin.

"We are extremely proud of this donation and are excited to participate in the volunteer day as well," said Erika Hendricksen, site leader for the Dow Wilmington facility. "This effort reflects Dow's strong commitment to making a difference in the quality of life of our employees and their families and in the communities we operate."

Midewin, the site of the U.S. Army's former Joliet Arsenal, was established as the nation’s first tallgrass prairie by President Bill Clinton in 1996. Today it is one of the nation’s largest efforts to reverse the loss of its historic prairie and wetland ecosystems. Over the last decade, TWI has worked with the U.S. Forest Service to restore more than 800 acres of native habitat previously used by the Army to develop and test munitions.

"Midewin is one of the most significant, long-term restoration projects in the country," said Donald Hey, TWI president. "This is a unique public-private partnership to bring back Illinois' most historic landscape."

The Dow Chemical Company Foundation's donation will support restoration of 109 acres of unique habitat, including rare dolomitic wetlands and prairies originally formed by a prehistoric glacial drift that left limestone very close to the surface. Many of Midewin's rare and endangered plant and animal species rely on this unique habitat to survive. Restoration ecologists from both the U.S. Forest Service and TWI will re-establish native plants across the project area. Ecologists also will work to restore the natural water flow to the site and remove invasive plant species in an effort to help native plant communities take hold.

Dow joins other regional and national partners in this effort, including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Grand Victoria Foundation, and Chicago Wilderness. Currently, there are over 22 miles of open trails, escorted tours, volunteer events, and even deer and turkey hunting at Midewin. The U.S. Forest Service maintains a visitor;s welcome center near Midewin at 30239 S. State, Hwy 53.

The Dow Wilmington site employs 55 Dow personnel and 90 independent contractors and produces spray polyurethane foams, many of which are available at home improvement stores. Most widely recognized is the GREAT STUFF(TM) insulating foam sealants, which include Gaps and Cracks, Windows and Doors, Fireblock, and Big Gap Filler. Most come in 16-ounce cans at a cost under $10.

The Dow Joliet Site located in Channahon Township employs 70 Dow personnel and 30 independent contractors and produces STYROFOAM(TM) brand insulation board used in housing and commercial markets. The site also includes Dow's Joliet Marine Terminal which distributes bulk liquid chemicals from other Dow locations.


About Dow

With annual sales of $54 billion and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

About The Wetlands Initiative

The Wetlands Initiative (TWI) is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization founded in 1994 and dedicated to restoring the wetland resources of the Midwest to improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and reduce flood damage. TWI is an award-winning partner at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, having completed a wetland restoration plan for the entire site, raised over $1.5 million for restoration work, and coordinated restoration of the first 800 acres. Beginning in 2001, TWI has also restored 2,600 acres of backwater floodplain in Putnam County, Illinois, now known as the Sue & Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge. Since 2005, TWI has also been working to implement a $44 million pilot project along the Illinois River that will demonstrate the potential for water quality credits to pay for large-scale wetland restoration.

About Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie was established in 1996 on the former Joliet Arsenal and is the first national tallgrass prairie in the country. It is administered by the U.S. Forest Service, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and with the support of hundreds of volunteers and partner agencies, businesses, and organizations. Today, 7,200 acres of Midewin and 22 miles of trails are open to the public. Activities at Midewin include hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, escorted tours, volunteer work projects, and deer and turkey hunting. Midewin's Welcome Center, at 30239 S. State, Hwy 53 in Wilmington, hosts interpretive exhibits, a small bookstore, and is open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. seven days a week during the summer and varying schedules during other seasons. A variety of public tours is offered on Saturdays throughout the spring, summer, and fall. More information about activities at Midewin is available online at www.fs.fed.us/mntp/.

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