The Geneva Lake Conservancy, a land trust and conservation advocacy organization serving the Geneva Lake area and Southern Walworth County, has reviewed preliminary plans by Aurora University for the preservation and conservation of Yerkes Observatory and its historic site on Geneva Lake, included in its proposal to the University of Chicago. We, including our professional staff, also anticipate being further consulted as planning moves forward.

The Conservancy considers the land conservation planning in Aurora's proposal to be responsible and realistic, given that some portions of the site must be monetized to meet the stated requirements of the University of Chicago.

Aurora is working hard and coordinating with the Conservancy to maximize overall preservation of this significant natural and historic property. While an ideal solution would be complete conservation of the woodlands, park and lakeshore, Aurora's approach is to maximize preservation in these areas, and plan environmentally sensitive development where required. Land protection agreements would be developed to permanently conserve targeted areas.

The Conservancy is a not-for-profit, member-supported, 501(c)(3) conservation organization, dedicated to promoting responsible stewardship of the region's land and water resources. It is affiliated with Gathering Waters, a Wisconsin alliance of land trusts, and with The Land Trust Alliance, a national organization dedicated to land conservation issues. The Conservancy currently holds or is in negotiation for approximately 20 voluntary land protection agreements, known as conservation easements, incorporating close to one thousand acres of land, in Southern Walworth County, Wisconsin.

The Geneva Lake Conservancy
P.O. Box 588
398 Mill Street
Fontana, WI 53125

The conservancy is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization supported by contributions and community volunteers.