Walnut’s new wildlife area

WALNUT — Residents of Walnut will soon have approximately 60 more acres of park district to enjoy. In January, the Bureau County Soil and Water Conservation District officially donated the land that was previously the Ross Wildlife Refuge. Clean-up crews have been working to prepare the site for public use and hope to have it open in June.

James Schoff of the Walnut Park District said, “We’re getting close; there’s still quite a bit of general clean-up. We’ve got some junk and scrap metal to remove. We’ll be establishing the parking area and will eventually be putting in some nature trails, so there’s more access to the other areas.”

The site hasn’t been open to the public since the 1980s, and the 23-acre pond will soon be providing ample opportunities for local anglers to test their skills.

“The Illinois DNR did a survey last summer, and the pond is in very good health. There’s bass and bluegill. It didn’t show any crappie, but I’ve heard they’re in there. The only thing that was recommended was stocking it with catfish to help keep the gizzard shad in check,” said Schoff.

Gizzard shad are an invasive small fish whose high consumptive demands can help collapse the ecosystem of which they’re a part.

No motorized boats will be allowed, but rowboats, canoes and kayaks will be welcome.

While the site will allow fishing, the property still carries an easement held by the Natural Land Institute (NLI), and hunting and trapping will not be allowed. The NLI is a non-profit organization serving as a regional land trust and has helped preserve and restore more than 16,000 acres of natural land in northern Illinois since 1958.

Along with the pond and the wooded areas, the site also features fields filled with native prairie grass and flowers and will provide visitors with opportunities to view Illinois wildlife in a natural habitat.

“It’s a great asset to the Walnut Park District and the local area,” Schoff said.

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