We need your help to acquire and protect an ecologically-stunning 135-acre property that contains 1.3 miles of Little Rock Creek, one of the highest quality streams in northern Illinois. Once acquired, the land will be owned by Kendall County Forest Preserve District and joined with the Maramech Forest Preserve to create a true gem of preserved wild land for Kendall County residents and visitors to savor.
Background
The Little Rock Creek property was identified as an important ecological and open space opportunity in TCF’s Protect Kendall Now! project and in the Lower Fox River Strategic Land Conservation Plan. It is adjacent to the Maramech Woods Forest Preserve, part of which has been designated as an Illinois Nature Preserve, a designation reserved for the “best of the best” in Illinois. Much of the property used to be a Boy Scout camp. This part of Little Rock Creek is very close to the confluence with Big Rock Creek and the Fox River. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports the Little Rock Creek has an Index of Biotic Integrity [quality of aquatic life] score of 52 out of 60, which makes it one of the higher quality stream segments in the area, if not the entire State.
The Opportunity
The entire cost of the project to acquire the 135-acre property is nearly $1.5 million. Kendall Forest Preserve District has already been awarded a Land and Water Conservation grant using federal funds in the amount of $750,000. The Conservation Foundation has been successful in obtaining $500,000 from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation and can use up to $200,000 from its own funds, leaving a balance of just $50,000. That’s where you come in! We need help from neighbors and friends in Kendall County to help raise the remaining funds to make this special acquisition a reality.
Where can you fit into this picture?
Please call The Conservation Foundation at (630) 428-4500, ext. 112 or send in your tax-deductible donation in any amount to The Conservation Foundation, 10 S 404 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville, IL 60565 if you would like be a part of saving this important piece of our natural and ecological heritage.
