Forest Foundation of Kendall County Challenge Grant to Support
Little Rock Creek Forest Preserve Purchase
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Friends of Kendall County Forest Preserves,
 
The Forest Foundation of Kendall County has launched a $5,000.00 matching-grant challenge in support of the purchase of the proposed Little Rock Creek Forest Preserve.
The Forest Foundation of Kendall County, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, was established in 2006 to support the Kendall County Forest Preserve District's mission to preserve and manage natural areas and open spaces, provide environmental education and offer recreational opportunities.
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The proposed 135-acre Little Rock Creek Forest Preserve is located along Little Rock Creek near Plano, Illinois, and will connect with Maramech Forest Preserve, a 92-acre Illinois Dedicated Nature Preserve, and first forest preserve area purchased by the Kendall County Forest Preserve District in 1966.
Protected land and water resources include a 1.25-mile stretch of the Little Rock Creek stream corridor near the confluence with Big Rock Creek and the Fox River.
The new forest preserve will provide resource-based conservation and passive recreation opportunities for Kendall County residents including habitat protection and enhancement, bird watching, fishing, hiking, and conservation education experiences.
Thank you for your consideration of support to help conserve the natural areas of Kendall County. 
All donations are tax-deductible.
How Do I Donate?
 
Individuals interested in contributing to the Forest Foundation's matching-grant program are encouraged to contact the Forest Foundation at [email protected], or call (630) 553-4131 for more information.
Contributions are tax deductible and can be made electronically by clicking the Forest Foundation's PayPal link, which is also posted online at http://www.kendallforest.com, or by direct mail (checks only) to:
Forest Foundation of Kendall County
Little Rock Creek Challenge Grant
PO Box 143
Yorkville, Illinois 60560 .
Why Should We Protect the Little Rock Creek Corridor?
Golden Redhorse (Moxostoma erythrurum)
 
The proposed Little Rock Creek acquisition project is located near the Little Rock Creek confluence with the Fox River - Kendall County's greatest natural resource - that has shaped both the ecological and cultural history of Kendall County. Acquisition of this property has been a long-term goal of the District, identified as a high-priority for acquisition within the Kendall Natural Area Guardians 1996 Natural Areas Inventory.
This section of Little Rock Creek proposed for acquisition is rated a "Class B" stream by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (scored within the top 5% for stream quality in the State of Illinois) and is located within Lower Fox River basin, a priority area for conservation in Kendall County. The index of biotic integrity is 42/50, with 26 fish species known to occur from ongoing IDNR monitoring efforts, including Mottled Sculpin, Largescale Stoneroller, Shorthead Redhorse, Golden Redhorse, Quillback and Smallmouth Bass.
Protection of the Little Rock Creek corridor is essential to maintain the hydrology which supports these and other cold-water fish species. 
The footprint of the Little Rock Creek Forest Preserve is connected to the 92-acre Maramech Forest Preserve, an Illinois Dedicated Nature Preserve and northern flatwoods habitat containing one of the highest floristic diversity indices scores and habitat quality of the Kendall County forest preserve system, including several documented State threatened and endangered species.
The Little Rock Creek Forest Preserve will also protect the Little Rock Creek floodplain, oak-woodland bluffs and riparian wetlands within the creek corridor.
How Will Your Contribution Help?
 
Donations to the Forest Foundation of Kendall County received through the end of the calendar year will be contributed to The Conservation Foundation to help increase local match funding in support of The Conservation Foundation's $500,000.00 grant award from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.
The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation supports the protection of natural areas and wildlife habitat in communities all across Illinois, including recent support for the Kendall County Forest Preserve District's purchase of the Fox River Bluffs Forest Preserve in 2016.
The Conservation Foundation's combined donation of fifty-percent of the overall value of the property to the Kendall County Forest Preserve District will serve to match the District's $750,000.00 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund through the Illinois Department of Natural Resource's Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program, resulting in the establishment of the Little Rock Creek Forest Preserve, with closing on the property anticipated before the end of the calendar year.
The Kendall County Forest Preserve District would like to thank The Conservation Foundation, and all contributing individuals and partners for the invaluable technical and financial support needed to establish the Little Rock Creek Forest Preserve.  Thank you.