Environmental Defenders of McHenry County

Citizens working for a healthy environment

Defenders in the News

Retired educator turns manager of bookstore

By KATIE ANDERSON - kanderson@nwherald.com
February 26, 2011, Northwest Herald

Roy Asplund technically retired a little more than 10 years ago – he worked as an English teacher, a principal and then superintendent in Marengo schools for more than 18 years. The longtime Woodstock resident, however, hasn’t been able to stay away from administration, or maybe its books.

For the past year, Asplund has put in full-time hours managing the Green Spot, a used book shop, the proceeds of which benefit the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.

In the spring of 2010, the Defenders opened a small resale corner inside their downtown Woodstock office to help support the group’s programs and operations. A short time later, Green Spot was expanded into its own retail space at 110 S. Johnson St., Suite 106, on the Woodstock Square.

Today, the Green Spot houses more than 10,000 used hardcover and paperback books. Asplund manages the store with the aid of about a dozen dedicated volunteers, he said.

Asplund puts in about 40 hours a week between picking up donations, setting up sales online, and managing the store. Although you’d never guess now, he did not seek out the responsibility, he said.

It was the result, rather, of a series of small volunteer efforts.

“I used to come into the Defenders’ old office and look at their book collection,” Asplund said. “One day I offered, ‘How would you like me to put some of these online.’”

Asplund soon was spending more time with the Defenders and then was invited to be on the group’s board. Now he is vice president.

“Education is not retail, and this has been kind of a fun challenge for me,” Asplund said.

In addition to the challenge, Asplund said, he loves the people whom he volunteers with and finds great satisfaction in the knowledge that he’s doing work that keeps books out of area landfills.

Skrukrud fired up to protect area’s water

By KATIE ANDERSON - kanderson@nwherald.com
February 26, 2011, Northwest Herald http://www.nwherald.com/2011/01/27/skrukrud-fired-up-to-protect-areas-water/a445qj2/

You might not know Cindy Skrukrud, but if you’ve ever canoed the Nippersink Creek or fished in the Fox River, you have benefited from work she’s done.

The Solon Mills resident chairs the Water Resources Protection Committee of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, serves on the board of the Nippersink Watershed Association, and participates in the Fox River and Kishwaukee River ecosystem partnerships.

And that’s only a few of the volunteer projects Skrukrud is involved in.

To pay the bills, she works full time as the clean water advocate for the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club.

“McHenry County is blessed with very high-quality water features, high-quality wetlands and unique fens. All those things have drawn me to focus on water,” she said.

A history of volunteering and easy ways to get involved drew her to focus on conservation in McHenry County.

Skrukrud was exposed to recycling and volunteering at an early age. As a child growing up in Colorado, her Luther League Youth Group raised money through newspaper recycling.

Skrukrud also watched her parents volunteer, and in high school she got involved in projects that raised environmental awareness.

The journey to a doctorate in biochemistry led Skrukrud away from volunteer work for a while, but a move to McHenry County in 1988 sent her back into it.

“I remember thinking, ‘Oh, now this is my chance,’” Skrukrud said. “I saw the [then-]McHenry County Defenders newsletter and said, ‘Hey, this is a group I want to be involved with.’”

Starting out slowly, Skrukrud first spent time at the Defenders’ recycling center in McHenry. Soon she was on several committees and named president of the board of directors for the nonprofit group.

In 1993, Skrukrud was named executive director of what is today the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and served as such until 1999.

“I think people get engaged when they volunteer. We get fun out of doing it, and we see the need,” Skrukrud said of fellow volunteers and herself.

“You see the results of the time you’re putting in and you work with such great people that you just keep doing it,” she said.

Skrukrud believes that the state of McHenry County’s water is a measure of how its residents live on the land.

“The only way we’re going to have good water quality is if we live lightly,” she said. “And I’ve really seen more communities embracing that idea.

“Twenty years ago, I don’t think people really realized and appreciated the quality of the streams in McHenry County, but I think the Defenders’ efforts and the Friends of the Fox and others’ efforts have gotten people to realize the quality of their water.”

– Katie Anderson

Volunteer forces makes county a better place to live for everyone

By KATIE ANDERSON - kanderson@nwherald.com
February 26, 2011, Northwest Herald http://www.nwherald.com/2011/01/27/volunteer-forces-makes-county-better-place-to-live-for-everyone/alkwzcb/

Blanding’s turtles and river otters can’t necessarily mouth a “thank you.” And although it might have many limbs, an oak grove is rotten at shaking hands in gratitude.

Despite that, hundreds of people from across McHenry County volunteer each year to protect and preserve these and other non-human McHenry County inhabitants. And those volunteers have made McHenry County a standout example of how to organize and execute grass-roots volunteer efforts that benefit the environment.

“It is wonderful that others devote time to making sure people have enough to eat and can read and other efforts,” said Cindy Skrukrud, who is the clean water advocate for the Illinois chapter of the Sierra Club. “We need people who are going to volunteer for the things they are most passionate about. Take me, I spend time on water issues.”

And there are plenty more like Skrukrud. McHenry County is a powerhouse of volunteer-fueled efforts to boost environmental awareness, limit use of natural resources, increase recycling, and encourage living lightly on the land.

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is a quickly expanding example. The nonprofit group run by a volunteer board aims to preserve scenic, natural and agricultural resources by working with private landowners and developers.

It began as a part of what is today the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and in 1991 became an independent entity.

The group’s main goal is to educate landowners who wish to preserve their property into perpetuity, explained Lisa Haderlein, executive director of The Land Conservancy of McHenry County.

The founders of the group saw thousands of acres of high-quality natural areas including oak woodlands, remnant prairies and water recharge areas being sold and developed, year after year, she said.

Thanks to scores of volunteers, today The Land Conservancy holds 62 easements and has preserved more than 1,800 acres in the county, and it does this with only three full-time employees.

Coupled with preservation efforts, The Land Conservancy hosts programs to train landowners and volunteers in land restoration skills. Volunteers learn about restoring wetlands, planting native species, and monitoring the properties that the Land Conservancy holds in easement.

Perhaps the granddaddy of environmental volunteer groups, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, has been a volunteer force since 1969.

In its early years, the group, based mostly in Crystal Lake and McHenry, successfully averted the Fox Valley Freeway and worked to improve the quality of the Fox River ecosystem and its tributaries. Groups such as Friends of the Fox River and Nippersink have since sprung from the Defenders volunteer efforts.

The McHenry County Conservation District, which manages more than 24,800 acres of open space covered in woodlands, prairies, wetlands and savannas, also stemmed from the work done by early Defenders.

Today, a large corps of volunteers young and old help maintain the district’s 29 sites, which are open to the public so that visitors can hike, bike, fish, canoe, camp, cross-country ski and enjoy the county’s natural areas.

Alice Howenstine of McHenry has been an active environmental volunteer in the county since 1970. She has watched the number of opportunities to volunteer grow and has seen the number of groups that focus on environmental awareness and conservation increasingly gain acceptance.

“You feel good,” she said. “You realize the effects of the little bit of effort and time you have been putting in. My joy right now is that there are others who are ready and willing to push on.”

For Skrukrud, the reason why volunteering for efforts such as stream and highway cleanups and recycling drives is popular is twofold. It’s fun and:

“You spend your days working with people who really care about where they live and you meet people who just want to make sure McHenry County is a great place to live,” she said.

Forty years of preserving land, water

By KATIE ANDERSON - kanderson@nwherald.com
February 26, 2011, Northwest Herald http://www.nwherald.com/2011/02/14/forty-years-of-preserving-land-water/aal0hqc/

Alice and Bill Howenstine can’t tell you exactly how much time they volunteer. It has never really occurred to the couple to keep track.

And after more than 40 years volunteering with environmental awareness efforts in McHenry County, it would be a difficult equation to figure.

“You don’t say, ‘I’m finished working now. I’m done.’ It all flows together,” Alice said.

“Volunteers get satisfaction out of hard work, not money or anything else,” Bill explained.

The couple’s shared mantra has always been, “May you be blessed with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world.”

So everything, from the Howenstines’ re-used plastic grocery bags and home composting efforts to their involvement in recycling drives, has a purpose.

For the past 40 years, the Howenstines have focused on preserving the land and water in McHenry County and inspiring others to do the same.

A large portion of those efforts have been through volunteer work with the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.

The Howenstines are considered founding members of the activist group that began in 1970.

Their labor helped bring about the creation of the McHenry County Conservation District and was instrumental in raising awareness of curbside recycling in the county and eventually implementing curbside pickups in nearly every town.

In addition to work with the Environmental Defenders and other environmental preservation groups, the Howenstines have traveled, at times with their three children in tow, to Mexico, Peru and Costa Rica to participate in community development projects with the American Friends Service Committee.

Thinking back, both Bill and Alice struggle to find a time in their lives when they weren’t involved in a volunteer effort.

“I grew up during the war, so people were used to volunteering,” Alice Howenstine said.

Both Bill and Alice came from parents, they said, who sought out and appreciated hard work.

The attitude obviously rubbed off.

January 19, 2011 - The Woodstock Independent http://www.thewoodstockindependent.com/story.php?id=778

Fleming Road residents await word from McHenry County DOT
By ELIZABETH HARMON

It's been almost a year since Fleming Road residents first learned the McHenry County Department of Transportation intended to work on their road.

As 2011 begins, they're waiting to hear the MCDOT's design plans and some have taken action to try to protect the road.

Fleming Road extends about 2.5 miles, from Country Club Road to Route 120. The road had been targeted for repair because of deteriorating pavement, issues regarding runoff and safety concerns.

However, residents like the road's winding curves, hills and old growth trees. Some feared the improvements were a ruse to transform the rural road into a Woodstock bypass. Others were wary because of the lack of design specifics given by the MCDOT.

They formed the Fleming Road Alliance to address their concerns. The group placed signs along the road, posted videos on YouTube and attended public meetings held last spring and summer.

The meetings are part of a multistep process known as context sensitive solutions, which seeks public input during the design process.

"The county adopted the CSS process a couple of years ago, and we're incorporating elements of CSS into what we're doing. Our goal over time is to develop consensus on the project and get input before the design, rather than doing the design first," said Wally Dietrich, design manager with the McHenry County Department of Transportation.

The department also organized a citizens advisory group, which included representatives of the Fleming Road Alliance, the village of Bull Valley, the Bull Valley Riding Club, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and other groups.

Lisa Rhoades, 1111 S. Fleming Road, represents the Fleming Road Alliance on the CAG.

"We were asked what we felt was most important. There were different ideas. I felt it was to sustain a livable community," said Rhoades.

The group met in June and August 2010. Rhoades said four meetings were planned, but she has not heard of any upcoming.

Dietrich said additional meetings are in the process of being scheduled but could not provide a specific date.

"We're still pulling together information. I'd like to have something within the next month. It's a moving process trying to get all the information," he said.

Rhoades also investigated county scenic route designation for Fleming Road.

"There is no protection with this designation. However, it does indicate that many in the county feel that Fleming Road is special," she said.

After learning of a protected scenic route program in Barrington Hills, Fleming Road residents contacted The Land Conservancy of McHenry County about creating a similar one.

"We looked into the Barrington Hills program, then our board discussed it, and in September we formally approved the program," said Lisa Haderlein, executive director of The Land Conservancy.

In December, several residents filed conservation easements prohibiting sale of protected property without the approval of the landowner, The Land Conservancy and the village of Bull Valley.

"The landowner donates a portion of their land to The Land Conservancy and the village of Bull Valley. They give up certain rights to the property in exchange for preservation," Haderlein said.

Those rights include planting invasive species or erecting certain types of structures. So far, about 10 easements have been granted and another 10 are in progress.

Fleming Road passes through unique natural areas, Haderlein said, including the Boone Creek Fen, a Class 3 Illinois groundwater area. While the road has not caused ill effects so far, Haderlein was wary of the impact of a wider, more heavily traveled road.

"When road runoff gets into the ground, it brings pollutants like salt, oil and other things associated with cars. So far, there's been no negative impact, but if changes are made, the effects are irreversible," she said.

Dietrich said a design is still in development and could not provide a date for when it would be finished or presented, adding that the public input phase has taken longer than expected.

"We thought when we started last March we'd be through the initial phase by now, but it's taken more time because of the interest in the project," he said.

He did not know how the conservation easements would impact the design.

"We just found out about them," he said.

Rhoades and her neighbors believe it's possible to repair Fleming Road while retaining its rural charm.

"Our position is that this isn't one-size fits all, and design standards should be applied intelligently and skillfully. We continue to feel that if everyone works together we can create a wonderful situation," she said.

Green Spot donation box returns on Woodstock Square

In the Northwest Herald, December 22, 2010

http://www.nwherald.com/2010/12/21/green-spot-donation-box-returns-on-woodstock-square/a5ld5rn/

By NORTHWEST HERALD

WOODSTOCK – The case of the vanishing book bin isn’t solved, but the Environmental Defenders once again have a drop box for donations on the Woodstock Square.

“We’re really glad to have our bin again,” said Roy Asplund, the group’s vice president, who coordinates operations at their new Green Spot resale shop, which sells donated books, videos, CDs and gift items. “Now people can drop off their used books any time of day or night.”

In March, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County opened the Green Spot, a small resale corner inside their downtown office, to help support the group’s programs and operations.

A nearby municipality gave the organization a big, blue donation bin that was placed next to the sidewalk, and it soon started filling with books.

“Each time our volunteers checked, the box would be full,” Asplund said in a news release.

Then, one day, the bin disappeared.

“We still have no idea who took it or why, but that was a real loss for us,” Asplund said.

In October, the Defenders moved to new quarters in the Woodstock Square Mall and opened the Green Spot in its own retail space at 110 S. Johnson St.

With more shelves to fill, the group needed a donation box more than ever, but commercial bins were too costly.

Now, the Defenders have a new donation bin, thanks to local carpenter Delbert Douglass and the cooperation of their new neighbor, the Home State Bank’s Woodstock Banking Center.

Douglass, a lifelong Woodstock resident, agreed to build the Defenders a sturdy drop box to collect book donations. Contributing his labor and using donated or recycled materials, he worked for nearly two months to finish the project.

The result is a weather-proof book bin that now stands in space provided by Home State Bank’s Woodstock Banking Center, next to the Defenders’ new office.

The donation bin is designed to receive only books, Asplund said. Items such as magazines, CDs, videos, toys or collectibles may be damaged if dropped into the box, but might be donated inside at the Green Spot store during business hours, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Public invited to share ideas

In the Northwest Herald, September 17, 2010

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2010/09/15/r_mnm8i5zwsig43uibmfzf0q/index.xml

CRYSTAL LAKE – The public is invited to participate in new watershed planning projects designed to protect water resources in two eastern McHenry County watersheds.

Community members in the areas of Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek will have a chance to share their ideas and concerns as part of regional watershed planning initiatives.

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and other participating organizations will host a public meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake.

Participants are invited to come for a provided lunch at noon to meet with fellow watershed neighbors.

Registration is requested by Sept. 21 at watershedinfo@mcdefenders.net.

Communities within the planning areas include Oakwood Hills, Prairie Grove, and portions of Bull Valley, Cary, Crystal Lake and McHenry. The planning area also includes portions of Nunda Township, Algonquin Township, and unincorporated McHenry County.

The Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek watersheds are home to significant natural resources, including dedicated Illinois Nature Preserves, rare wetlands, and several lakes enjoyed by community members as a source of recreation.

Watershed planning is a collaborative, locally supported approach to improving water quality, considering groundwater protection, and restoring healthy aquatic habitat within a watershed. Input from the meeting will be considered in the development of plans for the Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek watersheds, said Lynn Rotunno, Defenders watershed coordinator.

Additional day and evening meetings will be held in these watersheds through December 2011. Meetings are open to the public.

For information, visit http://foxriverecosystem.org/planning.htm or contact Rotunno at watershedinfo@mcdefenders.net or call the Defenders office at 815-338-0393.

Residents scour banks of Fox River to remove trash, enjoy the environment

In the Northwest Herald, September 19, 2010

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2010/09/18/r_xsvmigjzsmksgiutuwjaq/index.xml

ALGONQUIN – Cleaning up trash along the Fox River on Saturday morning meant more than just extra credit in school for Carsten Gallant and his friends. With rain clouds hovering above, the Cary-Grove High School seniors went to Cornish Park ready to pitch in for the third annual It’s Our River Day.

“It’s good to come out to help your community,” said Gallant, who was there with friends from his environmental science class. “People are just irresponsible when it comes to cleaning up their trash.”

Keeping the river clean is personal to Cary-Grove senior Kevin Schoepke. “I live on the river,” Schoepke said. “I’m actually building a boat.”

Getting people to care about the river is the reason for the statewide event, said Katie Parkhurst, senior planner for the village of Algonquin, which sponsored the event with the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.

“It’s part of our overall environmental cleanup program,” Parkhurst said, adding that the Public Works Department was asked not to clean up the park before the event so volunteers could see how much trash is thrown there. “Not everyone respects the park setting or natural environment, so it’s a constant effort to keep it clean.”

Cornish Park is a haven for boaters and fisherman, she said. “We are definitely public, open space along the river for people to come and enjoy. Boaters come from other towns and dock and dine at our restaurants,” Parkhurst said.

Students from Eastview Elementary School, Boy Scout troops and other local residents came out to clean and learn about enjoying the river safely. “We thought it would be a good way for them to learn how to have safe fun on the river,” said Cynthia Kanner, coordinator of the event for the Defenders.

Members of the Prairie Coast Paddlers and the Chicago White Water Association gave kayaking demonstrations. “It’s a good sport,” said Bharat Meshwari of Chicago White Water. “It’s excellent exercise and you never get bored.”

Local band Mac Hotterson volunteered to play at the clean-up for the third year. “We feel like we’re part of this event and it’s exciting,” said band member Eliot Levy of Lake in the Hills. “My kids come out and help clean.”

Fox River cleanup planned on Saturday

In the Northwest Herald, September 14, 2010 http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2010/09/13/r_js4fs_t_yspbdicaqymq/index.xml

ALGONQUIN – Sponsored by the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and the village of Algonquin, the third annual “It’s Our River Day” celebration and cleanup event will take place Saturday.

The event, which is open to the public, will run from 1 to 4 p.m. at Cornish Park, which is near Harrison Street and Route 62 on the Fox River, one block east of Route 31, in Algonquin.

Participants must provide a signed Defenders waiver and release form before they are allowed to participate in cleanup work, and minors must have the signature of a parent or guardian. A copy of the form will be available at the event or may be downloaded online at www.mcdef.org.

The event will kick off with two speakers, Algonquin Trustee Debby Sosine and Gary Swick with Friends of the Fox River. After opening remarks, a kayaker from the Prairie Coast Paddlers will discuss and demonstrate kayaking on the Fox River.

There also will be informational displays provided by area environmental groups.

At 2:15 p.m., the cleanup will begin, with gloves and bags provided by The Sierra Club. Throughout the cleanup, the Mack Hotterson band, featuring local musicians Alan Parquette, Eliot Levy and Randy Siewert, will perform.

The event will conclude at 4 p.m.

Peasley: Conservation area dedicated

From the Northwest Herald, September 12, 2010

http://www.nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2010/09/11/r_njzeyyentc2wwxeuc825yw/index.xml

The gathering of 55 people Thursday afternoon was a memorable moment in Woodstock history.

That was my insight during the dedication recognizing the protection of the site that marks the start of the Kishwaukee Headwaters conservation area.

The 153-acre wetland, meadow and savanna is east of Dean Street.

Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager called the occasion an “absolute joy as we dedicate this significant natural resource area to long-term preservation.”

Sager reviewed the background of the five-member partnership for the protection – McHenry County Conservation District (MCCD), City of Woodstock, Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, McHenry County Soil & Water Conservation District and Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Sager recognized his predecessor, “Alan Cornue who was a true visionary in this project and a master in bringing the partners together with his passion and powers of persuasion.”

Sager said Woodstock and its residents were humbled to be a part of such a significant project “with such monumental impact on the future.”

He said the protection and preservation of natural resources was not only for today’s residents and future generations, but in perpetuity.

The process began 10 years ago when partners bought the land from Centegra to have a “one stop-shopping” area for agriculture-related agencies, recalled Ed Weskerna, MCCD director.

“That dream fell through, but now we are using the area as an educational facility for envirothon training, soil judging contest for high schools, tree and fish sale. Illinois State Geologic survey drilled the water quality testing well. They are utilizing it to test groundwater we drink every day,” Weskerna said.

The property parking area, made of permeable concrete, includes a bus pull-off to encourage school groups to use the area as an outdoor classroom. There are nature trails and open space – a great amenity for citizens.

Speaking on behalf of the Kishwaukee River Eco-system Partnership, Ders Anderson said, “When you are trying to preserve a high quality river such as the Kishwaukee, one of the best rivers in the state, you don’t start at the bottom. You start at the top.

“What the city of Woodstock and the partners have done in committing themselves to come up with management practices and actions to preserve this river is very untypical. You don’t see this very often with our river systems. They are to be commended.”

“The ecological significance of this area is the seeps, springs and 14 different soils,” said John Peters, MCCD restoration ecologist. “The headwaters have organic heat that is about 26-28 feet deep.”

Peters said a five-year prairie restoration began in 2005 with the planting of oak trees to bring back the savannah system.

• Don Peasley has been editor, columnist and historian in McHenry County since October 1947. He began his association with Shaw Publications in 1950. He is a frequent contributor of articles and photographs. He can be reached at 815-338-1533.

Kishwaukee Headwaters: Where it all begins

MIKE NEUMANN - The Woodstock Independent, September 8, 2010

http://www.thewoodstockindependent.com/story.php?id=627

After 10 years of cooperative efforts between four McHenry County entities, the Kishwaukee Headwaters Conservation Area is open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset. It will be formally dedicated from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9.

The site, which features a 1.75-mile mowed path and soon-to-be installed boardwalk, is located at the southeast corner of Dean Street and Highway 14. The public parking lot is located south of Highway 14 on Dean Street.

The site features a 153-acre wetland, a sedge meadow and remnant savanna complex. More than 130 native plant species exist on the site, which also serves as a stopping ground for many bird species in the area. Perhaps most importantly, the land includes the headwaters of the Kishwaukee River, a river that has been characterized by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as a Biologically Significant Stream and features dozens of endangered and threatened species.

In 2000, the McHenry County Conservation District, McHenry County Soil and Water Conservation District, Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and the city of Woodstock submitted a joint application to the IDNR to assist in the acquisition of 200 acres of sensitive properties within Woodstock and to help pay for 50 percent of the acquisition costs. Eighty-six of those acres are now part of the Kishwaukee Headwaters Conservation Area.

Lenore Beyer-Clow, Defenders executive director, 1999-2005: The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County took the initiative to create a coalition to protect 111 acres of open space at the headwaters of the Kishwaukee River. The Defenders brought together interested parties from the soil and water conservation district, MCCD and the City of Woodstock. The result of two years of negotiation was an agreement that protected valuable open space for the public and fit the individual agencies' needs. The Defenders contributed $100,000 from a grant from the Grand Victoria Foundation and received eight acres of upland off Dean Street. The soil and water conservation district contributed funds for approximately eight acres at the corner where they have constructed a building for program work. The City took title to 10 acres along the eastern edge of the property, which borders the old landfill and included a wetland remediation site and the McHenry County Conservation District became the owner of the remainder. Former Mayor of Woodstock Alan Cornue was instrumental in facilitating negotiations with the seller.

Brian Sager, Woodstock mayor: From the onset, it was agreed by all parties, with strong support from area residents, that a significant effort needed to be made to preserve and protect the Kishwaukee headwaters. The primary questions centered, not on the importance of the project, but rather how land would be accumulated and dedicated to provide the necessary protection.

Wendy Kummerer, McHenry County Conservation District communications manager: We're fortunate that we have partners in Woodstock who recognize (the importance of land conservation). It provides that stress relief from the seas of rooftops.

Since 2004, extensive restoration has taken place on the site, which has a history of agriculture and timber clearing dating back to 1872. A small gravel extraction operation even existed on the west portion of the site at one time. As the 1960s rolled around -- when Highway 14 was constructed -- farming was abandoned, leading to the invasion of exotic plant species along the disturbed areas. This meant significant restoration was needed, something each entity felt was an important project.

John Peters, MCCD restoration ecologist: In 2004, we did a large habitat restoration project and did a lot of the foreign species removal. In 2005, we did a restoration to restore the actual headwaters of the Kishwaukee River. Having this site restored really helps protect the Kishwaukee River and its health. ... When you have 120 years of land-use on a site, it's very gratifying to know the hard work we do is kind of the last piece of the puzzle to make the land healthy and sustainable again. The work that we do has lasting value.

LBC: The previous agricultural uses of the site recognize the cultural uses of land through history. We were lucky to be able to protect this property before it was used for development, which would have made restoration to a natural habitat almost impossible.

BS: Most importantly, it provides protection for the headwaters. ... On behalf of the city of Woodstock, it will not only be a part of the larger buffer we envision around the city, but a dedication, at a significant gateway to the city, to one of our foundational values. In Woodstock, we uphold environmental conservation and preservation.

While the common goal among all agencies was to protect the Kishwaukee headwaters and restore the natural habitats, each of the players involved saw other ways to make use of the property and to further benefit its goals and objectives.

Ed Weskerna, McHenry County Soil and Water Conservation District manager: Ten years ago, when we collectively agreed to jointly purchase this site, the McHenry County Soil and Water Conservation District had intentions of building an office building that would house most of the agricultural-related agencies. We saw the purchase of our eight acres as an opportunity to consolidate the (University of Illinois) Extension Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, soil and water conservation district, Farm Credit Service and Farm Service Agency all in one location. It was our intention to build the building since none of the other agencies had the authority to do so. We took it upon ourselves to find a piece of property centrally located with good exposure to the public, and the Dean Street site was the perfect location.

Cindy Skrukrud; Defenders executive director, 1993-1999, and current chair of the Defenders Water Resources Protection Committee: In the near future, the Environmental Defenders plan to begin using our portion of the site for environmental education programs for youth groups in the county. Also, we are still considering the possibility of building a structure on the site to serve as our headquarters in the future.

Jim Kastner, Woodstock planning and zoning administrator: We anticipate that future uses may include educational tours and activities for students and the public, as well as volunteer programs, which will allow participants to become involved in restoration and preservation in a hands-on manner.

JP: We've done the initial stages of our land management, but we're not finished. We have a lot of habitat restoration that we can do on the site. ... The restoration is not finished on the site and it will never be, it's an ongoing process.

Since the beginning of negotiations, eventual public use of the Kishwaukee Headwaters Conservation Area was expected. In addition to the walking paths, a parking lot, bus pull-in area, picnic shelter and restrooms have been added to the site. While most expectations for the site have held up, some changes had to be made, as is the case with most long-range planning.

Amy Peters, MCCD planning and development manager: The master plan process was a success because it involved members giving their input and the public being able to give its input. When you do a master plan, you take all the science and layer it (with the public input). Sometimes they aren't compatible and our job is to try to create a balance between those two things. With the boardwalk, we were hoping for a larger loop and connection (to other areas of the site) but we hit peat (soil) and were unable to build on the peat. All the components are still there, but at a smaller scale.

EW: We had negotiated with all of the above-mentioned agencies as to how much space they would need and when they would be able to make the move. We were disappointed when one of the major tenants withdrew their plans for another office building and, as such, all of our building plans folded like a house of cards. The (MCSWCD) forged ahead and now utilizes the site for our annual meetings, tree and fish sale distribution, soil judging contests, Envirothon training, storage of old records, maintenance and storage of our equipment and just recently decided to allow outside agencies to use it at no cost.

BS: I don't believe my expectations have changed. I think the realities of this type of project are that things simply take longer than we would like or anticipate and that 'getting the work done requires a lot of work.' In other words, success is the sum of many small and, seemingly unspectacular, yet essential, steps.

Testing the water - E. coli levels close most county beaches in 10 years

By Joseph Bustos, Northwest Herald August 3, 2010 http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2010/07/29/r_oeurjk_jtsu8zrygy8wzzw/index.xml

Gail Weber walks into the shallow water at Morrison Park Beach south of Lakemoor, and dips a thermometer into the 80-degree water.

Weber, a lab specialist for the McHenry County Health Department, writes the temperature and an “S” or “D,” for shallow or deep, on top of a container slightly larger than one for baby food.

Weber dips a bottle about a foot under water and leaves a small gap so a reagent can be added later. Then she walks into a little deeper water and repeats the process.

The two water samples are brought back to the McHenry County Health Department lab where the water is placed in a sealed tray and placed into an incubator for 18 to 22 hours. The next day, the lab technicians place a fluorescent light over the water samples and are able to see how much E. coli is in the water. The health department then makes a call on whether to close the beach.

The number of beaches that had to be closed because of E. coli this year is the highest in the past 10 years. This year, the area has seen higher rain amounts than in previous years, Weber said.

“It can lead to elevated E. coli levels,” she said.

Crystal Lake’s Main Beach has been closed or had advisory-prompting levels of E. coli 17 times this summer. How much the closures or warnings can cost the park district on a given day depends on the day of the week and the temperature.

Jack Sebesta, the superintendent of recreation for the Crystal Lake Park District, estimated that the district had lost between $25,000 and $35,000 this year in revenue because of closed beaches. And while public health is paramount, the losses are felt.

“We plan on having that revenue to run our operations, paying for lifeguards and upkeep,” park district Executive Director Jason Herbster said. “It definitely impacts when we have to close. It’s not a good situation. People can’t swim, we can’t make ends meet.”

Weber said that E. coli spreads from feces in the ground, mostly from geese, and usually washes into lakes when there is a heavy rain. People who ingest E. coli risk having gastrointestinal, nose, throat or ear infections.

The health department tests public beach water at least once every two weeks and days after heavy rains, because runoff into the lakes makes it likely for E. coli counts to rise. Private beaches are not tested on a regular basis, but people can bring samples to the health department for testing.

Reducing runoff would help, and there are steps people can take, said Cindy Skrukrud, chairwoman of the water resources committee of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.

Skrukrud recommended that people direct downspouts for water off roofs into gardens instead of onto pavement.

Water that goes through soil will have nutrients and other pollutants broken down in the soil, which helps clean the water.

New developments now have to meet regulations directing water into some sort of vegetation, Skrukrud said.

“We’ve recognized that it’s not good to rapidly flush water off our property onto pavement and into bodies of water,” Skrukrud said.

“We can’t control the rain, but we can do something about how water runs off property,” she said. “That’s the issue everyone can get together and tackle.”

• • •
Testing the water

The McHenry County Health Department tests beaches for E. coli levels during the summer. Depending on the level of E. coli in the water, the department either closes beaches or puts out advisory warnings for people to swim at their own risk.

The following number of beaches were closed or had an advisory warning for at least one day since 2000, from Memorial Day through July 7:

2000: Seven beaches closed and three with advisories.
2001: Five beaches closed and no advisories.
2002: 13 beaches closed and two with advisories.
2003: Five beaches closed and no advisories.
2004: Two beaches closed and 15 with advisories.
2005: Three beaches closed and eight with advisories.
2006: Seven beaches closed and 18 with advisories.
2007: Nine beaches closed and eight with advisories.
2008: 19 beaches closed and 19 with advisories.
2009: 16 beaches closed and nine with advisories.
2010: 28 beaches closed and 24 with advisories.

Source: McHenry County Health Department
• • •
You can help

Although the health department does not test private beaches on a regular basis, people can bring in beach water samples to the health department.

Water testing kits can be picked up at the Algonquin, Dorr, McHenry, Nunda, Richmond and Grafton township offices, the Harvard Police Department, and Marengo City Hall. The testing costs $23 and people should label that the water is from a beach. For information, call the Health Department Environmental Health Division at 815-334-4585.

Environmental Defenders Bring Up Rear With Recycling at Local Parades

In TribLocal, 7-16-2010
http://www.triblocal.com/Crystal_Lake/detail/197364.html

McHENRY COUNTY – Sometimes, the good guys do finish last! If you attend a parade in McHenry County this summer, you’ll probably see a group of energetic people in bright green shirts, carrying big bags and bringing up the rear. No, they’re not collecting candy . . . they’re collecting cans, and plastic bottles, too!

For over 40 years, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County have encouraged recycling, and this year they’re taking it to the streets, collecting empty pop cans and water bottles from parade watchers along the length of the route.

“It’s a great public service and a lot of fun - and work - for our volunteers, too,” says outreach director Diane Ayers. “We want to remind people that, no matter where you are, it is important to recycle. We’re getting the message out, and getting trash off the streets at the same time.”

This year, the Environmental Defenders are teaming up with Falcon Green Resources, a Woodstock-area recycler, to provide a recycling team at the end of several local parades. Defenders members will be walking the parade route alongside a recycling truck, carrying large plastic trash bags to collect empty soda pop cans and plastic water bottles from spectators along the parade route.

On July 5, the group collected over 35 large bags of recyclables at Crystal Lake’s Independence Day parade. They hope to top that record, Ayers says, this Sunday, July 18 at McHenry’s Fiesta Days Parade and again on Saturday, July 24 at the Founders’ Days Parade in Algonquin.

Defenders members also plan to participate in the Lake In The Hills Summer Sunset parade in September, and Marengo’s Settlers Days parade in October.

“These folks are all volunteers, and they don’t get paid to do this,” Ayers said. “They do it because they really care about the condition of our county, and about our environment,” Ayers said.

40 years of protecting the planet

By CRYSTAL LINDELL - clindell@nwherald.com

Posted: 04/22/2010 1:30 AM

Forty years ago, Michelle Soland celebrated the first Earth Day by handing out fliers supporting a recycling center in Woodstock. “I remember people spitting on me and saying, ‘This is just a hippie movement, and it doesn’t make any sense,’” she said.

The observance has come a long way since then.

This week, Soland, now a third-grade teacher, proudly donned a “Give a hoot. Don’t pollute.” T-shirt while running an Earth Week Fair at Westfield Community School in Algonquin. She joined community members all over the county in celebrating Earth Day, which has evolved from a one-day event focused on recycling to a multiday celebration focused on an array of topics ranging from fair trade to green energy.

“Recycling has become sort of a way of life now, so we put less emphasis on that,” said Deb Chapman, education services manager for the McHenry County Conservation District. “Although it’s still important ... I think people are more interested in climate change.”

Her group celebrated this past weekend with a music festival, guided nature hikes and other activities during an event co-sponsored by the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.

“We want to emphasize the generational aspect of it,” Chapman said. “[We’re] trying to capture kids’ attention and help them grow into responsible adults.”

That goes hand in hand with Soland’s event at Westfield, which features different stations for elementary students and community members to explore. For example, children could learn about solar energy by moving a sun lamp over a Hot Wheels-style car equipped with a solar panel or how to make paper.

Also, Katherin O’Connor and Bryn Jemmi, two fourth-graders at the school, were among those who wrote scripts from the perspective of endangered animals. Jemmi’s script was about the giraffe, while O’Connor’s was about the tiger.

“[In the beginning] it was just the local, don’t litter stuff,” Soland said of Earth Day. “It’s become more global ... because of the interdependence of all of us.”

That doesn’t mean that the local streets are being ignored. Jevonne Williams, owner of Jevonne Riley Salon in McHenry, organized Green Street Goes Green, an event that will include a cleanup walk in downtown McHenry today.

“There’s different causes ... but I wanted to do something local,” she said. “Once we make the first step in cleaning up the streets, people are more likely to keep it clean.”

Chapman said the ideal would be a world in which the observance wasn’t needed to raise awareness about environmental issues and instead it was just a day to celebrate the planet.

“I don’t think it’s achievable in our lifetime [though],” she said. “So, we want to keep people always focused on living a little more harmoniously.”

County Board approves long-awaited 2030 Plan

By BRIAN SLUPSKI - bslupski@nwherald.com

WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Board approved a land use plan this morning that will help shape the county's future. The 2030 Plan was approved by a vote of 19-3 at 12:45 a.m. today after several hours of debate and numerous amendments.

The vote brought an end to 3 1/2 years worth of work.

County Board member Tina Hill, who chaired the board's Planning Development Committee, expressed concern about the number of changes they had planned Tuesday night and this morning.

"We made a lot of changes tonight," she said. "We're not quite sure what we're voting on. I want to table the final vote. I think in a few places we really screwed up."

Hill's motion to table the votes was defeated on a voice vote, and ultimately she voted for the plan.

The 2030 Plan will be a guide for future development in McHenry County. The plan has been a controversial issue with critics contending that it does not go far enough protecting agricultural land and groundwater.

But supporters say the plan represents a sensible compromise – it promotes compact growth that would largely be contiguous with municipalities.

Hill came up with 24 amendments to the plan meant to address many of the concerns that had been raised.

However, several motions by County Board member Ersel Schuster forced the board to reconsider some of Hill’s amendments. Schuster sought to strengthen language in the amendments in a way that Hill said could drastically alter the plan.

By the end of the end of the night, all of Hill's amendments had been adopted, some with changes.

The land use plan has proved to be a difficult issue for the County Board. The previous county planning commission spent 7 1/2 years developing the 2020 plan. That plan was reworked by the County Board and ultimately failed to gain approval.

The 2030 plan was under discussion for 3 1/2 years.

The County Board heard from meeting attendees for about an hour.

Cindy Skrukrud spoke on behalf of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.

“We continue to support the key concepts of the plan, which promotes a compact view of growth coming from areas that are contiguous with McHenry County,” Skrukrud said.

The Defenders did recommend some tweaks, such as better identifying aquifer-recharged areas to protect groundwater. That was among the amendments brought to the County Board.

Among those who were critical of the plan was Bull Valley Village President Brian Miller.

“Bull Valley is very concerned about the 2030 Plan the county is proposing because it would lead to high-density development,” Miller said.

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2010/04/21/r_axxqvwiottwzat8h1wawow/index.xml

Defenders celebrate 40th anniversary

By MIKE NEUMANN • The Independent
Published: 4/21/10

Even before there was an Earth Day, the history of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry was taking shape.

In February 1970 - two months before the first Earth Day - a group of McHenry County citizens formed a chapter of the Defenders of the Fox. The group's main purpose was to protect and improve the Fox River watershed. The group merged with a group of environmentally-minded county residents a year later, proclaiming themselves the McHenry County Defenders. In 2008, the group changed its name to the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.

Diane Oltman Ayers, the Defender's outreach director since February, said the organization has garnered immense public support throughout its life. The Defender's recycling program, considered cutting edge at the time, introduced recycling to McHenry County residents. As a result of the increased commitment to recycling, most waste haulers now offer curbside service. The organization still holds monthly recycling drives in Woodstock and McHenry.

"We've always been kind of the launching pad for new ideas," Ayers said.

In addition to curbside recycling, the Defenders has helped protect natural areas, including Ryder's Woods in Woodstock. The Defenders supported the creation of the McHenry County Conservation District as well as the passing of legislation such as the Illinois Groundwater Protection Act and the McHenry County stormwater ordinance.

Because the Defenders takes a proactive approach to conservation issues, Ayers said most of what the Defenders has been working on recently involves partnering with local and county governments. While important, Ayers said the organization's public profile has suffered some.

"We have been a really positive resource (for government) and are nonpartisan," she said. "That doesn't necessarily gain you headlines."

As growth in the county exploded in the mid-2000s, more residents entered the county, and many hadn't heard of the organization. This led to the Defenders' name change. Adding environmental to the name distinguished the group, as many began thinking the Defenders was a lawyer's office.

"Our new push is education," Ayers said.

"We want to take our message out and encourage other people to join (the organization," added board member Roy Aspland.

She added that the importance of organizations such as the Defenders is greater than it was when it started, as growth has stressed the county's water supplies, decreased open land space and increased refuse.

"Despite what some people say, we're not NIMBYs (not in my backyard)," Ayers said. "We're for responsible growth with development that makes sense."

As a way to connect with the public, the Defenders is hosting a series of "green voice sessions." The sessions will allow people an opportunity to discuss environmental issues in their communities and to develop partnership plans with the organization to handle the issues.

The Defenders has also started a series of business and civic partnership programs that allow entities to work cooperatively to help improve the environment.

A high school-based youth Defenders program has been added, and the Defenders plans to offer more programs and projects geared toward McHenry County College students.

While the Defenders understands "times are tight," Ayers said that further down the line, the organization wants to build a new facility that will allow the majority of programs and activities to operate out of a centralized location.

To learn more about the organization, visit www.mcdef.org. The Defenders is hosting an Earth Day open house from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Woodstock office, 124 Cass St.

http://www.thewoodstockindependent.com/story.php?id=481

From the front page of the Northwest Herald, March 30, 2010

Still green and going strong

By BRIAN SLUSPKI

Environmental Defenders of McHenry County volunteer Anne Basten of McHenry carries bags of used batteries at the McHenry County Defenders monthly recycling drive at the McHenry Metra Station. (Dave Shields – For the Northwest Herald)

WOODSTOCK – The Fox Valley Freeway. Conservation. Recycling. The roots of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County are many; the group’s impact after 40 years is hard to quantify.

“The important thing to me was always having a place where people with concerns about the environment could go and find out information and find out what they could do about it,” said Crystal Lake resident Pat Dieckhoff, a longtime member of the Defenders and former assistant director. “And that’s huge because you don’t have that in most places.”

The Defenders are celebrating their 40th anniversary. The group formed in 1970 in large part to fight the proposed Fox Valley Freeway. The north-south roadway would have gone through Crystal Lake.

At first the group included only Crystal Lake residents. But Rita Halvorsen led outreach efforts in Woodstock, placing an ad in the Woodstock Sentinel asking individuals to get involved in environmental issues. Among those who saw the ad was Sherry Anderson.

Anderson and a small group began meeting as the McHenry County Environmental Council. In September 1970, the group put on the Earth-O-Rama ecology program at the Woodstock Library. Anderson said the event included speakers on a variety of issues. Admission to the event was free – as long as a recyclable good was brought along.

“The Crystal Lake people came and were very pleased with what we did, and they asked us to join,” Anderson said, adding that the groups merged in 1971.

The Defenders were among the groups that supported the creation of the McHenry County Conservation District.

Bill Howenstine became one of the first district trustees, while his wife, Alice, became increasingly involved with the Defenders. The Howenstines had become involved with the Defenders shortly after moving to the McHenry area in 1970.

“It was a very new group,” Alice Howenstine said. “We got into it as soon as we could because we were in agreement with their ideas.”

Howenstine said one of the big issues for members early on was recycling.

Once a month, the Defenders would host recycling drives. At first the group collected newspapers, then aluminum cans and glass bottles. Everything had to be sorted, Howenstine said.

“We had to tear the covers off of the magazines because it was a different type of paper than the pages inside,” Alice Howenstine said. “Recycling was a lot different than it is today.”

The Defenders program put recycling on the radar in McHenry County, increasing awareness and garnering the attention of local municipalities.

“This was an example to the cities of what could be done to manage waste,” Anderson said. “Our goal was to put ourselves out of business, and eventually we did. The cities began contracting with haulers for recycling – it finally caught on.”

A history of the Defenders written by Margaret Marchi notes many of the Defenders’ other issues – saving Volo Bog and Wilson Bog from the proposed Waukegan-Richmond Freeway; supporting the formulation of the countywide floodplain ordinance; and supporting a Crystal Lake watershed protection ordinance – to name just a few.

Over the years, the Defenders have changed as issues have been resolved.

The original name of the group was the McHenry County Defenders. After years of calls from confused individuals seeking defense attorneys, the decision was made to change the name last August to the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.

The Defenders now have about 500 members and still are involved in a variety of issues, such as preserving open space and protecting the county’s water quality and quantity.

The Defenders have continued community outreach activities, hosting events such as “Green Voice” – a series of public meetings meant to give voice to the environmental concerns of residents and officials. The next “Green Voice” meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Woodstock Public Library.

“We want to know what people are concerned about, and how the Defenders can help address those issues in their community,” said Nancy Schietzelt, president of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County.

Schietzelt said other initiatives include bringing back a Defenders youth group, pursuing outreach and education efforts, and continuing the film series “Full Moon Theater.” The Lou Marchi Total Recycling Institute at McHenry County College – named for one of the Defenders’ earliest members – publishes the annual Green Guide.

Alice Howenstine, who served on the Defenders board for decades, said the Defenders are more structured and larger than they were in the early days, but some things remained the same.

“If someone has a worthwhile environmental concern, this is an organization that will back you up,” Howenstine said.