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Big Rock Creek vs. Hastert Highway


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The fall issue of Chicago Wilderness magazine has a special report on the clash between suburban sprawl and nature. Of course nature comes out second best. The new Prairie Parkway will cross Big Rock Creek 5 times. The authors note the degradation of Blackberry Creek because of urbanization and contrast that body of water with the pristine Big Rock Creek.BRC is listed as a class A stream.The article has a neat picture of a fisherman with a smallmouth. If you have not fished this "secret" little gem, you had better do it soon. As the article states: "The highway will degrade stream health, destroy the bucolic character of the area, and diminish the quality of outdoor recreational opportunities."

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Guest rich mc

living out this way and getting feedback from farmers, this is what i get from them. they agree that a highway is needed... but not thruthe best farmland in the area. most farmers just want them to widen rt 47 or build it along side it. not a few miles west. from plans i heard mentioned there would be few entry/exit ramps. there was even talk of it being moved to rt 23 by waterman, this was due to the possible indian casino /resort. the indians are having trouble getting the property listed under the sovereign nation statis. rich

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I'd have to say the main reason this area has been chosen is who holds land along the creek. Rumor had it close to ten years ago that a certain house rep bought land out there in case this road would eventually go in. I'm not to sure if there is truth to it or not.

It's to bad that a park could not be put up along the whole creek area instead of a highway. Either way the amount of people moving into this area is amazing. A Highway could be used in the area but also outdoor rec areas are going to be needed just as much. Hopefully the same people that got together and shut down the nascar track in the area will get together and stop this as well.

As for the fishing in this creek it is not to bad for a creek. I personally always fished the little rock creek west of it though. Actually all the creeks that cross galena or chicago road are not to bad in areas.

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Hi ISA Guys,

 

If you wanted to know who owns the adjacent land around this area try to find a county plat map. I got one years ago for Will County through the Farm Bureau. Unfortunately, many times land is bought in "trust" and then you won't know. It is rumured that many of Mayor Daley's cronies bought land near Peotone for the same reasons!

 

Mark O'Donnell

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  • 1 month later...
The fall issue of Chicago Wilderness magazine has a special report on the clash between suburban sprawl and nature. Of course nature comes out second best. The new Prairie Parkway will cross Big Rock Creek 5 times. The authors note the degradation of Blackberry Creek because of urbanization and contrast that body of water with the pristine Big Rock Creek.BRC is listed as a class A stream.The article has a neat picture of a fisherman with a smallmouth. If you have not fished this "secret" little gem, you had better do it soon. As the article states: "The highway will degrade stream health, destroy the bucolic character of the area, and diminish the quality of outdoor recreational opportunities."

 

I've been sending information about our concerns and efforts to the govenor via email. I simply cut and paste then send. I also know that Dennis Hastert has made more than 3 million dollars on the sale of the surrounding property in order to build the road. Currently, he is under investigation.

 

 

It seems the cycle of destruction never ends...people destroy natural resources in order to make money...one way or another. Which is why I joined the ISA...but we don't have the political power to really stop things like this from happening. Any non-members who are reading this I encourage you to join the ISA! And for members who have read this...please write to your state representatives!!!

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  • 2 weeks later...

There is some good news on this front. The County Forest District has purchased 117 acres adjacent to Big Rock Creek by Jericho Road. The proposed road has been removed from this area. There was an article in the Tribune about this a few days ago.

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