McHenry County Conservation District Police Sergeant Graduates from FBI National Academy McHenry County Conservation District announced in June that Conservation District Police Sergeant Ryan Stewart graduated from the 286th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico. Known for its academic excellence, the Academy offers ten weeks of advanced communication, leadership and fitness training. In order to attend, participants must have proven records as professionals within their agencies. The 286th session consisted of 238 law enforcement officers from 47 states and included members of law enforcement agencies from 25 countries, five military organizations and six federal civilian organizations. Nationally, fewer than one percent of officers have the opportunity to attend the program. McHenry County Conservation District Police Department Achieves ILEAP Accreditation McHenry County Conservation District Board of Trustees is proud to announce the Conservation District’s Police Department has been recognized by The Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP). “The ILEAP accreditation achieved by the McHenry County Conservation District Police Department is a significant achievement in making the department the best it can possibly be and is testament to the hard work and excellence of our officers and staff,” said Laura King, Chief of Police from McHenry County Conservation District. “Accreditation allows an outside set of eyes to look at all our practices and hold us up to national best practices standards.” As part of the accreditation process ILEAP assessors conducted inspections, reviewed policies and practices to ensure legislative compliance and that the organization is meeting or exceeding industry and standards, met with District leaders, accompanied police officers on their regular patrols, and hosted a public opinion poll. ILEAP is an unbiased agency that is solely interested in improving police practices across the state. Fabulous Fox! Water Trail Designated into National Water Trail System In June, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced the designation of nine new national recreation trails in nine states, which included the Fox River. The Fabulous Fox! Water Trail runs 158 miles from the southeast Wisconsin to northeast Illinois with over 70 access points. The water trail offers paddlers the opportunity to recreate and explore the vibrant communities and varying landscapes along the river. For more information visit fabulousfoxwatertrail.org. "These new designated trails are some of our country’s highest caliber trails and provide close-to-home recreation opportunities and the benefits of spending time outdoors,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. Corporate Restoration Work Day with Scot Forge As part of the District's volunteer opportunites, staff also hosts organized Group Volunteer Days for corporate or business volunteers who want to come spend a day outdoors. Scot Forge of Spring Grove, took advantage of the opportunity and had their summer interns lend a hand for habitat restoration and invasive brush removal at Glacial Park this summer. If your company would like to get involved contact Conservation Foundation Executive Director Shawna Flavell at 815-338-6223. $245,176 in Federal Funds Awarded for Habitat Connectivity Project in Partnership with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Thanks to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Competitive State Wildlife Grant Program, McHenry County’s habitat will improve to support vulnerable and declining wildlife. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and McHenry County Conservation Foundation, the philanthropic partner of McHenry County Conservation District were awarded $245,176 in federal funds for a partnership project to improve habitat connectivity in the Southeast Wisconsin and Northeast Illinois. By partnering across the WI-IL border, restoration work will connect habitat areas on nearly 235 acres for pollinators, birds and herptiles associated with wetland, prairie, savanna and oak woodland continuum. Specifically, these species include the federally endangered Rusty-patched bumble bee, Monarch butterfly, Henslow's sparrow, Blanding’s turtle and other Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) identified in the IL and WI state Wildlife Action Plans. In Illinois the project area links the Lake-McHenry wetland complex, the Nippersink Creek corridor, Glacial Park and the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge cores and corridors. It is also included in McHenry County’s Green Infrastructure plan. Focusing management at locations that connect habitat is an important conservation strategy for birds, herptiles and pollinators, particularly where conservation opportunities are scarce and require sustained care. During the 2.5-year project, restoration work will involve invasive species control, brush and non-native tree removal, prescribed burns, and extensive planting of native species in mesic prairie, fen wetland, oak savanna and woodland habitats. Surveys will also be conducted on the endangered and SGCN species to monitor the effectiveness of the restoration activities in improving the local populations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded more than $7.7 million in grants for 18 projects across 13 states and territories. The projects were selected from a competitive slate of proposals to address priorities identified in Wildlife Action Plans. The announcement comes as the Endangered Species Act (ESA) turns 50 years old in 2023. Throughout the year, the Department of the Interior is celebrating the ESA’s importance in preventing imperiled species’ extinction, promoting the recovery of wildlife and conserving the habitats upon which they depend. 2 In the News