Foundation News Conservation Foundation Protects 40 Acres in Hartland Township McHenry County Conservation Foundation purchased 40 acres of land in Hartland Township, located west of Hartland Road and east of Deep Cut Road. The property is adjacent to McHenry County Conservation District’s Brookdale Conservation Area, previously purchased land (Camp Lakota), and neighboring conservation easements, that together create over 1,875 acres of contiguous land that is now permanently protected. The acquisition was partially funded by a $197,904 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, as well as donor support, and includes funds for restoration e昀昀orts over the next two years. In 2026, the property will be transferred to McHenry County Conservation District for long-term stewardship and management. “The Foundation is thrilled to strategically support McHenry County Conservation District’s goal of protecting key natural areas,” said Shawna Flavell, Executive Director of the McHenry County Conservation Foundation. “The Foundation’s work to raise funds in support of public lands and partnership with the Conservation District ensures the protection of open space that we depend on to enhance the quality of life for all McHenry County residents.” The property contains relic white-oak dominated woodlands, kettles and kames, basin marshes and 14 acres of wetlands that support numerous amphibian species, as well as habitat for threatened or endangered bird species, such as the least bittern, common gallinule and yellow-headed blackbird. The wetlands are also a part of a larger wetland complex that serves as an important recharge area for the county’s groundwater resources, and supplies 昀氀ood storage capacity of both the Nippersink and Kishwaukee River Watersheds. Additionally, the wetlands are recognized as signi昀椀cant by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and are listed on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI). McHenry County Conservation Foundation Welcomes Two New Directors to the Board The Conservation Foundation Board of Directors come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Each bring their knowledge, unique talents, expertise and enthusiasm toward advancing the mission and vision of the McHenry County Conservation Foundation. Recently the foundation welcomed two new directors to their nine member board. "We are grateful and excited to have both Jack Kaskel of Richmond and Wendy Lauen of McHenry join the board. Both are passionate about our natural environment and dedicated to keeping our open spaces preserved and protected," said Conservation Foundation Board President Kevin Ivers. Jack Kaskel, owner of Red Bu昀昀alo Nursery Wendy Lauen treasures the sense of peace in Richmond, has been selling plants native and restoration she experiences when to the prairies, wetlands and forests of NE spending time in open spaces. She has Illinois and SE Wisconsin since 2000. He held various roles with McHenry County founded the nursery after volunteering College and Friends of McHenry College with the North Branch Prairie Project in Foundation, most recently working as Cook County where he started to realize the college’s Grants Director. “It was by that he was memorizing native plants circumstance that I 昀椀rst ended up in this by name. Passionate about our native county. However, it's by choice that I've ecosystems being worth restoring or recreating, Kaskel has instilled remained, and that is in part due to the many amazing services that ethos into his small business and beyond. “I hope to deepen and opportunities we have for residents, the McHenry County my impact on preservation e昀昀orts and our future generations.” Conservation District among them. Joining the Foundation board 2 Landscapes | Spring 2024 seems like a fantastic way to give back to our community.”