SR0784 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0784 LRB104 21553 RMO 36961 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to congratulate the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District on the 50th anniversary of the dedication of Colored Sands Bluff 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, Illinois Nature Preserves contribute generally to the public health and welfare and the environmental quality of the State; and

WHEREAS, Colored Sands Bluff Nature Preserve, located in Winnebago County, was officially established in 1976 to protect and conserve its dry sand savanna, dry and dry-mesic sand prairie, dolomite prairie, bottomland forest, and Sugar River bluffs; and

WHEREAS, Colored Sands Bluff Nature Preserve is recognized for its 40-foot glacially formed sand bluff overlooking the Sugar River, exposures of St. Peter Sandstone, and panoramic scenic overlooks of the pristine Sugar River valley, making it an important natural area within Northwestern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Colored Sands Bluff Nature Preserve provides critical habitat for a diverse array of plant and animal species, including more than 150 bird species documented, with 4,000 to 6,000 individual birds banded annually at the Sand Bluff Bird Observatory, one of the largest public bird banding stations in the country; it hosts Blanding's turtle, a species threatened in the State, and the State-listed species of conservation concern Henslow's sparrow, as well as the western hognose snake, blue-spotted salamander, and rare prairie wildflowers, including blue lupine, hoary puccoon, and birdsfoot violet; and

WHEREAS, Colored Sands Bluff Nature Preserve offers opportunities for hiking, canoeing, wildlife observation, bird banding, and environmental education, allowing residents and visitors to experience panoramic views of the Sugar River valley, direct observation of bird banding operations, and immersion in habitats found nowhere else in Winnebago County; and

WHEREAS, The stewardship of Colored Sands Bluff Nature Preserve has been supported by the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District and other dedicated local partners, community members, and conservation advocates, with additional support from organizations such as the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources; and

WHEREAS, Over the past 50 years, Colored Sands Bluff Nature Preserve has contributed to the protection of Illinois' natural heritage and serves as a valuable natural resource for the residents of Winnebago; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District on the 50th anniversary of Colored Sands Bluff 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 Winnebago County Forest Preserve District as a symbol of our respect and esteem.