Wild Things 2025

Mr. Overbeck has over 20 years of experience with ecology projects within the Chicago region. He has been trained as a specialist in plant identification with applications in ecological restoration, planting plan design, seed collection, plant propagation, plant installation, ecological monitoring, vegetation management, and annual reporting. Mr. Overbeck has been involved with comprehensive ecological restoration projects of large and small landscapes across the Chicago region. He has experience in a wide range of plant communities from rare fen wetlands to dry prairie and woodland landscapes. Mr. Overbeck has removed invasive species in sensitive habitats associated with the interdunal communities of Lake Michigan (Illinois Beach State Park and Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area). Most of his experience has been within the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division of Illinois, with landforms in the Kettle Moraine and Lake Border Moraine subregions. He has conducted wetland delineations and floristic surveys in high-quality habitats for the Forest Preserve District of Lake County, Cook County Forest Preserves, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, local municipalities, and other clients. He has several years of experience leading ecological monitoring at wetland mitigation banks for regulatory reporting purposes. Mr. Overbeck received his Master of Science degree in Biology with an emphasis in Plant Taxonomy at Eastern Kentucky University. He is a member of the Society for Ecological Restoration and regularly contributes public presentations on developments in the field of plant ecology.