Ill. Admin. Code tit. 8 , 700, Appendix D, A Agricultural Land Preservation Policy Statement and Cooperative Agreement

• Library: Illinois Administrative Code
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 52, December 29, 2023
• Citation: Ill. Admin. Code tit. 8 , 700, Appendix D, A
• Year: 2023

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Conservation (DOC) has stewardship responsibilities for conserving and managing the aquatic, wildlife and forest resources of the state; preserving and protecting nature preserves, endangered species, historic, cultural, and archaeological resources; acquiring, developing and operating state parks and other outdoor recreation facilities; and providing a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities for Illinois citizens (see 8 Ill. Adm. Code 700.Appendix D: Exhibit B). In carrying out these varied responsibilities, the DOC acquires and manages land, develops both site specific plans and statewide comprehensive recreation and natural resource plans, administers grant programs, reviews environmental impacts of proposed projects, and provides technical assistance regarding conservation practices.

The DOC is a major land-holding agency, and as such, a potential impact of DOC programs, and operations on agricultural land conversion is through land acquisition. The types of lands of greatest interest to the DOC for acquisition include areas with unique natural resources, significant fish and wildlife habitat values, scenic qualities and recreation potential. In general, land currently in agricultural production is not the type of land desired by the DOC; however, lands acquired by the Department may have the potential for agricultural use. To meet its statutory responsibilities, the DOC must give highest priority to its programs for the protection of the state's natural, cultural and recreational resources. Therefore, the DOC will continue to emphasize conservation of these resources in acquisition, permit review and other programs.

In many cases, land acquisition by the DOC has a positive impact on agriculture. Management practices are carried out to conserve the soil and thus prevent soil erosion. Committing the land to open space maintains the land's potential for future agricultural use. The same options would not be available for lands converted to housing developments, industrial complexes or other uses where soils have been severely disturbed or covered with asphalt and concrete.

BACKGROUND

During the six fiscal years, FY 1981 - FY 1986, the DOC purchased or provided grants for the purchase of 13,893 acres of land. Of this acreage, undefinedDefinitions20.1 % was cropland, 2.1 % was pastureland, 41.5 % was forestland, and 36.3 % was other land (old fields, urbanlands, water bodies, brushlands, and prairie, etc.).

In FY 86, the DOC was responsible for approximately 12% of the total estimated 32,212 acres of Illinois farmland which was purchased and converted or otherwise influenced by an action of any of the 9 state capital development agencies that same fiscal year. It should be noted, however, that not all agricultural land which was purchased by the DOC was actually converted to non-agricultural uses. Some agricultural land purchased by the DOC continued to be managed for agricultural purposes.

As of June 30, 1986, the DOC owned and managed a total of 358,103 acres of land. In calendar year 1986 the DOC leased out 17,066 acres for farming. In addition, significant acres were planted in crops by the DOC. These farmed areas include lands producing food and cover for wildlife, and lands the DOC may develop at some time in the future, but in the interim remain in crop production.

AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION POLICY

The Illinois Department of Conservation's Agricultural Land Preservation Policy has been developed in response to the Farmland Preservation Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, Ch. 5, par. 1301 et seq.). The Department of Conservation (DOC) recognizes the need to prevent farmland from being unnecessarily converted to non-farm uses. Accordingly, DOC will fully comply with the Farmland Preservation Act by planning, adopting and implementing a policy to minimize the conversion of agricultural land while at the same time fulfilling its statutory mission.

Further, the DOC will cooperate with the Illinois Department of Agriculture (DOA) in protecting Illinois' farmland from unnecessary conversion by participating on the Inter-Agency Committee on Farmland Preservation, and by adhering to the Cooperative Working Agreement with the DOA. Any conversion of agricultural land by DOC will follow the intent of this Agricultural Land Preservation Policy and the DOA-DOC Cooperative Working Agreement.

Following is the DOC's Agricultural Land Preservation Policy as it pertains to various agency functions.

LAND ACQUISITION

Acquisition of land by DOC has the greatest potential impact on agriculture. Therefore, it will be the policy of the DOC to minimize acquisition of Class I, II, and III lands and to strongly consider less-than-fee-simple acquisition. Further, for any DOC acquisition project, the acreage in Class I through VIII soils will be determined, if possible, and this information weighed in the decision-making process.

The current DOC acquisition program comprises several components or sub-programs:

1. Natural Area Acquisition

An important part of the DOC land acquisition program is acquisition of natural areas - areas of land and water that closely reflect presettlement conditions. These areas include forests, prairies, wetlands endangered species habitats, geologic areas, and other areas with unique natural qualities. While these lands may have the potential for agricultural use if they were clearcut, drained and plowed, they represent the most unique and least disturbed natural lands in the state and, therefore, should be preserved in their natural condition. Because only .07 of one percent of Illinois' landscape remains as it was at the time of settlement, the need to protect these few areas becomes most apparent.

The DOC's acquisition of natural areas will focus on acquiring those areas identified on the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (a comprehensive study of the entire state, carried out between 1975 and 1978 locating 1,089 remaining natural areas statewide), or those areas that meet the requirements to be included in the Inventory, e.g., endangered and threatened species habitat, which is seriously...