This project was also partially funded through a grant program supported by the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry and the US Fish and Wildlife Service in support of Chicago Wilderness. USFWS and USFS grants federal monies are administered by the Illinois Conservation Foundation.

Farmland Protection

Openlands is working with local citizen groups in Boone, McHenry, Will, Kendall and Kane counties to develop a comprehensive farmland protection strategy for the Northern Illinois region. The prime soils of this region are a valuable natural resource to the area and define the rural character which marks the landscape. Openlands works on establishing purchase of development rights programs, explores organic and specialty farming opportunities and researches whether legislation is needed to facilitate successful protection programs. Openlands hosted a two-day conference in February 2007 where experts throughout the region discussed issues ranging from county farmland protection programs to funding options and agricultural easements.  Click here to learn more about the conference.

Prairie Parkway

The Prairie Parkway is a proposed highway which runs north and south between I-80 and I-88 in western Kane, Kendall and Grundy counties. In late 2006, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Prairie Parkway, offering two north-south highway alternative routes.  Openlands, along with Citizens Against the Sprawlway, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and other conservation organizations, filed a joint comment letter opposing the project.

According to IDOT, both of the proposed routes are anticipated to only provide “quite small” traffic benefits while costing taxpayers almost $1 billion.  The four-lane highway would also cause extensive damage to important agricultural and natural areas, inducing growth where counties plan to protect valuable farmland.   In addition, IDOT failed to truly analyze local road alternatives and did not quantify how a complete local road network could better address regional needs.

For these reasons, Openlands is advocating that funding to address traffic congestion concerns would be better spent on improvements to existing roads and transit services throughout the project area rather than on the proposed Prairie Parkway. Click here to view a map of the proposed “B2” and “B5” Prairie Parkway routes.  For more detailed information click here.

Water Resources Protection and Sustainable Growth

Openlands studies the relationship between development practices and water quality in Northeastern Illinois. The publication, Changing Course, details the evaluation of federal, state and local policies and identifies certain issues and recommendations for balancing regional growth and water resources in the region. Openlands also works with two regional watersheds (part of the Kishwaukee River watershed in Southwestern McHenry County and the Trim Creek watershed in Will and Kankakee County) to demonstrate effective models of watershed planning and to make recommendations for sustainable development practices to protect water quantity and quality. View the Executive Summaries of these two watershed plans: Preserving the Kishwaukee Watershed: Guiding development in the Marengo-Union region and Reclaiming Trim Creek: Managing growth and protecting resources in the Kankakee River Watershed.

Openlands also is working on protection of the region’s water supply through evaluation and management of groundwater sources and protection of Lake Michigan. In January 2006, Openlands released Troubled Waters: Meeting Future Water Needs in Illinois, a policy brief which describes current water supply demands and challenges and advocates for policies to protect groundwater. The Governor of Illinois concurrently issued an Executive Order establishing the development of a statewide water supply protection and management framework for two priority planning areas. Openlands is working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and local planning agencies to facilitate this process. In addition, Openlands is advocating for the passage of the Great Lakes Compact legislation by the Illinois General Assembly and conducting a review of the natural areas along the Lake Michigan shoreline to assure their future protection.

Land Preservation District Study

Openlands conducted a comprehensive study of the forest preserve districts in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake and Will counties and the conservation district in McHenry County and published Forest Preserve and Conservation Districts in Northeastern Illinois: Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century in April 2006. The report highlights the underlying importance of land preservation noting the overall success in land acquisition and restoration achieved by the districts. The study looks analytically at each district, reporting issues, findings and recommendations that focus on governance as well as eight areas of operation including: land acquisition, land sales, transfers and encroachments, land management and restoration, recreation golf courses education programs, law enforcement and financial management.

Lands of Regional Significance

Openlands is protecting one-mile of Lake Michigan shoreline on Fort Sheridan property. This rare stretch of undeveloped bluffs and ravines includes unique natural areas and unparalleled views of the Lake. In August 2006, Openlands signed an historic agreement to acquire 77 acres of lakefront property from the Navy, creating the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve at Fort Sheridan. This new lakefront preserve, which includes more than a mile of shoreline as well as bluffs and ravines, is located at the south end of Fort Sheridan in Lake County. This area is home to several endangered species. Click here to learn more about Fort Sheridan.

Advocacy Issues:

Openlands is involved in a range of advocacy issues:

Openlands Policy Division routinely conducts research, drafts reports, works with community groups, and collaborates with other organizations to protect open space throughout the region. Policy staff provides advice and information to individuals about saving land in their communities.