Why a small piece of land will help protect egret and heron rookery in Antioch Township
A small but important acquisition by the Lake County Forest Preserve District will provide further protection for a heron and egret rookery near Antioch.
Forest commissioners Wednesday agreed to buy 4.6 acres for $450,000 as an addition to the Lotus Country Conservation Preserve. The conservation preserve was created by the district in August 2024 with the announced purchase of 41 acres bordered by Antioch Township's Vern Thelen Park on the east and Grass Lake Elementary School to the south.
At the time, what was known as the Fogel property was regarded as an exception to the size of typical acquisitions due to significant ecological features, including what is said to be the largest heron and egret rookery in Lake County, important wetlands and wooded areas.
When the sale closes, the purchase approved Wednesday will be the second acquisition from Elliott W. Frank LLC and increase Lotus Country to about 80 acres.
The name is a reference to extensive lotus beds that drew visitors to the Chain O' Lakes area in the early 1900s. Lotus currently doesn’t grow in the preserve.
“This is a preserve that’s very difficult to add to. There’s not many places we can go,” said Ken Jones, director of land preservation. “This is a really important acquisition to protect the preserve.”
Frank LLC sold 34 acres to the district last year. It kept the piece where a home and barn are located at the northwest corner of Rena and Highland avenues, about a half-mile south of Grass Lake Road in unincorporated Antioch Township, but has opted to sell, Jones said.
“We had a relationship with the owners, and it was important to make a critical acquisition to the preserve,” he said.
Buildings that have no programmatic purpose for the district will be demolished.
It’s likely the largest acquisition the district will be able to make to expand the preserve for a while, Jones said.
Because of its sensitive features, Lotus Country will be owned and managed by the district but not be developed.
“If we were to put a parking lot and trails on this property, it would have a negative impact on the rookeries,” Jones said. “At this point we have no intention to do any development, only restoration.”
The expansion of Lotus Country will add protection for the rookery area within the preserve and improve staff access to the site, according to the district.
Besides protection, preserving the habitat surrounding the rookery provides opportunities for it to expand, said Pati Vitt, director of natural resources.
mzawislak@dailyherald.com