McHenry County Conservation District

The McHenry County Conservation District’s historic Powers-Walker House has announced its fall event schedule.

A memorial will be held Sept. 7 for James “Jimmy” Forbes, longtime owner of Port Barrington Marina on the Fox River, described by those who knew him as “genuine” and a “sweetheart” always willing to help.

The McHenry County Conservation District is helping to reconstruct former prairies, providing new homes for a variety of wildlife species, including the federally endangered rusty-patched bumblebee.

The Chain-O-Lakes Eagles R/C Airplane, Helicopter and Drone flying club had to leave its Ringwood location and are now flying out of Hebron, want to find permanent home for organization.

Endangered Blanding's turtles are getting head-start help from the McHenry County Conservation District.

Looking to offset your carbon footprint and invest in the environment? McHenry County Conservation Foundation is selling carbon credits.

The McHenry County Conservation District will ask voters for a tax increase but says overall taxes will go down because of debt retirement.

Shop at the McHenry VFW rummage sale and celebrate pollinator week this weekend in McHenry County.

Staff at the McHenry County Conservation District picked the Fox Bluff Conservation Area for their Cicada Celebration, but the bugs have not emerged at the park yet.

Cicadas can inspire fear, but it's best for parents and other adults to model enthusiasm rather than fright, experts say.

The McHenry County Conservation Foundation is matching up to $10,000 in donations to fund McHenry County’s first Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible boat launch at The Hollows Conservation Area in Cary.

Parks and conservation lands in Northern Illinois, including McHenry County, are preparing for the 13-year periodical cicada invasion, starting in mid-May through early June.

Cycling Without Age McHenry County will provide free public rides with Cary Public Library, Crystal Lake Park District and the McHenry County Conservation District this year.

The McHenry County Conservation District has announced that Cindy Skrukrud is its 2024 Conservation Champion for her leadership in protecting the natural and cultural heritage of McHenry County.

Migratory Bird Days will be celebrated in the McHenry County area with events starting April 27.

McHenry County Conservation Districts will host an Earth Day party in Crystal Lake and Scorched Earth Brewing will have a Houseplant Happy Hour this weekend in McHenry County.

Wetlands clean our drinking water, hold and store rainwater and create nurseries and food sources, the McHenry County Conservation District writes.

Nearly 1,000 acres of current farmland is set to become part of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, which straddles Illinois and Wisconsin and aims to protect wildlife corridors.

People learn about maple syrup during the McHenry County Conservation District’s 2024 Festival of the Sugar Maples at Coral Woods Conservation Area in Marengo.

Quiet moments at the McHenry County Conservation District's Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve Varga Archeological Site on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, The wetland area near Richmond along the Wisconsin border is composed of every stage of wetland. The area also a habitat for 29 species of native fish, 200 species of plant life, 55 species of birds, 15-20 butterfly species, and 20 state threatened and endangered species.

Tap into maple tree sap and try out Sri Lankan foods this weekend in McHenry County.

The McHenry County Conservation District has opened the parking lots and trails for facilities usually closed until April 1 for the season.

Grab gal pals for a girls’ night out in Crystal Lake and learn about nature with the McHenry County Conservation District this weekend in McHenry County.

The Crystal Lake park board could decide by February whether to disband its police department. Another option is cutting back on police coverage.

The first ski/hikes of the season will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 and Saturday, Dec. 16 at Harrison Benwell, 7055 McCollom Lake Road in Wonder Lake. A minimum of four inches of snow is required to ski.

Those charged with felonies the week of Nov. 19 by the Cary, Crystal Lake, Fox River Grove, Harvard, Lake in the Hills, Lakemoor, Marengo, McHenry, McHenry County Conservation District police and the McHenry County Sheriff's Office.

The conservation district is accepting names to consider for its champion and legacy awards; the latter honors someone posthumously.

Stickney Run Conservation Area in McHenry was one of five McHenry County Conservation District properties to see some Green Friday love during volunteer opportunities on Black Friday.

Participants will help district staff and volunteers reforest the heart of Marengo Ridge by planting 350 oak trees and shrubs.

Chief Laura King pioneered wellness programs; she will continue that work for a group that in part promotes suicide awareness among law enforcement.

The McHenry County Conservation Foundation and Kishwaukee Brewing will kick off a fundraising partnership with a night of raffles, games, camaraderie and a Hungry Hungry Hippos tournament Saturday evening at the Kishwaukee Brewing Taproom in Woodstock.

Migration season is upon us. Now is one of the best times of the year to spot unusual birds as they pass through the county on their journey south.

Weather patterns in Illinois this year are having an effect on leaves changing colors this fall, causing earlier changes that may not be as vibrant.

The trail would be built between McHenry County and Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Once done, it would link trails in Illinois to ones in Wisconsin.

The Nexamp solar farm near Harvard planted native seeds to restore prairie land while creating solar energy.

A woman was sentenced to the maximum of three years in prison Tuesday for moving the body of a man she and her daughter have maintained they believed was dead and leaving him in the North Branch Conservation area on April 28, 2022.

A mother and daughter pleaded guilty this month to moving the body of a man they believed was dead from a Richmond apartment and leaving him in “tall grass” in a conservation area, court records show.

Tired of brunch for Mother's Day? Consider these ideas to do something slightly different this weekend in McHenry County.

The McHenry County Board is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the McHenry County Conservation District Board of Trustees.

McHenry County – and more broadly northern Illinois – area holds a distinct reputation for having some of the strongest fishing spots in the state, said a fisheries biologist with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

For Valerie Koehn, of Crystal Lake, exercise isn’t always just hopping on treadmills or elliptical machines inside her local fitness center. Sometimes it’s exploring McHenry County’s many nature trails, learning about clouds, and watching butterflies soar.

The McHenry Outdoor Theater opens this weekend. Also happening is downtown Crystal Lake's Garden Party and Flower Sale, a wildflower walk in Woodstock, a touch-a-truck event in Algonquin and a special World Migratory Bird Day event at Glacial Park.

An effort to grow the population of freshwater mussels – the most endangered group of organisms in the U.S. – in Nippersink Creek and its tributaries will be jumpstarted with a $15,000 contribution by the McHenry County Conservation Foundation.

A McHenry County judge ordered Friday that a Lake Villa man accused of firing a gun at McHenry homes and vehicles last month undergo a fitness evaluation, court records show.

McHenry County Conservation District will host an Earth Day celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road in Crystal Lake.

The first day of the Illinois trout season is Saturday and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources stocked trout at two McHenry County Conservation District sites, the agency said.

Owners among those promoting county's downtown areas, nature

A half-mile section of the Prairie Trail in Algonquin will be closed through May as the McHenry County Conservation District works to stabilize the trail and address stream erosion.

The McHenry County Conservation District will receive $200,000 from a state matching grant to pave The Hollows walking path, with second grant creating accessible kayak/canoe launch.

Chuck Howenstine has been maple sugaring for 40 years, from an Ohio kitchen to the family's Ringwood farm, all for fun and to give away.