| We work on behalf of the McHenry County
Conservation District to help pass Open Space
Referendums and to secure grants for land
acquisition. In 2001 and again in 2007, we ran
two successful Open Space Bond Referendums,
providing $141.5 million in funds to purchase
open space and manage it for the public benefit.
The most recent bond referendum passed in April
2007 and will result in the purchase of
approximately 4,500 acres of open space
throughout McHenry County. Our efforts and
passage of the referendums will assist in
preserving and restoring essential habitat for
native plants and animals, and will also permit
new MCCD sites to be opened and improve those
sites that currently are available to the
public. Since the creation of MCCD, over 20,000
acres of land have been protected; public places
that will safeguard our groundwater, provide
open spaces, and offer homes to countless plants
and animals. More protected open space means a
brighter future for all citizens of Illinois,
today and tomorrow. |
●
Acquisition of Camp Algonquin
Grants from the Illinois Clean Energy Community
Foundation, Grand Victoria Foundation,
Oberweiler Foundation, and the Gaylord and
Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, helped the
Foundation leverage funding from the state to
secure this unique parcel. It represents unique
river bluffs and wetlands, and provides
important woodland habitat for avian species
migrating along the Fox River corridor. |
●
Acquisition of Boone Creek Headwaters
The Foundation was able to leverage some of our
own funding to secure grants from the Illinois
Clean Energy Community Foundation and state
legislative funds to purchase several tracts of
land adjacent to the former Bull Valley Hunt
Club just east of Woodstock. This parcel secured
protection of the headwaters of Boone Creek, a
biologically significant stream that supports a
diversity of aquatic species. |
●
Acquisition of Boone Creek Headwaters Phase II
Acquisition of the former Bull Valley Hunt Club
secured protection of the Boone Creek
headwaters. |
●
Elizabeth Lake Acquisition
Through the Conservation Foundation’s Individual
Donor Program, we received a very generous
donation specified for land acquisition. We
worked closely with the donor and the
Conservation District to match a land
acquisition project to the donor’s interests.
Protection and conservation of the Elizabeth
Lake Conservation was a high priority for the
District. This site is home to nineteen
endangered and threatened plant and animal
species that require the diverse matrix of
wetland and aquatic communities found there. |
●
Elizabeth Lake and Vargas Archeological Site
Through the Individual Donor Program, the
District was able to find enough in matching
funds to secure this site. This site represents
one of the last remaining undeveloped shoreline
parcels of Lake Elizabeth in Illinois. The
Illinois Natural Areas Inventory identified
Elizabeth Lake as the highest quality lake
ecosystem remaining in McHenry County and is
home to nineteen endangered and threatened plant
and animal species that thrive in the diverse
mosaic of wetland and aquatic communities there.
This sole remaining private parcel really was
key in protecting the shoreline of this
exceptionally fine lake. A narrow excavation
(i.e., channel) through the high quality sedge
meadow attests to the owner’s intention to
develop this site for home sites and lake
access. With our financial contribution, the
Conservation District has been able to leverage
the funds necessary to complete this
transaction. The District plans to ultimately
dedicate this site as an addition to the Lake
Elizabeth Nature Preserve, ensuring its
protection in perpetuity. |
● Goose
Lake Natural Area - Losbough Tract
Our acquisition of the home and out-buildings at
this site allowed the Conservation District to
expand the Goose Lake Conservation Area by 164
acres. A lot of work involving zoning, home
repair, and real estate transactions were
necessary, but in the end, we were able to save
the McHenry County Conservation District over
$225,000 for future land acquisitions at this
site. |
●
Brookdale Conservation Area - McKinney
Acquisition
The involvement of MCCF not only helped to
expand the Brookdale Conservation Area, but
saved the Conservation District $80,000. In
addition, our actions allowed a long-time tenant
the unique opportunity to purchase the home in
which they had lived for many years. |
| |
| Without membership support, the
Foundation would not be able to provide the
resources necessary to secure these valuable
funds. |
