CONGRATS-IDNR/CARLSON PRESERVE

104th Regular Session Introduced by Sue Rezin

The bill commemorates the Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve and its 50-year conservation value, highlighting public education, stewardship, and Illinois’ nature preserves system.

Resolution Adopted

Summary of SR 785 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)

Purpose and Intent

This Senate Resolution acknowledges and congratulates the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) on the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve.

It situates the preserve within the broader framework of Illinois’ nature preserves program, created under the Illinois Nature Preserves System and the Illinois Nature Preserves Act, to safeguard areas of natural, scientific, educational, and ecological value.

Key Provisions and Content

The resolution:

Recognizes the establishment of Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve in LaSalle County (originally established in 1976) to protect young forest, bluffs, and Vermilion River stream communities in the Grand Prairie Section.
Provides background on who Margery C. Carlson was — a pioneering conservation advocate, the first full-time female professor at Northwestern University, and a founder/early leader of the Illinois chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
Highlights the ecological significance of the preserve, including:
Eroding bluff plant communities representative of the Vermilion River region.
Habitat value for diverse flora and fauna, including over 75 species of flowering herbaceous plants (examples: forked aster, bottle gentian) and wildlife such as deer, beavers, and red foxes.
Emphasizes opportunities the preserve provides for public nature observation, education, and experiencing bluff and forest communities characteristic of the Vermilion River corridor.
Acknowledges and thanks local partners, community members, conservation advocates, and supporting organizations (e.g., Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and IDNR) for the preserve’s stewardship over the past 50 years.

The resolution frames the preserve as a valuable natural resource contributing to public health, environmental quality, and Illinois’ natural heritage.

Who or What Is Affected

Primary Focus: The Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve in LaSalle County and its ongoing management by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Broader Impact: Reinforces recognition of the Illinois Nature Preserves system and highlights the importance of conservation, education, and stewardship supported by state agencies and partner organizations.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Status: Filed with the Secretary and referred to Assignments on May 12, 2026.

Legislative nature: A ceremonial resolution, serving to honor and publicly acknowledge the milestone rather than to enact new policy or allocate resources.

Sponsor: Co-sponsor: Sue Rezin.

Potential Impact

Public acknowledgment of the preserve’s 50-year dedication may bolster awareness and public appreciation for Illinois’ nature preserves.

May enhance support for ongoing conservation education and partnerships associated with the preserve.

No changes to law, funding, or regulatory authority are enacted by this resolution; its effect is commemorative and aspirational, signaling continued commitment to conservation and stewardship.