Land Protection

Land Protection
McHenry County Conservation District owns or manages over 25,603 acres of open space throughout the county that provides wildlife habitat preservation, educational opportunities and outdoor recreational amenities for the citizens of McHenry County to appreciate and enjoy.

The distinctiveness of McHenry County’s natural land was a driving force in the creation of the Conservation District. The protection of these unique, high-quality natural communities inspired continued land purchases to preserve some of the wild open spaces that are imbedded in the way of life of McHenry County residents. The first land purchase was made in 1973 when 50 acres that make up a portion of Beck’s Woods Conservation Area in Chemung were acquired. Throughout the 1970s the District added 2,167 acres, while the 1980s added 2,353 acres. The rapid growth the county experienced during the 1990s increased the value of land preservation and thus, the District acquired 7,144 acres. These purchases were made possible by successful voter approved referendum in 2001 and 2007.

Today, 35 sites are open to the public featuring 107 miles of hiking trails, 45 miles of biking trails, 24 fishing areas, 6 campgrounds, 4 canoe launches, 37 miles of horse trails, and 18 sites with picnic areas & shelters, and a multitude of opportunities for wildlife viewing. The District also boasts a National Wildlife Refuge and 17 dedicated Illinois State Nature Preserves within its sites.

Land Acquisition
All Sites Map Marked with Referendum Purchases
Key to Land Acquisition Significance
Use corresponding numbers in reference to parcels listed by site found below.
1.  INAI – Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Site
2.  MCNAI – McHenry County Natural Areas Inventory Site
3.  ADID– Advance Identification of Wetlands (ADID) study
4.  IOA – Important Oak Area
5.  VAR – Valuable Aquatic Resource
6.  IGF – Important Geologic Feature
7.  ETSP – Endangered or Threatened Species Location
8.  Landscape Linkage
9.  Site Addition

Key to Natural Area Types
Use corresponding letters in reference to parcels listed by site found below.
A - Aquatic
F - Fen
M - Marsh
O - Other
P - Prairie
S - Savanna
Sm - Sedge meadow
W - Woodland

 

Sites

Alden Sedge Meadow (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 129.203 
Year: 2008 
Significance: 1, 5, 7, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, M, O, P, S, Sm
Boone Creek Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 5.75 
Year: 2009 
Significance: 9
Natural Area Type(s): O, P, S
Parcel: B
Acreage: 8.0 
Year: 2009 
Significance: 3, 9, 0
Natural Area Type(s): Sm
Brookdale Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 160.809 
Year: 2008
Significance: 9
Natural Area Type(s): O, W
Parcel: B
Acreage: 247.916
Year: 2010
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, M, O, P, S, Sm, W
Coral Woods Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 106.345
Parcel: B

Acreage: 9.285

Parcel: C
Acreage: 127.206

Parcel: D

Acreage: 100.00

Fel-Pro RRR (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 57.655
Year: 2007
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, F, M, O, P, S, Sm
Glacial Park Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage:  28.0
Year:  2012
Significance:  2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  O, Sm
Parcel: B
Acreage: 46.7
Year: 2011
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, F, M, O, S, Sm

Parcel: C
Acreage: 55.248
Year: 2009
Significance: 9
Natural Area Type(s): O, P, S

Parcel: D
Acreage: 21.802
Year: 2011
Significance: 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O, Sm

Funding assisted by gift from the Louis E. Marchi Trust
Goose Lake Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 91.408
Year: 2007
Significance: 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O
Parcel: B
Acreage: 53.074
Year: 2008
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 5, 9
Natural Area Type(s): M, O, Sm
Parcel: C
Acreage: 25.0
Year: 2009
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9
Hebron Peatlands Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 94.56
Year: 2008
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): F, M, O, P, Sm

Parcel: B
Acreage: 90.321
Year: 2008
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, F, M, O, P, Sm
High Point Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel:  A
Acreage: 49.25
Year: 2007
Significance: 2, 3, 4, 6, 9
Natural Area Type(s): O, S, Sm, W
The Hollows Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 138.027
Year: 2011
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 3, 8, 9
Natural Area Type(s): M, O, S, Sm
Kishwaukee Corridor Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 1.13
Year: 2010
Significance:  9
Natural Area Type(s): O

Parcel: B
Acreage: 93.882
Year: 2010
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, M, O, Sm

Parcel: C
Acreage: 22.556
Year: 2007
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O
IDNR/Open Lands Trust Grant Assistance

Parcel: D
Acreage: 73.701
Year: 2008
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, M, Sm
IDNR/Open Lands Trust Grant Assistance

Parcel: E
Acreage: 75.018
Year: 2010
Significance:  
Natural Area Type(s): A, M, O, Sm

Parcel: F
Acreage: 83.192
Year: 2010
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 5, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, M, O, Sm

Parcel: G
Acreage: 35.684
Year: 2007
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 5
Natural Area Type(s): A, O
IDNR/Open Lands Trust Grant Assistance
 
Kishwaukee Headwaters Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 6.504
Year: 2009
Significance:  2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): M, O, Sm
Lake Elizabeth Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage:  14.45
Year:  2009
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 5, 7,8, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, F, M, O, P, Sm
Lake in the Hills Fen Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 35.2
Year: 2010
Significance: 2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, F, O

Parcel: B
Acreage: 31.682
Year: 2009
Significance: 2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, F, O

City of Crystal Lake 2007Intergovernmental Agreement
Marengo Ridge Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 33.044
Year: 2008
Significance: 2, 3, 4, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O, S, W

Parcel: B
Acreage: 45.208
Year: 2009
Significance: 2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): O, S
Nippersink Canoe Base (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage:  0.52
Year:  2013
Significance:  2, 3, 5, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  A, M, O, Sm

Parcel: B
Acreage:  0.37
Year:  2011
Significance:  2, 3, 5, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  A, M, O, Sm

Parcel: C
Acreage:  1.82
Year:  2012
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  A, M, O, Sm

Parcel: D
Acreage:  0.51
Year:  2012
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  A, M, O, Sm

Parcel: E
Acreage:  7.4
Year:  2008
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  A, M, O, Sm

Parcel: F
Acreage:  0.369
Year:  2010
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 5, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  A, M, O, Sm

Parcel: G
Acreage:  0.1
Year:  2011
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  A, M, O, Sm

Parcel: H
Acreage:  3.4
Year:  2010
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 5, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  A, M, O, S, Sm

Parcel: I
Acreage:  5.886
Year:  201
Significance:  1, 2, 3, 5, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  A, M, O, Sm

Parcel: J
Acreage:  6.51
Year:  2010
Significance:  1, 2,  3, 5, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  A, M, O, Sm

Parcel: K
Acreage:  0.101
Year:  2010
Significance:  3, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  O, Sm
North Branch Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage:  105.537
Year:  2008
Significance:  2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s):  A, Sm
Pioneer Fen Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 47.551
Year:  2007
Significance:  9
Natural Area Type(s):  O
Conservation Easement gift from Bill and Alice Howenstine
Pleasant Valley Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 302.403
Year:  2010
Significance:  2, 3, 4, 5, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, M, O, S, Sm
Funding assisted by IDNR/Open Space Lands Acquition and Development Grant
Prairie Trail South - Algonquin (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage:  5.4
Year:  2007
Significance: 2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O
Queen Anne Prairie Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: B
Acreage:  47.535
Year: 2008
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, M, O, P, S, Sm

Parcel: C
Acreage:  280.452
Year: 2008
Significance: 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, M, O

Parcel: D
Acreage:  200.684
Year: 2009
Significance: 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, M, Sm

Parcel: E
Acreage:  157.875
Year: 2010
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, M, O, P, S, Sm

Parcel: F
Acreage:  127.554
Year: 2008
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O, Sm, W

Parcel: G
Acreage:  58.101
Year: 2009
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O, S, Sm

Parcel: H
Acreage:  29.859
Year: 2008
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, F, M, O, P, S, Sm
Bargain Sale/Partial Gift conveyance from Stewart and Nancy Ellison

Parcel: I
Acreage:  4.0
Year: 2009
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, F, O, Sm
Rush Creek Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 0.892
Year: 2009
Significance: 9
Natural Area Type(s): O

Parcel: B
Acreage: 4.54
Year: 2009
Significance: 9
Natural Area Type(s): O

Parcel: C
Acreage: 14.767
Year: 2008
Significance: 2, 3, 4, 9
Natural Area Type(s): O, S, Sm, W

Parcel: D
Acreage: 29.465
Year: 2007
Significance: 2, 3, 4, 9
Natural Area Type(s): O, S, Sm, W

Parcel: E
Acreage: 35.311
Year: 2008
Significance: 2, 3, 4, 9
Natural Area Type(s): M, O, S, Sm

Parcel: F
Acreage: 16.886
Year: 2007
Significance: 3, 4, 9
Natural Area Type(s): O, S, Sm

Parcel: G
Acreage: 41.283
Year: 2010
Significance: 2, 3, 4, 9
Natural Area Type(s): O, S, Sm
Spring Grove Fen Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 0.2
Year:  2011
Significance: 2, 5, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O, Sm

Parcel: B
Acreage: 0.3
Year:  2011
Significance: 2, 5, 8, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O, Sm


Stickney Run Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 15.978
Year: 2008
Significance: 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O, P, Sm
Gift conveyance from Hovstone Properties Illinois, LLC

Parcel: B
Acreage: 45.602
Year: 2007
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, M, O, P, Sm

Wildlife Resource Center (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 3.64
Year: 2009
Significance: 4, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O, S, W
Conservation Easement gift from Charles Dubsky

Parcel: B
Acreage: 313.031
Year: 2011
Significance: 3,4, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O, S, W
Funding assisted by a gift from Wilma Rosen
Winding Creek Conservation Area (Site Map)
Parcel: A
Acreage: 44.462
Year: 2011
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O, S, Sm
Funding assisted by grant from Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation and a gidt from Earl Smith

Parcel: B
Acreage: 34.585
Year: 2010
Significance: 3, 9
Natural Area Type(s): O

Parcel: C
Acreage: 179.823
Year: 2007
Significance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9
Natural Area Type(s): A, O, S, Sm, W
Portion conveyed as a gift by the Sobel Family and IDNR/Land & Water Conservation Fund Grant Assistance