Forest preserve drilling part of geological survey

Submitted by Forest Preserve District of Kane County

If you see drilling at the end of August at Freeman-Kame Forest Preserve, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County wants the public to know it’s merely an approved project by the Illinois State Geologic Survey.

The Forest Preserve District of Kane County has granted permission to ISGS to a take soil sample at the Gilberts preserve. Sampling work is scheduled to be performed Aug. 28-31. The project will not affect regular preserve hours, sunrise to sunset.

ISGS staff will use an auger drill rig to remove soil cores, about 1.75 inches in diameter. The soil will then be taken to the ISGS labs in Champaign, where they’ll be made part of the statewide core library.

Drilling will occur in the grass adjacent to the Freeman Road parking lot. A six-inch hole will be made by the drilling process using standard mud rotary techniques. Afterward, the hole will be plugged with bentonite chips, a swelling clay, a common well-sealing procedure. The procedures are the same that the ISGS has used for more than 30 years.

The public is asked to be mindful of the soil sampling project and to steer clear of any machinery in the grass area adjacent to the parking lot.

Any questions may be directed to the Natural Resources department at (630) 232-5980.