More Land Protected by The Land Conservancy of McHenry County

In 2002, another twenty-nine acres of open space and wetland resources were protected by the Land Conservancy of McHenry County through donation of 26 acres of land and donation of a 3 acre conservation easement.

Two parcels of land were donated to the Land Conservancy in 2002:

• Twenty-two acres at the Windy Knoll subdivision off of Mason Hill Road near Bull Valley were given to the Land Conservancy. The property includes 10 acres of upland seeps (areas where spring water flows out of a hillside, creating an elevated wetland), and another 12 acres of bottomland along Powers Creek. The seeps will be managed to reduce brush and invasive species, and the bottomland will be restored to a wet prairie.

  
  Volunteer (right) monitors prescribed burn at LF's new Windy Knoll's site in Bull Valley on January 25th.

• A four acre parcel located near to Moraine Hills State Park was also donated by Peter Waichunas of Woodstock in memory of his late wife, Delores. This land is part of a 20-acre wetland complex called Griswold Prairie. It will be restored through brush and invasive plant removal during the coming years.

• The 3-acre easement is located in the Spring Ridge subdivision in Woodstock, and adjoins about 7 acres of easement in the neighboring Country Ridge subdivision. Both easements protect important wetland resources at the headwaters of Nippersink Creek. The wetlands will be restored to remove brush and invasive plant species, and to have a diversity of native plants.

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and preservation of open space and natural lands in McHenry County. By working with private landowners, communities, and developers, the Land Conservancy has successfully protected 180 acres. The Land Conservancy has 13 conservation easements protecting 154 acres, and holds title to 26 acres.