Ecological inventories are critical for the success of site planning, implementation, and monitoring in ecological restoration of industrial lands. Inventories of large areas may need to be completed quickly because ecological restoration projects are often opportunistic. As part of a multi-phase ecological restoration project at an industrial site, we designed ecological inventories completed by 15 undergraduates during 5 days as part of a course exercise. Historical records, air photos and 1-day reconnaissance of vegetation patterns were used to delineate provisional community boundaries (13 communities total). We then intensively sampled for 4 days using random Z-walks to identify weeds, natives, and confirm community boundaries. Forty soil and water samples for pH, moisture, and nutrients (selected randomly and in areas with probable eutrophication) revealed provisional boundaries for the communities were accurate and most areas had high nitrogen and phosphorus. Weeds will continue to invade and soil impoverishment may be needed, though old building foundations are already adequate for planning alvar habitats. Circle calling surveys indicated there were 60 common bird species that could be supported with the creation of interior forest habitat and construction of boxes, brushpiles, and raptor poles. Pit, Sherman, and Hav-a-Heart mammal and herptile traps proved inadequate as they failed to account for behaviourial patterns, age-size distribution, and food preferences. Our rapid survey served its main purpose of allowing more detailed site planning but better mammal and herptile surveys are needed to ensure a functional ecosystem 1s re-established on site. The survey information we collected was combined with information from a previous urban environmental planning study to construct an initial design for long-term ecological restoration at our study site.