~@° Conservation C-0-N-9-r-e@-S-S DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATIONS DEPOSITORY JUL 28 1995 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN ype Director ASSEMBLY OF Notice Cite, iAos, sDieS eeD i iatr DELEGATES October 2, 1994 1 WW DNRO DUG TION ese iiinedisasds sacdencedsntccseccdcncecsncscscccccoscecescsocccsesensccecssscossucs I POE CRON Siececccccuncccscocccccstcsesceccaccdecedadsatecsccenscnenauscceniaccnaccnes eascsnesnec e II OUTDOOR RECREATION COMMITTEE Note: This report contains the Department of Conservation's analysis of each recom- mendation from Conservation Congress II, based upon agency review of the complete recommendation from the Congress committees and approved by the Assembly of Delegates. Those recommendations were presented to Conservation Director Brent Manning at the close of the Congress and were distributed to the public at that time. Copies of the complete recommendations can be obtained by calling 217/782-4963 or by writing to Conservation Congress, Illinois Department of Conservation, 524 S. Second St., Room 510, Springfield, IL 62701-1787. EDUCATION COMMITTEE EDEN) ccccccceccccccorcsssesersons Diietecescesnasscerecoscsccenstensceese FCOCCOLOSIOCU III Acer PILI ILLITE. 20 |8 D) e ococeosncenacdoosdocnda000 Co00000 SOC EOOOCDEe DLOE ETOC OETOOOIHCDOOBOGEEECA EE i ddvedusdeece dewes seacene seeder ses ne rae pesaaes 21 ED aSheccccccccostesscoscess BERD OBCUCIOUCCOLL COREE LOE EEE DECC OULU COL CUCBICLORCLCEL LEO COLAEEECAD? ECRDEERO RODE ETO Su ScLeRaacn 22 ED aairccsccssececsscccccccssccscsessorssres SEO CCBCHOOCOOOCOOOLO BBCCRECLEOHESEOCOO OCCUCHOOUCELIOCCOROHOE COBCOONOEEC LEOECO C 23 |P O YP ocx 5000000000000000000060 0 Beoquooconoseonco0acoNe€ Hp EDCOLOICOIOC =2 00000000000 AOICIEO LOI III SOIL 24 |FO S Jepaadoo000 so90600e0000000000000009 500000000 SEQOEEOAOIODECIRNOOGOS 2000000000000 Seeeeccaces SOL ECORI DEC SECOCERO CEOS 25 |8 7 /oaacconous00000¢ £1000000000000 Q6DI0D OD0ROI0TEO0SOD0SCH0BDO0ERI0ORO0OSO S pececasenede SEOOCCOSHOOCOUCEOOL ICRC TERLOCOCOCCLICEEA 26 |FE S ce cqoaconocnsaqsad0d00000000000000000040000 Mactss a vasoeses g000d000C S0O0E0000000000 000005050 oR ODE CROSOCICHUCACHOSCODAEARRCEERER C7 7 | APPENDIX Executive Committee ........... eialesiees Meee eccesos scasauesveuse wolgdsie sue soe saeee coucossesccdccuecccteecccreccsesseoneee 28 Statewide Delegates ...........::cccsscccssseeeesseecesreeeenseccntsessesssesessscesecersesesnsseccnsseneneseseseseneeen® 29 Regional Delegates....................+++00+ BERRUCECECOOOTGOOOOGOGS shancsdenccuenecescosesscatccsacessccesccsecceeeneeren 30 Committee Staff ........... 660000000006 Ssanesceececesecees 3600886000000000000000 Reseda cnuececeearcnsesescenerecadenseecaeaeae 32 Facilitators ..............cscccceceeees Rosereccescess dees acescecccesesscsess soscdecdnctasess seesesecscscssccccsctescesesecestenee 34 The Illinois Department of Conservation receives Federal financial assistance and there- fore must comply with the Fed- eral anti-discrimination laws. In compliance with the Illinois Human Rights Act, the IIlinois Constitution, Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, and the U.S. Constitution, the Illinois Department of Conservation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, na- tional origin, age or disability. If you ieve you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, please contact the Equal Em- loyment Opportunity Officer, epartment of Conservation, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL. 62701-1787, 217/782-7616 TDD 217/782-9175), or the ffice of Human Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. 20240. Department of Conservation information is available to the hearing impaired by calling DOC's Telecommunications Device for the Deaf: 217/782- 9175. The Illinois Bell Relay Number is 800/526-0844. Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois Printed on Recycled Paper Conservation Congress is an unprecedented constituency outreach effort to bring together representatives of all the interest groups that the Department of Conservation serves. The process provides an opportunity for the constituents to recommend actions to address issues of critical importance to constituents. Caucuses are held in each of the Department's five administrative regions. Constituent group representatives identify and prioritize issues to be addressed by the Congress. Potential solutions to those issues also are generated at the caucuses. Seventy delegates are elected to represent regional interests at the Congress, and 48 groups are invited by Director Brent Manning to name a delegate to represent that group's interests at the Congress — for a total of 118 delegates. Issues are assigned to one of six work teams, composed of statewide and regional delegates and representatives of groups that participated in the regional caucuses. These teams refine and elaborate potential solutions generated at the caucuses. Work teams prioritize the rec- ommendations, which are then assigned to one of six committees at Conservation Congress. Conservation Congress convenes in Springfield. The weekend is ' modeled on the legislative process, giving constituents an opportunity to be directly involved in governmental decision-making. Delegates are assigned to committees where they review work team recommen- dations — accepting, rejecting or amending those recommendations and prioritizing final recommendations, which are voted on during the Assembly of Delegates on Sunday. On the final day of the Congress, delegates assemble in the House of Representatives chamber to vote on committee recommendations. The final recommendation package is presented to the Director for review and implementation when possible. The first Conservation Congress convened Feb. 5, 1993. Thirty- nine recommendations were passed during the Assembly of Delegates. Many of those recommendations have been implemented, including holding a second Conservation Congress Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 1994, where 26 recommendations were passed. This booklet contains the recommendation statements from the 26 recommendations from Conservation Congress II, along with the Department's responses. The voting record on each recommendation is shown. Delegates are listed by last name only, but you can further identify the delegates in the Appendix. Only "Yes" votes are recorded, delegates either voted for a recommendation or did not vote. Many volunteer hours are involved in Conservation Congress, from both the staff and the constituents. That effort has resulted in a better understanding by all participants of the importance of planning for the future of our natural resources and the recreational opportunities associated with those resources. The Department of Conservation thanks all who participated. II RESOLUTION I Appreciation WHEREAS, Director Brent Manning has taken a futuristic concept and developed it into a model for the entire United States, and WHEREAS, Claudia Emken has tirelessly brought together the many concepts and constituency groups with a contagious enthusiasm which spreads to all who meet her, and WHEREAS, the many IDOC staff members have given of their own time not only during this week but for the last 18 months, and WHEREAS, Executive Committee Chairman John Schmitt and his committee have given of their time and energies since the last Conservation Congress, The delegates of the 1994 Conservation Congress do hereby salute and applaud your dedication and _ overt efforts to promote harmony, constructive thoughts and actions of our many and varied constituency groups. The plants, animals and citizens of Illinois will reap the benefits not only today but in the future years to come. RESOLUTION II Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie We, the delegates of IIlinois' Conservation Congress II, composed of more than 400 constituency groups, representing the 11.5 million citizens of Illinois, and dedicated to natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation provision, applaud Congressman George Sangmeister and Governor Jim Edgar and join with them in support of establishing the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie on the site of the Joliet Army Arsenal Plant in Illinois. WHEREAS, Illinois is currently ranked 48th among the 50 states in per capita public open space, and WHEREAS, creation of this national grassland would restore up to 19,000 acres of prairie and preserve habitat for 16 state endangered and threatened species, 17 species on the Illinois watch list, and five federal candidate species, and WHEREAS, loss of tallgrass prairie has been greater than the decline in acreage of any other major ecosystem in North America and the Joliet Arsenal presents a unique opportunity to restore mow-rare native tallgrass prairie ecosystems and to preserve the region's biodiversity, and WHEREAS, a public-private partnership has been formed to oversee site cleanup and to explore innovative technologies for environmental remediation that could improve environmental cleanup efforts nationally, and WHEREAS, creation of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is an unparalleled conservation opportunity for the nation and particularly for the more than eight million citizens that live within 50 miles of the proposed national prairie, BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that it is in the best interest of the citizens of the State of Illinois and the United States of America that Congress expeditiously authorize the conversion of the Joliet Army Arsenal Plant to the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. RESOLUTION III Conservation 2000 We, the delegates of Illinois' Conservation Congress II, composed of more than 400 constituency groups, representing the 11.5 million citizens of Illinois, and dedicated to natural resources conservation and outdoor recreation provision, applaud Governor Jim Edgar's Conservation 2000 initiative. WHEREAS, the Governor Edgar's Water Resources and Land Use Priorities Task Force, Conservation Congress I, and other study reports and study groups have identified many of the problems addressed by the Gees 2000 initiative as critical to the conservation of the state's natural resources, -BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that it is in the best interest of the citizens of the State of Illinois that Governor Edgar and the General Assembly pass, the broad based conservation initiative, Conservation 2000. OUTDOOR RECREATION COMMIT. INCREASE HUNTING, FISHING AND TRAPPING AREAS (OR-1) Recommendation: In order to increase hunting, fishing and trapping on existing properties and provide addi- tional areas for hunting, fishing and trapping, we recom- mend the following: 1. Expand IDOC's educational efforts to better inform the general public, and Illinois’ school children in particular, about the principles of conservation and wildlife management, placing special emphasis upon the importance of responsibly regulated hunting, fishing and trapping. Accomplish this through the development of a "Conserva- tion Syllabus" available to all school children in Illinois, and through an expansion of youth hunting and fishing seminars, clinics and classes at IDOC sites using volunteer instructors where possible. To OR-1I VOTING further support IDOC's efforts toward teaching the youth of Illinois Delegates in favor (94): proper hunting ethics, non-hunting youth at least 10 years of age should be permitted to accompany their parent(s) or guardian on Adelmann, Aitken, Armer, hunts at IDOC-controlled sites. Baker, Bamberger, Barkley, 2. Initiate cooperative efforts between IDOC and federal, state, Beck, Becker, Beezhold, Bishop, Black, Bower, county and local entities to survey existing publicly-owned properties to identify areas for expanded hunting, fishing and trapping oppor- Brueckner, Buenting, Bul- lard, Bunt, Byrns, Caveny, tunities as part of a responsible wildlife management plan. Coates, Crawtord, Desulis, 3. Restore the IDOC Heavy Equipment Crew (HEC) to pre-1992 Dirksen, Eichellcraut, Erick- operational levels and expand as needed to ensure that fish and son, Eyre, Funk, Gabriel, wildlife habitat restoration and recreation projects are completed Gale, Garner, Graeff, Gross, efficiently and cost-effectively. Gruber, Guthrie, Haertel, Hagan, Hamberg, Hambly, IDOC RESPONSE: Harney, Hartman, Hooser, 1. The newest education kit, "Resource Conservation,” focuses on Hunsaker, Jacobs, Jessen, Johnson, Jorstad, Keitzman, resource management and potential use of Illinois’ renewable natural resources, including hunting, fishing and trapping. Discussions on the Kielsmeier, Konsis, Kozicky, Kutska, Lamb, Lechner, "Conservation Syllabus" have occurred with the Outdoor Recreation Lehman, Ludwig, Lymen- Committee chair to further clarify the intent of this part of the stull, McAllister, McFarlane, recommendation. Mickelson, Montgomery, R. Currently, non-hunting youth are allowed to accompany their Morris, Nix, Noe, Norman, parents or guardians on most IDOC managed sites. Provisions will be Padovan, Peach, Pientka, made for non-hunting youth under 16 to accompany a supervising Platt, Potts, Reardanz, adult on duck, goose, deer and turkey permit areas. At intensively Roehll, Rogers, Rolfe, Ro- hunted IDOC dove permit sites, young hunters can be afield as part mano, Schmitt, Schreiber, of the hunter quota. A pilot program will be considered which will Shimp, Skelly, Sliwa, Smith- cut back the quota at controlled pheasant hunting areas, one or two son, peas Spale, Spauee days during the season, and allow non-hunting youth to accompany Sparr, J. Stewart, Struck, a supervising adult. The Department will continue its special youth Tetzlaff, Trimble, Turner, hunts for doves, pheasants, upland game, geese and ducks and will Walker, Walters, Werthwein, encourage youth to participate in these hunts. White, Yanor, Young. 2. The Division of Land Acquisition recently completed an inven- Delegates not voting (23): tory of state-owned sites. A pilot project on habitat enhancement and Caffee, Campbell, Carey, wildlife refuge is under consideration on Department of Corrections Deneen, Dickey, Dougherty, property in Vandalia. While hunting, fishing or trapping on Correc- Falco, Marquardt, Martin, tions’ property is not permitted, opportunities will be expanded in the Mills, Mittage, A. Morris, area through improved habitat. Additional opportunities will be Penberthy, Roth, Schwartz, pursued with the Departments of Corrections and Agriculture. Siegner, Silberhorn, Smith, 3. Restoration and expansion of the Heavy Equipment Program is L. Stewart, Stumpf, Veugeler, a high priority of the agency. Investment strategies have been shared Weirich, Yacalavitch. with constituency leaders and have been endorsed. RESTORE AND EXPAND OR-2 VOTING THE CONTROLLED PHEASANT Delegates in favor (90): HUNTING PROGRAM (OR-2) Adelmann, Aitken, Armer, Bamberger, Barkley, Beck, Recommendation: Restore and expand the controlled Becker, Beezhold, Bishop, pheasant hunting program on the 16 state sites to the Black, Bower, Brueckner, Buenting, Bunt, Byrns, Caf- pre-1990 levels. Raise the daily fee to reflect production fee, Campbell, Caveny, Craw- costs, but not to exceed $20 by 1996 or $25 by the year ford, Deneen, Desulis, 2000. Dickey, Dirksen, Eichellxraut, IDOC RESPONSE: Erickson, Eyre, Funk, Gale, Garner, raeff, Gross, Results from the privatization program will be evaluated before a Gruber, Guthrie, Haertel, final decision on the controlled pheasant hunting program will be Hagan, Hamberg, Hambly, made. Harney, Hooser, Hunsaker, Jacobs, Jessen, Jorstad, Keitzman, Kielsmeier, Kon- sis, Kozicky, Kutska, Lamb, Lechner, Lehman, Ludwig, Lymenstull, McAllister, McFarlane, Montgomery, R. Morris, Nix, Noe, Norman, Padovan, Peach, Pientka, Platt, Potts, Reardanz, Roehll, Rogers, Romano, Roth, Schmitt, Silberhorn, Skelly, Sliwa, Smith, Smith- son, Spada, Spale, Sparr, J. Stewart, Struck, Stumpf, Tetzlaff, Trimble, Walker, Walters, Werthwein, White, Yanor, Young. Delegates not voting (27): Baker, Bullard, Carey, Coates, Dougherty, Falco, Gabriel, Hartman, Johnson, Mar- quardt, Martin, Mickelson, Mills, Mittage, A. Morris, Penberthy, Rolfe, Schreiber, Schwartz, Siegner, Shimp, Spaniol, L. Stewart, Turner, Veugeler, Weirich, Yaca- lavitch. REVISE THE DEER PERMIT AND PERMITS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES SYSTEMS (OR-3) Recommendation: Revise the deer permit and disabled hunting permit systems by: 1. Providing over-the-counter deer archery permits at selected sites and making them a one-time combination purchase of one either-sex permit plus one antlerless only permit. 2. Requiring all bowhunters less than 16 years of age to have completed a bowhunting safety course similar to that in Iowa, as instructors and materials become available. 3. Expanding the number of sites in the Quality Deer Program and doing a detailed study of the efficacy of this program. OR-3 VOTING 4. Expanding crossbow hunting opportunities for persons with disabilities to other species such as small game and upland game. At Delegates in favor (59): the same time, assure that this privilege is not abused by listing the Armer, Barley, Beck, Becker, disability and expiration date of the condition on the permit. Beezhold, Black, Bower, Brueckner, Buenting, Bunt, IDOC RESPONSE: Byrns, Carey, Civeny Coates, Deneen, Desulis, 1. Aproposal for over-the-counter archery deer permit sales is under Dickey, Dirksen, Eichellcraut, consideration. The number and type of permits issued will be based Erickson, Gale, Garner, on herd status, population objectives and hunter success rates. Gross, Hagan, Hamberg, 2. The IDOC will continue to support and encourage bowhunter Harney, Hooser, Hunsaker, education on a volunteer basis. Due to budget constraints, it will not Jacobs, Johnson, Jorstad, be mandatory at this time. Keitzman, Kielsmeier, 3. The Joliet Army Arsenal and Heidecke Lake will be added to the Lymenstull, McAllister, Quality Deer Program. It will take several years to see significant McFarlane, Montgomery, R. results of such a program at the local level. Morris, Nix, Noe, Padovan, 4. Currently, crossbows can be used by individuals with permanent Platt, Potts, Reardanz, Ro- disabilities which prevent that person from using a bow and arrow to ers, Romano, Silberhorn, hunt deer; there is no expiration date. The Department recognizes kelly, Smithson, Spada, that this issue continues to be a controversy among constituent Sper Sparr, J. Stewart, groups, however it will be further analyzed. etzlaff, Trimble, Walker, Walters, White, Young. Delegates not voting (58): Adelmann, Aitken, Baker, Bamberger, Bishop, Bullard, Caffee, Campbell, Crawford, Dougherty, Eyre, Falco, Funk, Gabriel, Graeff, Gruber, Guthrie, Haertel, Hambly, Hartman, Jessen, Konsis, Kozicky, Kutska, Lamb, Lechner, Lehman, Ludwig, Marquardt, Martin, Mickel. son, Mills, Mittage, A. Mor- ris, Norman, Peach, Penber- thy, Pientka, Roehll, Rolfe, Roth, Schmitt, Schreiber, Schwartz, Siegner, Shimp, Sliwa, Smith, Soale. L. Ste- wart, Struck, Stumpf, Turner, Veugeler, Weirich, Werthwein, Yacalavitch, ]] Yanor. | Se UNIFORM SYSTEM FOR RESERVING OR-4 VOTING CAMP SITES (OR-4) Delegates in favor (98): Adelmann, Aitken, Armer, Recommendation: The Illinois Department of Conserva- Baker, Bamberger, Barkley, tion should develop a uniform system for reserving both Beck, Becker, Beezhold, individual and group camp sites at the facilities under its Bishop, Black, Bower, operation or the operation of its concessionaires. Brueckner, Buenting, Bul- lard, Bunt, Byrns, nice IDOC RESPONSE: Campbell, Coates, Deneen, Desulis, Dirksen, Eichell- A camping work group, composed of DOC staff, has been assigned raut, Erickson, Eyre, Falco, to look at peeues and expanding the current camping reservation Gale, Garner, Graeff, Gross, system, changes to be implemented in early 1996. Gruber, Haertel, Hagan, Hamberg, Hambly, Harney, Hooser, Hunsakeér, Jacobs, Jessen, Johnson, Jorstad, Keitzman, [Gelsmeier, [on- sis, Kozicky, Kutska, Lamb, Lechner, Lehman, Ludwig, Lymenstull, Marquardt, McAllister, McFarlane, Mickelson, Mittage, Montgomery, R. Morris, A. Morris, Nix, Noe, Norman, Padovan, Peach, Pientka, Platt, Potts, Reardanz, Roehll, Rogers, Rolfe, Ro- mano, Roth, Schmitt, Schreiber, Schwartz, Shimp, Silberhorn, Skelly, Sliwa, ani Smithson, Spada, Spale, Sparr, Struck, Stumpf, Ptzlatt, Trimble, Turner, Walker, Walters, Werthwein, White, Yanor, Young. Delegates not voting (19): Carey, Caveny, Crawford, Dickey, Dougherty, Funk, Gabriel, Guthrie, Hartman, Martin, Mills, Penberthy, Siegner, Spaniol, J. Stewart, L. Stewart, Veugeler, Weirich, Yacalavitch.