Comments Solicited for Hackmatack Wildlife Area Next Week

Openlands created this Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge map. It is used with permission.

The McHenry County Libertarian Party sent the following information about open houses being held at the County Administrative Building and the McHenry County Conservation District’s Lost Valley Visitor Center concerning the Fish and Wildlife Service’s wildlife area in northern McHenry County and Southern Wisconsin:

The short version … The Feds are looking at taking 10,000 – 30,000 acres of residential area and possibly turning it into a wild life refuge.  They are reviewing 300,000 acres of McHenry County and parts of southern WI.  Read through both PDFs at the link.

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/Hackmatack/

You are invited to share your thoughts with Fish and Wildlife Service planners at open house events scheduled in October.
Two open houses are scheduled in Illinois:

  • Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the McHenry County Government Center Administration Building, which is located at 667 Ware Road in Woodstock, Ill.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 13, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lost Valley Visitor Center, Route 31 and Harts Road, Ringwood, Ill.
  • You can find more information here.


    Comments

    Comments Solicited for Hackmatack Wildlife Area Next Week — 1 Comment

    1. I would like to clear up a few points from the above post about the potential creation of a National Wildlife Refuge.

      US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is just beginning their feasibility study for a potential refuge.

      They have drawn a large initial study area in order to determine the significant biological features and how they align with their priorities.

      If a refuge boundary is created, it will be much smaller and will probably focus on connecting corridors of habitat with already protected land.

      The boundary will most likely include private property that will always be private. USFWS policy is to acquire land only from willing sellers.

      There are no restrictions placed on private land within the boundaries.

      The map here is a map done for a private viability study. The map of the study area can be found at the FWS website link. I encourage people to attend the open houses to learn more from the USFWS staff.

      Lenore Beyer-Clow
      Policy Director, Openlands

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *