38 THES ACU DAU BO N@ Beg Me eel 
A Proposed Conservation Project 
While studying the thousands of migratory waterfowl at the 
Orland Wildlife Refuge near Orland Park last fall, I noticed that there 
was insufficient water in the south arm of the slough to make it 
attractive to ducks or to make food available to them. Upon investiga- 
tion I found that the outlet of the slough into the main body of water 
is only about ten or twelve feet wide. By placing an earth-fill dam 
about twenty-five or thirty feet long across the channel forming, in 
a natural manner, rapids not too steep for fish to ascend, the water 
level could be raised a foot or less, as seemed advisable. This would 
make a hundred acres or more of marsh available to the waterfowl. 
In the spring there is sometimes enough water in this area but 
a dam would insure a constant water level, promote the growth of 
aquatic duck-food plants, and make nesting less hazardous for water 
birds. At the present time there is not enough permanent water in 
the area to sustain fish and consequently the intermittent marsh con- 
stitutes a mosquito breeding place. Raising the water level would 
clear up this situation. 
In an interview with Robert Mann, Maintenance Superintendent 
of the Forest Preserves, it was pointed out that there are some sewers 
from Orland Park emptying into the slough at 143rd Street and that 
raising the water level might back up these sewers and also might 
flood some private property south of 148rd Street. Upon inquiry I 
was told that the town does not have a sanitary sewage system but 
that each house is supposed to have a septic tank, but probably does 
not, and that this creates some nuisance. I later visited the culvert 
under 143rd Street where the small stream forming the source of the 
slough passes under the road. Obviously the water contained untreated 
sewage. It appeared, however, that raising the water level one foot 
or less would do no damage. There is sufficient drop from any near-by 
houses so that if the drainage of tiles were interferred with, their 
outlets could be raised. The amount of private land that might be 
flooded would be very small and is apparently good for nothing else. 
On January 13 I had an opportunity to talk to the Orland Park 
Women’s Club, at the invitation of Mrs. George B. Ward, Conserva- 
tion Chairman of the 3rd District Federated Women’s Clubs. I was 
pleased to have this opportunity because I understood that many people 
of Orland Park were not in sympathy with the setting aside of the 
slough as a wildlife refuge and I felt that I could show them how it 
is, or could be, a great asset to their community. I suggested that 
by flooding the marsh which extends southward to the road on the 
north side of the village, large flocks of waterfowl could be brought 
practically into town, motorists would be able to see them from the 
road, and the refuge would become well known and attract many 
visitors. 
When the wild geese are at Jack Miner’s place in Kingsville, 
Ontario, more people cross the Ambassador Bridge from Detroit into 
