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| Weilers Plan to Restore 250-Acres to Native Prairie | |
| Feb 1, 2007 | |
| Lisa Haderlein | |
| The Land Conservancy of McHenry County: Field Notes | |
| Pertains to Powers Creek, Bull Valley, Crystal Lake | |
| Driving east along Mason Hill Road, you might have noticed the “Powers Creek Conservation Area” sign about ¼ mile before reaching the Crystal Lake blacktop. This twelve acre TLC site is the northernmost piece of a 303 acre greenway that stretches for about 2 miles, all the way from Ridgestone subdivision. TLC has been slowly assembling this greenway since 1994 when Ders Anderson donated a conservation easement on two acres of land that he owns near the headwaters of the south branch of Powers Creek. Powers Creek is the main tributary to Boone Creek —œ a local stream of statewide significance due to its high water quality and fish diversity. The 303 acre greenway not only provides important habitat for frogs, turtles, fish and other local critters, it also helps preserve groundwater recharge and groundwater quality. All area residents obtain their drinking water from wells that tap local groundwater resources. By preserving these lands from development, the landowners are ensuring that every time it rains, or when the snow melts, those waters will be able to soak into the ground and help to recharge the groundwater resources that local wells need. In the middle of this amazing greenway lies property owned by Sigfried and Ann Weiler, who donated a 250 acre conservation easement to TLC on their property north of Crystal Springs Road in December 2006. THAT’S RIGHT—250 ACRES! Where can I begin to describe the generosity and vision of this family? The land had been approved some years ago for the construction of 104 homes. Those homes will not be built. Instead, two homes will be constructed on land that was not placed in the easement, and the vast majority of the 338 acre parcel will be preserved forever. The family will continue to own and enjoy the land until they decide to sell it or pass it to their heirs. Other people will own and enjoy the land eventually, but the land will never be developed - TLC will ensure that all future landowners adhere to the restrictions the family placed on the land. IT'S ABOUT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS What this story - and all the other stories like it - is about, is a landowner making a choice, and a private, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization (TLC) helping them ensure that their legacy will be honored and enforced forever. This story is about property rights at its most fundamental level. Not every landowner wishes to sell his or her land for the highest dollar. Not every landowner needs to realize the maximum gain from sale of his or her land. For some, preserving the integrity of the land itself is more important than maximizing return on an investment. And, that is why the individuals who choose conservation over commerce by donating conservation easements, are provided with an income tax benefit by the federal government, to thank them for their generosity, and for their community-minded gift to current and future generations. TLC is happy to be able to offer our services to help such landowners preserve their land. If you are interested in learning more about how TLC might help you and your family preserve the land you love, please contact us at 815.337.9502 or at PO Box 352, Woodstock, IL 60098. FACTS: Weiler Property: 250 acres Conservation Values: Wetland seeps, approx. one mile of Powers Creek, habitat for rare plants, connectivity to the Powers Creek and Windy Knoll Conservation Areas owned by TLC to the north, and presence of highly-permeable soils that will facilitate recharge of shallow groundwater aquifers. Powers Creek Greenway: 22 acres to the north of the Weiler property, and 31 acres to the south. Conservation Values: High-quality wetland resources, riparian habitat, and oak hickory woodlands. |
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