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On the cover: Photographer Matt Sutton captured this crisp, moody photo of an eastern screech owl (Megascops asio) sleeping inside a tree cavity in a preserve. On average, these owls stand only 6.3–9.8 inches tall and weigh just 4.3–8.6 ounces. more than
31,000 acres are protected by the
lake county forest preserves .
BOARD of COMMISSIONERS PRESIDENT
A MESSAGE from
Angelo D. Kyle, Waukegan VICE PRESIDENT
ANGELO D. KYLE PRESIDENT LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES AKYLE@LAKECOUNTYIL.GOV
John Wasik, Grayslake TREASURER
Gina Roberts, Beach Park ASSISTANT TREASURER
As we reflect on 2022 and look to the new year, I am proud of everything the Forest Preserves accomplished during my second term as president. I’m deeply honored to begin a new two-year term. I can’t imagine a better way to serve the people of Lake County. The recent election has me thinking about the meaning of leadership, which is one of the Forest Preserves’ five core values. Napoleon said, “a leader is a dealer in hope.” It occurs to me how apt this vision of leadership is, for the Forest Preserves delivers hope every day. Preserving land, restoring native plants and wildlife, educating people of all ages—these are all acts of hope, for future generations and for the future of our natural world. We see other expressions of leadership in this issue of Horizons. Pati Vitt, director of natural resources, is the lead author of a peer-reviewed journal article about climate-resilient native seed. Director of Education Nan Buckardt was inducted into the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame, recognizing a remarkable career educating and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards. An award-winning restoration project at Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve (Long Grove) added 58 million gallons of floodwater storage. A donation of 133 acres at Sedge Meadow (Wadsworth)—part of a wetland mitigation bank— comes with a $165,000 endowment, which the Preservation Foundation will invest to ensure funding to care for the land in perpetuity. These are marks of an agency that is a recognized leader locally, regionally and nationally.
Marah Altenberg, Buffalo Grove Esiah Campos, Round Lake Beach Carissa Casbon, Lake Villa Jennifer Clark, Libertyville Mary Ross Cunningham, Waukegan Michael Danforth, Fox River Grove Sandy Hart, Lake Bluff Diane Hewitt, Zion J. Kevin Hunter, Ingleside Sara Frederick Knizhnik, Vernon Hills Ann B. Maine, Lincolnshire Paras Parekh, Highland Park Linda Pedersen, Antioch Adam Schlick, Wauconda Jessica Vealitzek, Hawthorn Woods EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ty Kovach
HORIZONS
VOLUME 31, ISSUE 4 Winter 2022 EDITOR AND DESIGNER
Jeanna Martinucci Cristino Horizons@LCFPD.org DESIGN ASSISTANCE
Costello Communications CONTRIBUTORS
Kim Mikus, Brett Peto, Rebekah Snyder PHOTOGRAPHY
Matt Sutton (cover), Punnya Naveen, John D. Kavc, Merlin D. Tuttle, Larry Reis, Robert Visconti, Bob London, Callie Klatt Golba, K~Dobbins, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Mike Borkowski, Alma Schrage, Joyce Dever, Tom Lally, Jeff Goldberg, Kara Gardner Photography, Isavel Gonzalez, Sherah G Photography, Jeanine Michna-Bales, Bob Callebert, Tim Elliott
BUFFALO CREEK
As you walk, sled, ski or snowshoe in your forest preserves this winter, I hope you’ll experience these picturesque pockets of nature with deeper appreciation for all the ways we embody this core value. Thank you for your continued support!
Paul Frank, Highland Park
SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, UPDATE ADDRESS: 847–968–3335 | Horizons@LCFPD.org Horizons is the quarterly publication of the Lake County Forest Preserve District. Subscriptions are free. Subscribers may also receive mailings from the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves. Photos and videos are periodically taken of people participating in Forest Preserve District programs and activities. All persons registering for Forest Preserve District programs/activities or using Forest Preserve District property thereby agree that any photo or video taken by the Forest Preserve District may be used by the District for promotional purposes including its website or agency social media, promotional videos, brochures, fliers and other publications without additional, prior notice or permission and without compensation to the participant.