Third Generation Oak Fund created

On August 4^th, an amazing thing happened at Glacier Oaks farm west of Harvard. Two families decided to hold a party to start raising money for a permanent endowment to help restore and preserve the County’s once vast oak-hickory woodlands in perpetuity.

People from throughout the Chicago region attended the party, and offered their financial, intellectual, and physical support to the cause. After the dust settles, it is expected that the event will have raised $4,000 to kick-off the 3^rd Generation Oak Fund that will be managed by The Land Conservancy for the purpose of ensuring there will be a third generation of oaks for future county residents to enjoy!

When European settlers began moving into McHenry County in the 1830’s, nearly 37% of the landscape was wooded – primarily with oaks and hickories. This was the first generation of oaks (since settlement). During the 40 years following European settlement, nearly 60% of those trees were cut to clear lands for farming, for fuel and for building purposes. The oaks that grew in their place were the second generation. Today, the second generation of trees covers just four percent of the landscape. These remaining trees are reaching 150-200 years old, and they are under enormous stress. Experts estimate that within 20 years, the remaining oaks could be gone, other than the ones that are found at managed, public natural areas like MCCD’s Glacial Park and Moraine Hills State Park.

The 3^rd Generation Oak Fund will help ensure that these trees will be a lasting and significant part of the local landscape forever.

Donations to the Fund can be made through TLC’s website: www.conservemc.org, by clicking on the Third Generation Oak Fund link on the right hand side of the window. Or, if you prefer, you can send a check made out to TLC (PO Box 352, Woodstock, IL 60098), and write 3^rd Generation Oaks in the memo line. Thank you!

McHenry County Environmental Alliance

On August 29th, the newly formed (or perhaps I should say "forming") McHenry County Environmental Alliance met for the third time.

The group includes representatives from 23 environmental organizations that are working in McHenry County on a wide diversity of issues.

The Mission Statement is:
Within 10 years, McHenry County will be recognized nationally among counties its size for implementing successfully a sustinable environmental strategy for enhancing quality of life.

The initial projects that the group chose to focus on are:

1. Develop a Communication Strategy for getting more and better environmental news into the local media and develop a website for the public.

2. Develop and implement a "Scorecard"rating program for local municipalities to help publicize those who are doing things well (from a green standpoint), and those who are not.

3. Compile ordinance examples and have them available on the website for local officials and citizens to access for ideas for updating local ordinances to be stronger from an environmental standpoint.