Conservation District Land Acquisition Update

In 2007, the citizens of McHenry County approved a $73 million bond referendum for McHenry County Conservation District to protect open space, restore wildlife habitat and make improvements to sites and trails. The District’s goal is to preserve approximately 4,500 acres of remaining high-quality natural areas, including significant wetlands, habitat for threatened and endangered species, as well as creating buffers and links to existing sites. Eighty six percent of the referendum monies or $62.5 million is dedicated toward this goal.

The District’s land acquisition philosophy is to negotiate with willing sellers to create larger core preserves and greenways for greater sustainability of plant and animal species.

As of January 2010, the District owns or manages over 23,000 acres with 28 sites open to the public.  Since the voter approved 2007 referendum, the District has protected an additional 2,611 acres.

To date, there is $16 million remaining that is dedicated toward future land protection measures. In addition, over the life of the bonds, an additional $5 million in interest income will be realized and dedicated toward additional land acquisition. Given these facts and the current market, the District expects to exceed their initial goal of acquiring 4,500 acres as promised in the voter approved 2007 referendum.

Algonquin Township - December 2009, 31.6 acres was acquired on the east side of Randall Road, adjacent Lake in the Hills Fen Conservation Area.

Alden Township - January 2008, 192 acres was acquired north of Route 173, adjacent the Alden Sedge Meadow Conservation Area.

Burton Township - July 2008, the District received 7.4 acres as a gift. The property is contiguous and just north of the District’s Nippersink Canoe Base Conservation Area, south of Main Street. The area is predominately sedge meadow and wetlands.

Coral Township - October 2008, 106 acres were added adjacent to Coral Woods Conservation Area, bringing the District’s property line to Maple Street on the west side and expanding the site to a total of 640 acres.

• August 2009 - A 100-acre parcel was purchased. Located south of Route 20, on the north side of Coral Woods Conservation Area, this parcel will add to the existing 675-acre site.

  

Dorr Township - April 2008 - The District purchased 5.5 acres located on the Southeast corner of Route 120 and Thompson Road and will become part of the existing 219-acre Boone Creek Conservation Area which is not yet open to the public. 

Dunham Township - March 2009, the District closed on a 4.54 acre parcel located across the street from Rush Creek  Conservation Area on the southeast corner of Windy Hill Rd. and Rte 14 within the Kishwaukee River watershed.

Greenwood Township – In May 2008, the District purchased 29 Acres located on the south side of Wonder Lake Road, east of Greenwood Road. The site is adjacent the Barber Fen Nature Preserve and contains a portion of the fen community and serves as an upland buffer by filtering the water entering the fen. Currently 17.7 acre will stay in the District’s agricultural lease program. 

• February 2008 - 150 acres west of Route 47 at Raycraft Road was purchased.

Hartland Township - August 2008, the District closed on 160 acres were added to the Brookdale Conservation Area in Woodstock, creating a complex of 1,397 acres and extending the boundaries to the intersection of Bunker Hill and Brookdale Roads.

Hebron Township— September 2008, the District purchased 53 acres adjacent Goose Lake Conservation Area This purchase extends the District’s property north of the Hebron Trail and the Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul Pacific Railroad tracks and over to Lange Road, creating a combined 326 acre site.

Marengo Township - October 2008, a 33- acre, primarily oak woodlands was purchased adjacent to Marengo Ridge Conservation Area. The property is located south and west of the Deerpass and Collins Road intersection.

December 2009, 45 acres on the south side of Marengo Ridge Conservation Area was purchased.

McHenry Township – June 2008, the District was given a gift  a 15.9 acres by Town and Country Homes.  The property will be an addition to the existing Stickney Run Conservation Area.  The new acreage is located on the west side of Barreville Road and includes the creek that feeds Stickney Run. 

Nunda Township — July 2008, 15.9 acres on the west side of Barreville Rd. was purchases, including the creek that feeds into Stickney Run Conservation Area.

Richmond Township— December 2008, the District purchased 105.5 acres located on the northeast corner of Keystone Road and Broadway in Richmond. The parcel is adjacent to the 416 acre Nippersink North Branch Conservation Area.

• April 2009 A 55 acre parcel located on the Southeast corner of West Solon Road and Route 31 east to Pioneer Road was purchased. It will be incorporated into the Glacial Park Conservation Area.
• September 2009  The 14-acre parcel that separated the two existing tracts of land that make up Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve Varga Archaeological Site was purchased, creating one contiguous parcel.

Grant Funding

The Conservation District actively seeks grants from various local, state and federal sources to help offset the cost of numerous projects and site improvements and to enhance program development. Over the past nine years the District has secured $14,697,432 in grant funding.

To view a complete list of these grants and their associated projects click here.