SR0745 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0745 LRB097 21278 KXB 68974 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is the policy of the State of Illinois to provide and maintain a healthful environment for the benefit of this and future generations; and

WHEREAS Through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, it is the State's mission is to manage, conserve, and protect Illinois' natural, recreational, and cultural resources, further the public's understanding and appreciation of those resources, and promote Illinois' natural resources for present and future generations; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, prepared by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, provides specific goals for protection of major habitats in the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division of Illinois, identifies specific action items to support the Forest, Farmland and Prairie, Wetlands, and Streams Campaigns, and identifies the Lake-McHenry Wetlands as a Conservation Opportunity Area containing rare wetland types and rare wetland and grassland species not found elsewhere in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The National Wildlife Refuge System is a national network of public lands managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife, and plants; and

WHEREAS, On March 21, 2012, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service released its environmental assessment of the proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge and recommended that a refuge consisting of core areas linked by corridors be established in McHenry County, Illinois and Walworth County, Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, The United States Fish and Wildlife Service goals for the proposed refuge are to:

(1) protect and enhance habitats for federal trust species and species of management concern with special emphasis on grassland dependent migratory birds and protection of wetlands and grasslands, and

(2) create opportunities for hunting and fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation, while promoting activities that complement the purposes of the refuge and other protected lands in the region, and

(3) promote science, education, and research through partnerships to inform land management decisions and encourage continued responsible stewardship of the natural resources of the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge; and

WHEREAS, The proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, which lies within the Lake McHenry Wetlands Conservation Opportunity Area, will provide habitat for at least 60 State-listed plant and animal species and support habitat protection goals identified for the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division of Illinois and Campaign action items identified in the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan; and

WHEREAS, Designation of the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge will serve to assist, protect, conserve, and further the management of the State's endangered and threatened species and their habitats, as well as the refuge's namesake, the tamarack tree, which is known as the "hackmatack" in at least one Native American language, is a rare remnant of the glacial history of Northern Illinois, and is found in the area of the proposed refuge; and

WHEREAS, Increased recreational opportunities from the creation of the refuge will help address child obesity and other pressing health conditions in Illinois where one in 5 Illinois children is obese and 62% of Illinois adults are overweight or obese; the refuge will complement efforts of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Chicago Wilderness to partner with organizations to promote outdoor play and recreation; and

WHEREAS, Children benefit from access to the outdoors in many ways, and the creation of the refuge will expand their opportunities to experience nature; studies show that when children spend time outdoors feelings of anxiety and depression decrease, concentration and performance at school improve, and an early appreciation and love of nature is fostered; young people who spend time in nature are also more likely to be strong advocates for the environment as adults; and

WHEREAS, Wildlife refuges are good for Illinois' economy, and outdoor recreation opportunities, such as boating, camping, fishing, hunting, picnicking, sightseeing, wildlife observation, swimming, and trail use, create a $3.2 billion annual economic impact in Illinois, supporting 33,000 jobs Statewide; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we support the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in its efforts to establish a new national wildlife refuge on the Illinois-Wisconsin border to be named the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor to represent the State of Illinois as a supporter of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts to establish the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge as appropriate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to work in partnership with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to make the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge a reality; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the President of the United States, Barack Obama, the Governor of the State of Illinois, the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, the Director of the Midwest Region of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Director of Natural Resources, and members of Illinois' congressional delegation.