McHenry County, with the help of the Chicago Wilderness Sustainable Watershed Action Team (SWAT), is working on a McHenry County Green Infrastructure Plan.  The McHenry County 2030 Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the County Board last year, included recommendations for such a plan.

The term ‘green infrastructure’ generally refers to strategically planned and managed networks of natural lands, agricultural lands, and other open spaces.  The McHenry County Green Infrastructure Plan will present a plan for the establishment of such networks that can be implemented not only by the county, but also by municipalities, townships, county residents, businesses, and developers.  Together we can use the plan to make better land use decisions regarding natural areas and open spaces.  As a result, the plan will help make it possible for these areas to one day be linked into a network that conserves natural ecosystems, allows for improved wildlife migration and habitats, protects water resources, and improves quality of life in the county through access to nature and trail systems.

Download here:

January 4 Draft Green Infrastructure Map (4.5MB pdf)
January 4 Draft Green Infrastructure Trails Map (3 MB, pdf)