Where is the McHenry County Conservation District?

For years, I have been harping on how the McHenry County Conservation District has been ignoring Crystal Lake.

Before I go further, let me say that my definition is Crystal Lake Grade School District 47.

I have repeatedly pointed out that Crystal Lakers pay upwards of 24% of MCCD taxes, but get as close to zilch in return as one can imagine.

Out of the $68.5 million bond issue, our share was $90,000 for a parking lot next to the railroad tracks on Oak Street.

You can see the sign, but that’s all.

Of course, we have a bike trail, a lot of which was financed with state money.

There is a to-be-opened conservation area west of West Elementary School, but it won’t be opened to the public until the seller vacates it.

Last year the voters approved a $73 million bond issue.

I guess some of it will be spent to provide access to the Lake in the Hills Fen behind the new CVS drug store where the small plane recently crashed.

But there is no conservation district money to protect the most fragile watershed in McHenry County—Crystal Lake’s watershed.

We know the traditional excuse for not spending money to buy land near Crystal Lake.

It costs too much.

So, the MCCD follows the example of the Cook County Forest Preserve District and purchases land at the western and northern edges of McHenry County where the land is cheapest.

It doesn’t take a brainiac to predict that MCCD is creating areas that will turn into Barrington Hills-like, rich people residential areas some decades from now.

But, by then, Crystal Lake’s watershed will have been paved over.

What ever happened to the green belt idea?

The conservation district could create one between Crystal Lake and Woodstock, but it’s certainly not on any master plan.

Instead, Crystal Lake and Woodstock race to see which can capture the big box stores that will be built between the two cities.

Crystal Lake, the lake, just isn’t important.

And, I would reluctantly conclude that the conservation district really isn’t interested in conserving the most threatened watershed in McHenry County.

That could change, of course.

MCCD has lots of money.

It could decide to help protect Crystal Lake’s watershed.

But, the odds are against it, considering its track record over the last more than thirty years.


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