HR0886 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0886 LRB104 21543 MST 36949 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the dedication of Kankakee River Nature Preserve; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act created a system for preserving and protecting areas of the State as a part of the heritage of the people of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Nature Preserves are of value for scientific research, for teaching, as reservoirs of natural materials not all of the potential uses of which are now known, as habitats for rare and vanishing species, as places of historic and natural interest and scenic beauty and as living museums of the native landscape wherein one may envision and experience primeval conditions in a wilderness-like environment; and

WHEREAS, Nature preserves contribute generally to the public health and welfare and the environmental quality of the State; and

WHEREAS, The Kankakee River Nature Preserve, located in Kankakee County, was officially established in 1966 to protect and conserve its diverse natural communities, including upland forest, bottomland forest, and sand hill areas representative of the Grand Prairie Natural Division; and

WHEREAS, The Kankakee River Nature Preserve is recognized for its globally significant natural features, most notably Langham Island, the only place in the world where Kankakee mallow grows in the wild, making it an important natural area within northeastern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The Kankakee River Nature Preserve provides critical habitat for a diverse array of plant and animal species, including more than 500 surveyed plant species on Langham Island alone, such as the rare wild stonecrop, the rare bulblet fern, and the federally endangered leafy prairie clover, which was discovered on the island last summer for the first time since 1873; and

WHEREAS, The Kankakee River Nature Preserve offers opportunities for nature observation, birdwatching, and environmental education, allowing residents and visitors to experience one of northeastern Illinois' most ecologically significant natural areas along the Kankakee River; and

WHEREAS, The stewardship of the Kankakee River Nature Preserve has been supported by dedicated local partners, especially the Friends of Langham Island and a broad network of residents in the region dedicated to conservation, with additional support from organizations such as the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources; and

WHEREAS, Over the past 60 years, Kankakee River Nature Preserve has contributed to the protection of Illinois' natural heritage and serves as a valuable natural resource for the residents of Kankakee County; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on the 60th anniversary of the dedication of Kankakee River Nature Preserve and commend its ongoing commitment to conservation, education, and stewardship; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission as a symbol of our respect and esteem.