ieee UL BON (BUT Ee eN 5 
An Unusual 
Conservation Project 
HE setting aside of large areas of public land as forest preserves, 
both state and national, is featured with headlines in the news- 
papers and on this account receives wide publicity. The National 
Parks in the western United States, the Superior National Forest, the 
proposed Appalachian forest preserves, and other like undertakings 
have been widely advertised. 
Recently, quite by accident, an unusual plan was discovered on the 
Kishwaukee River about sixty miles from Chicago. The two branches 
of this river have a length of about sixty miles. The northern branch 
rises in central McHenry County and the southern in DeKalb County. 
The branches unite and flow north into Rock River. The stream is very 
clear and in most of its length runs through gravel bottoms. The glacial 
drift, through which the Kishwaukee flows, at one time supported an un- 
usual forest growth and there are still many beautiful woodlands along 
the stream. To Mr. Louis Lloyd of Sycamore, Illinois, is due the credit 
of starting a conservation idea which has grown until over twelve 
thousand acres of land along the Kishwaukee River are being set aside 
under state supervision as a wild life sanctuary. Two hundred and sev- 
enty-eight separate parcels of land are being leased by the state of Illinois 
for the express purpose of protecting the wild life, both bird and animal, 
in this preserve. This will effectively prevent the destruction of the wild 
life and it will be protected with signs furnished by the state forbidding 
trespassing. 
Most of the farms along the Kishwaukee River contain wooded 
areas. The gravelly soil with abundant moisture close to the surface 
causes an unusual tree and shrub growth. There are black walnut, hick- 
ory, maple, black cherry, elm, and ash among the larger forest trees 
and many varieties of hawthorne and much of the beautiful wild crab 
apple. The vegetation on the forest floor reminds one of the older forests 
farther east. Many of the birds resident in northern Illinois may be 
found nesting here and during spring migration the woodlands are alive 
with many varieties that visit us only during migration time. It has 
recently been stated that the Kishwaukee on account of its being spring- 
fed and on account of its gravel bottom is the best stream for the propo- 
gation of game-fish in the state. The farmers who have joined in this 
fine conservation scheme are organized in a vigorous fight against the 
pollution of the stream by manufacturing interests on its banks. Each 
