Illinois SR 785: CONGRATS-IDNR/CARLSON PRESERVE

Bill Text

Full Text of SR0785 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Illinois General Assembly

 ILGA.GOV 

 SR0785 - 104th General Assembly 

SR0785LRB104 21552 ECR 36960 r

1SENATE RESOLUTION

2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to 

3congratulate the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on 

4the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the dedication of 

5Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve; and

6 WHEREAS, The Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act 

7created a system for preserving and protecting areas of the 

8state as a part of the heritage of the people of Illinois; and

9 WHEREAS, Illinois Nature Preserves are of value for 

10scientific research, for teaching, as reservoirs of natural 

11materials with potential uses yet to be discovered, as 

12habitats for rare and vanishing species, as places of historic 

13and natural interest and scenic beauty, and as living museums 

14of the native landscape wherein one may envision and 

15experience primeval conditions in a wilderness-like 

16environment; and

17 WHEREAS, Illinois Nature Preserves contribute generally to 

18the public health and welfare and the environmental quality of 

19the State; and

20 WHEREAS, Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve, located in 

21LaSalle County, was officially established in 1976 to protect 

SR0785- 2 -LRB104 21552 ECR 36960 r

1and conserve its young forest, bluffs, and stream communities 

2along the Vermilion River in the Grand Prairie Section; and

3 WHEREAS, Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve is named in 

4honor of an Illinois conservation hero, Margery Claire 

5Carlson, originally of Arthur, who became the first full-time 

6female professor at Northwestern University and was a founder 

7of the Illinois chapter of The Nature Conservancy, serving as 

8its first secretary and trustee, and whose decades of advocacy 

9helped protect other Illinois natural areas, including the 

10Volo Bog State Natural Area, Illinois Beach State Park, and 

11Matthiessen State Park; and

12 WHEREAS, Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve is recognized 

13for its eroding bluff plant communities representative of 

14sites near the Vermilion River, making it an important natural 

15area within north-central Illinois; and

16 WHEREAS, Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve provides 

17critical habitat for a diverse array of plant and animal 

18species, including over 75 species of flowering herbaceous 

19plants, such as forked aster and bottle gentian, deer, 

20beavers, and red foxes; and

21 WHEREAS, Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve offers 

22opportunities for nature observation and environmental 

SR0785- 3 -LRB104 21552 ECR 36960 r

1education, allowing residents and visitors to experience bluff 

2and forest communities characteristic of the Vermilion River 

3corridor; and

4 WHEREAS, The stewardship of Margery C. Carlson Nature 

5Preserve has been supported by dedicated local partners, 

6community members, and conservation advocates with additional 

7support from organizations such as the Illinois Nature 

8Preserves Commission and the Illinois Department of Natural 

9Resources; and

10 WHEREAS, Over the past 50 years, Margery C. Carlson Nature 

11Preserve has contributed to the protection of Illinois' 

12natural heritage and serves as a valuable natural resource for 

13the residents of LaSalle County; therefore, be it

14 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL 

15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the 

16Illinois Department of Natural Resources on the 50th 

17anniversary of the dedication of Margery C. Carlson Nature 

18Preserve, and we commend its ongoing commitment to 

19conservation, education, and stewardship; and be it further

20 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 

21presented to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as a 

22symbol of our respect and esteem.