Kane Co. Forest Preserve Adds 220 Acres Of Rare Wetlands, Woodlands

KANE COUNTY, IL — The Forest Preserve District of Kane County has acquired 220 acres of rare wetlands and woodlands in Hampshire Township, forest preserve district officials said.

The two parcels along Brier Hill Road include an Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site, which is land recognized for its high-quality natural areas, endangered species habitat and ecological significance, according to forest preserve district officials. The land contains rare wetland ecosystems, including fen and sedge meadow, as well as never-plowed oak woodlands that provide important habitat for plants and wildlife.

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Forest Preserve District Executive Director Benjamin Haberthur said the condition of the land reflects generations of stewardship by the Hemmer family, who owned the land.

“Generation after generation of Hemmer made a living from but also protected the flourishing natural areas on which they lived,” Haberthur said.

Haberthur added that land records from the 19th century are difficult to decipher, but Hemmer family lore is that they settled "where the wagon broke down" in the 1840s.

“I’ve seen the Hemmer ownership on an 1860 map and others of that era, but legal records don’t tell the full story of who was living where, on the land. The records for the parcels the Forest Preserve District just protected have been recorded under Hemmer since at least 1920,” Haberthur said.

The district plans to restore natural areas and eventually add passive recreational amenities, including trails, a picnic shelter and a small parking area. The Forest Preserve District paid $3,141,826.92 for the two parcels, which adds 220 acres to its holdings and brings the district’s total protected land to 24,835 acres.