The Illinois Department of Natural Resources remains committed to allowing the collecting of Mazon Creek nodules at Mazonia-Braidwood SFWA (State Fishing and Wildlife Area). The purpose of the proposed changes is to streamline permitting, to better monitor both the resource and collecting, and to gather additional information about material collected. The changes are not meant to curtail collecting.

We anticipate NOT changing many aspects of the policy. Key points that we feel will remain the same include the following:

1. IDNR will continue to allow surface collecting of Mazon Creek Nodules from spoil piles (etc.) at Mazonia-Braidwood SFWA (including at Braidwood Cooling Lake and on the additional area acquired last year).

2. Collecting dates will remain the same as they have been.

3. Restrictions on off-road travel, where cars can go, etc. remain the same.

4. Restrictions on boats remain the same.

5. Prohibition of excavation and removal of vegetation remains the same.

6. Groups must still pre-register with site to arrange large field trips.

7. Collecting is allowed for non-commercial purposes only.

Changes are proposed for several aspects of the policy.

1. IDNR takes over permitting for all fossil collecting at the site.

2. IDNR establishes a one (1) 5-gallon bucket collecting limit per visit.

3. IDNR requests a report on results of collecting.

4. IDNR establishes a trial discing operation to see the effects on collecting and other FWA operations.

5. IDNR will maintain a database of the collecting results for scientific and resource management purposes.

1. Two types of fossil collecting permits will exist: Day Use and Long Term.

2. Day-Use Permits will be issued on-site for individuals seeking to collecting for themselves. Most likely, these permits will be issued at self-serve kiosks.

3. Long Term permits will be issued to academic units (such as universities, museums, clubs, etc.) that regularly bring groups to the site to collect. Depending on the disposition of fossils found and preferences on reporting; groups can, alternatively, have individuals fill out Day Use permits.

4. A draft Day-Use permit is available for comment.

5. Aspects of the Long Term permit systems are still being discussed. We need to further discuss this permit class with groups that might avail themselves of this option.

Draft Summary prepared by Rick Toomey (Illinois State Museum), October 20, 2000