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Summer 2001
Lake-in-the-Hills: Fighting
for the Fen
Volunteer
stewards Al and Barbara Wilson have been fighting various
threats to Lake-in-the-Hills Fen for many years. The latest
effort involved a proposal to build a new village hall in
the middle of a cornfield next to the 240-acre dedicated
nature preserve.
The
Wilsons point out that the preserve harbors 407 species
of plants, 16 of which are threatened or endangered in Illinois.
Six species can only be found at one other Illinois location.
On the adjacent 66 acres owned by the village, entomologist
Ron Panzer has identified the red-veined leafhopper and
an as-yet unnamed species of leafhopper. Had the village
hall been built, runoff containing salt, reduction of groundwater,
and other factors would have seriously compromised the health
of this rare ecosystem.
Tireless
in their efforts to save the fen, the Wilsons prepared mailings
to 8,000 households, posted yard signs, and attended numerous
meetings. In April, Lake-in-the-Hills residents tossed out
three incumbent trustees and elected three newcomers who
had pledged not to build on property next to the fen. Now
the site may be acquired by the McHenry County Conservation
District.
— Adam
Wilson
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