Say yes to open space in Kane

One of the most cost effective methods of protecting our water resources and drinking water is by preserving the lands along our creeks, streams and rivers. Few resources are as primary to our survival as clean water. If you have read articles on the effects of pollution, you are well aware of the millions of taxpayer dollars required to clean up a single river. Protecting watershed lands now is much cheaper than cleaning up polluted water later.

For about $1 per month, homeowners can help protect our streams and drinking water resources. The Forest Preserve District of Kane County wants to add open space, particularly along our vital county waterways. Our homes, driveways, roads and parking lots, have created more impervious surfaces. This means we can expect to see increases in stormwater runoff. Preserving open space for the future allows the stormwater to soak into the ground and be cleansed as nature intended.

Offering us a chance to pay a little for “an ounce of prevention,” the Kane County Forest Preserve will be holding a small Land Acquisition and Preserve Improvement Referendum on April 5 for $30 million. This would allow us to permanently protect an additional 2,000 acres of our natural areas and watersheds. And, now that land prices are at their lowest in decades, now is the time to purchase land from willing sellers.

We need to remember that forest preserves not only provide recreational opportunities, they also help ensure a clean water supply and control the effects of stormwater runoff. I urge voters to vote “yes” April 5 to help our Forest Preserve District acquire more critical open space in Kane County and help keep our water clean.

Charlie Zine

Conservation Chairman

Valley of the Fox Sierra Club Group

Aurora