County has great record of preservation

I am writing in response to the letter to the editor submitted by Paul Showers in the Dec. 7 titled "Forest Preserve shows 'dump' mentality." The Lake County Forest Preserves was created by referendum in 1958 in response to citizen concern about saving open space, and restoring and preserving our native landscapes.

Since that time 30,300 acres have been protected. Forest Preserve acquisitions are guided by a Land Acquisition Plan and 100-year Vision and Strategy, both approved by the Forest Preserve Board of Commissioners.

Lake County is home to the most nature preserves and natural areas of any county in Illinois. Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve is an excellent example of a large agricultural landscape that was restored to a complex of wetlands, savannas and prairies. Today it is an Illinois Nature Preserve and a National Audubon Important Bird Area. The Nature Conservancy's Nachusa Grasslands and Kankakee Sands preserves are also restorations of former large agricultural lands that today are of regional biodiversity importance.

The Lake County Forest Preserves understands the importance of protecting natural remnants in the county, and has spent considerable resources restoring woodlands along the southern Des Plaines River, Middlefork Savanna, Wauconda Bog, Broberg Marsh, Gander Mountain and Spring Bluff Forest Preserves.

Recently, the Forest Preserves along with several public and private partners received international designation of the Lake Michigan Lakeplain area as a RAMSAR wetland, the highest international designation for high quality wetlands.

We are grateful for the support of the residents of Lake County and deeply appreciate the countless hours of service from our stewards and volunteers. We hope everyone can get out and enjoy the beauty of the Lake County Forest Preserves.

Jim Anderson, Director of Natural Resources

Lake County Forest Preserves