BYRON – The Byron Forest Preserve District and Perks Ranch have announced that they have swapped several acres of land around the Howard Colman Hall Creek Preserve located at 12749 North Weldon Road in northern Ogle County.
Doug Perks, owner of Perks Ranch and Byron Forest Preserve District Executive Director Todd Tucker finalized the land exchange on Aug. 20.
The Byron Forest Preserve District traded a 19 acre section of tillable land located on the west side of their Howard Colman Hall Creek Preserve for 21 acres owned by Perks Ranch that is made up of a mixture of pasture, oak savanna and limestone cliffs located along Hall Creek adjacent to the south boundary of the preserve.
“It is great to cooperate with local land owners to put some tillable agricultural land back into production and to protect some significant natural areas,” Tucker said. “It was wonderful to work with Doug Perks and the Perks Ranch staff on this project.”
The 281 acre Howard Colman Hall Creek Preserve was acquired by the Byron Forest Preserve District in September 2010. Earlier this year, 195 acres of the preserve was designated an Illinois Nature Preserve by the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission due to the high quality of the natural habitats found there. It is a superior example of a mature northern Illinois oak-hickory forest. Several species of rare and unusual woodland plants and birds are found there. The clear running Hall Creek cuts through the entire preserve and has created several steep dolomite limestone cliffs or dells.
The Howard Colman Hall Creek Preserve is bordered by the Natural Land Institute’s 93 acre Howard D. Colman Nature Preserve to the west. The Winnebago County Forest Preserve District’s 369 acre Severson Dells Nature Preserve is located just over the Winnebago County line to the northwest.
The Howard Colman Hall Creek Preserve has miles of scenic hiking trails and is open year round from dawn to dusk. For more information about Byron Forest Preserve District preserves and activities call 815 234-8535, Ext. 200 or visit the Byron Forest Preserve District website at www.byronforestpreserve.com.
