Preserving a Place for the Birds

Conservation Easement Protects 134 Pristine Acres Near Elizabeth
Habitat Safeguarded for Over 200 Plant and 127 Bird Species

In November of 2011 Grace Storch, a longtime Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation member, took a momentous step toward conserving land in Jo Daviess County. She voluntarily granted to JDCF a conservation easement on her property in rural Elizabeth, Illinois.

The conservation agreement provides habitat in perpetuity for over 100 bird species — several of them listed species. Special in Grace's eyes are the diminutive Henslow's sparrows, chimney swifts, barn swallows, and bluebirds.

Grace says, "Thanks to JDCF's expertise and patience, all went smoothly with the easement. A conservation easement is a 'forever' document, so there are a lot of decisions to be made. I even included a paragraph in the conservation document about keeping and maintaining the false chimneys I built for chimney swifts. Now I can relax, sit back and gaze out the window at the land I have preserved in our extraordinary county, while enjoying some tax benefits as well."

Conservation Guardians of Northwest Illinois

A Division of JDCF

"I must confess. A government forestry program I was enrolled in had expired. I did not renew. My real estate tax status changed, and I was paying more. I had to do something. Quite honestly, I didn't want to be forced back into a program that told me how to manage my property.

"After many discussions with Chris Kirkpatrick, JDCF Director of Land Protection, I realized a conservation easement best suited the desires for my property. With a conservation easement no one dictates anything about your land. YOU designate exactly what you want for the property, now, and in the future."

— Grace Storch