Lee and Ogle Counties Included in $1 Million IDNR Stewardship Grants

SPRINGFIELD  – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has awarded nearly $1 million in Natural Area Stewardship grants, including $27,824 to The Nature Conservancy for projects in Lee and Ogle counties to purchase a tractor for fire break maintenance and invasive species control. Other northern Illinois recipients include the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation with $75,130 for equipment to support mound stewardship and prescribed fire, the Land Conservancy in McHenry County with $65,409 for invasive species and woody species management, the Natural Land Institute in Winnebago County with $20,000 for vegetation control, and the Conservation Foundation in La Salle and Kane counties with $66,768 for invasive species removal and fire break installation. Additional grants were distributed across counties statewide, supporting 15 land trust programs focused on natural area preservation.