Illinois Sustainable Technology Center - University of Illinois
INRS State Scientific Surveys
Sediment for Soil Redevelopment
 View an animation showing the plot changing over time. This picture taken in February, 2003 shows Peoria Lake sediment placed at the Paxton 1 landfill near Lake Calumet in October of 2002. The sediment is in a triangular pattern extending toward the van in the background. The light gray material is clay used to cap the landfill. The ropes and flags mark off plots for grass seed mixes. No fertilizer or water was added. | |
 View an animation showing the plot changing over time. The same site on August 12, 2003. The grass plots are doing well and other plants colonized the rest of the sediment. The annual rye grass on the right is brown because its season is ending. | |
;) Enlarge Image Grass sod taken from a plot 4.5 months after planting shows healthy root development and soil structure. | ;) Enlarge Image The first 10 inches of sediment developed good soil structure in less than a year. It is developing physical properties similar to topsoil that eroded into the river to form sediment. |