Diane Evertsen was elected from District 6, which serves the western half of McHenry County, during this past election cycle in November. Ms. Evertsen currently resides in rural Harvard and serves on the Human Resources, Liquor and License, and Transportation Committees. She is also a member of the Pollution Control Facility and Community Development Block Grant Sub-committees...click here to learn more about Ms. Evertsen.

The Rakow Road Construction project is scheduled to begin in March 2011 and be completed with all new lanes open to traffic in late Fall 2012, weather permitting.  The limits for the project include Rakow Road from south of Ackman Road to IL 31 - a length of just over three miles. 

There will be one lane of traffic in each direction open throughout the entire project.  The widening of Rakow Road needs to be done because the amount of traffic using the road has grown tremendously.  Adding new lanes will meet the current and future traffic demands.  For more information, please visit www.rakowroad.com.

Cassandra McKinney 

McHenry County Division of Water Resources

Have you ever heard the phrase, "out of sight, out of mind?"  Unfortunately this phrase all too often summarizes how people think about McHenry County's groundwater supply.  While the water supply in McHenry County and Northeastern Illinois may seem to be bountiful and endless, it is actually a finite supply.   McHenry County is 100% dependent on groundwater for all of its drinking water needs.  That means all 308,000 residents, as well as the County's businesses and industries rely on this finite drinking water supply to sustain life and the economy. 

What is Groundwater?

Groundwater is water that collects or flows beneath the Earth's surface, filling the porous spaces in soil, sediment, and rocks. The groundwater is replenished as rainwater infiltrates into the ground; however, this seemingly infinite resource can easily be depleted if we withdraw water faster than it can be replaced.  Scientists argue that groundwater is being polluted and withdrawn at a rate that far outstrips nature's ability to cope and McHenry County is one of the six counties in northeastern Illinois that are facing water shortages today making groundwater protection and conservation particularly important for our residents. Knowledge is power! When we understand the importance of groundwater and have the tools to protect it, every person can help to make a difference.

Did You Know?

·         Only 2.5% of the water on Earth is fresh water and less than 1% of this water is available for direct human use.

·         Half of the U.S. population depends on groundwater for its drinking water supply; this includes all of McHenry County, Illinois.

·         Most surface water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and streams are connected to our groundwater supply.

·         Per capita, Americans are some of the largest users of water in the world with the average family of four using more than 350 gallons of water per day. 

How can I be a Groundwater Steward?

Conserve! You can conserve our limited water resources when you:

·         Update to WaterSense labeled products, especially in the bathroom with 41% of a household's water use coming from toilet flushing and 33% from bathing.  A running toilet can waste 400 gallons of water per day.

·         Fix leaks in pipes and faucets around your home.  At 1 drip per second, a faucet can leak 3,000 gallons of water per year.

·         Don't leave a faucet running if you're not using the water such as while you brush your teeth.

·         Use a shut-off nozzle for your hose when gardening or washing your car.

·         Maintain a lawn that is 3 inches tall and reduce watering.  The average lawn only requires 1 inch of water per week to stay green.

·         Consider Xeriscaping and plant drought resistant or native plants in your garden. 

·         Install a Raingarden. 

You can protect our limited water resources when you:

·         Properly dispose of hazardous household substances making sure not to flush them down the toilet or pour them down the drain.

·         Avoid flushing expired medication.  Instead, drop them off at an approved medication disposal facility (Village of Fox River Grove and Johnsburg Police Departments).

·         Avoid using coal tar based driveway sealants as they contain carcinogens that are carried to our water resources by rain water.

·         Avoid using phosphorus containing fertilizers on your lawn as they will run into our water with the rain runoff.

For more information on Groundwater Awareness Week and protecting our precious water supply, please visit:

http://www.mchenryh2o.com

http://www.ngwa.org/public/awarenessweek/index.aspx

http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/index.html 

Follow the McHenry County Division of Water Resources on Facebook!

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.