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The Village of Algonquin, IL
Welcome to the website for the Village of Algonquin!
Natural Area Maintenance & Conservation
"We are really happy with the restoration of the parks, native plants, and natural areas."
The Village of Algonquin is dedicated to preserving our environment and responsibly managing essential natural resources, such as groundwater, wetlands, and watersheds. Through our commitment to protecting our natural environment, it is our hope these resources will be safeguarded for generations to come.
The Village owns over 800 acres of natural space and has actively managed and restored more than 400 acres since 2000. These efforts have contributed to a positive response from nearly 85% of residents in the Algonquin Community Survey regarding the preservation of natural areas.
Prairie & Pollinator Maintenance in Algonquin
One activity the Village undertakes to support local ecosystems is maintaining prairie and pollinator habitats. These native landscapes enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, manage stormwater, and provide essential habitats for pollinators. Regular maintenance, including controlled burns, selective mowing, and invasive species management, helps these areas thrive.
Learn more about prairie and pollinator establishment in Algonquin.
Prescribed Burning
Prescribed burns are a crucial tool in restoring and maintaining natural areas, helping to control invasive species, promote native plant growth, and improve overall ecosystem health. These burns are carefully planned and conducted by trained professionals following strict safety guidelines to ensure effectiveness while minimizing risk. All burn areas listed below are scheduled to be completed by May 1 of their shown year, weather permitting, unless stated otherwise.
Prescribed Burn Schedule | 2025
| Location | Acreage | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Wastewater Treatment Plant | 3.7 | Upcoming |
| Lake Drive South Nature Preserve | 3.6 | Upcoming |
| Pioneer Road Bluffs | 3.4 | Upcoming |
| Souwanas Creek Riparian Corridor | 5.0 | Upcoming |
| Yellowstone Detention and Woodland | 6.8 | Upcoming |
| Trails of Woods Creek Natural Area | 32.9 | Upcoming |
| Blue Ridge Detention Basin | 3.4 | Completed March 10, 2025 |
| Countryside Detention Basin | 0.9 | Completed March 10, 2025 |
| Highland Avenue Detention Basins | 1.7 | Completed March 10, 2025 |
| Holder Park Detention Basin | 1.4 | Completed March 10, 2025 |
| Algonquin Public Works Facility | 2.3 | Completed March 18, 2025 |
| Wastewater Treatment Plant | 3.7 | Completed March 25, 2025 |
| Western Bypass Prairie | 7.4 | Completed March 25, 2025 |
| Spella Park Wetland | 88.0 | Completed March 27, 2025 |
Conservation Milestones
Over the past four decades, the Village of Algonquin has become a leader in environmental efforts, earning multiple awards for our commitment to protecting our natural environment. Check out our progress through the years below.
28x Tree City USA
Arbor Day Foundation
1996 - Present
Mayor's Monarch Pledge
National Wildlife Federation
2022 - Present
Certificate of Environmental Achievement
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
2017
- Began Volume-Based Recycling in the Village
- Police Department Began Patrols Using Bicycles
- Introduced Water Conservation Regulations to the Village
- Adopted Tree Preservation Code in Village
- 1996: Became Tree City USA
- 2001: Adopted Woods Creek Watershed Protection Plan
- 2001: Joined Fox River Ecosystem Partnership (FREP)
- 2002: Conservation Community Program Launched (First Conservation Community Day held at Woods Creek Trail)
- 2004: Began Water Conservation Education
- 2005: Began Vegetable Oil Fuel Program
- 2005: Completed a Comprehensive Natural Areas Inventory
- 2005: Received Land Conservancy of McHenry County - Living with Trees Award for the Village's tree preservation program
- 2005: Received McHenry County Recycling Award for the Village's residential recycling program
- 2006: Achieved Silver Level Status through the Clean Air Counts Program
- 2006: Received Grant and Distributed 10,000 64-Gallon Recycling Carts to All Village Households
- 2006: Began to Transition Police Cruiser Vehicles from V8 to more Fuel-Efficient V6 engines
- 2006: Began Hybrid Vehicle Program for Municipal Vehicles
- 2007: Joined the McHenry County Groundwater Protection Task Force
- 2007: Joined the Sierra Club's Cool Cities
- 2007: Signed on to the US Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement
- 2007: Developed Natural Areas Stewardship Program
- 2007: Received McHenry County Defenders Theta Award for Village's Overall Commitment to the Environment
- 2007: Received Environmental Protection Agency & Chicago Wilderness Conservation Award for Arquilla Naturalized Detention
- 2008: Adopted Natural Areas Protection Ordinance
- 2008: Adopted Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan for Village
- 2008: Received Environmental Protection Agency & Chicago Wilderness Conservation Award for Lake Drive South Naturalized Detention
- 2009: Became Member of the Chicago Wilderness Alliance
- 2010: Adopted Conservation Design Ordinance
- 2010: Adopted Environmental Action Plan
- 2010: Implemented use of Beet Juice for Anti-Icing Methods
- 2010: Received McHenry County Council of Governments Model Program, Policy, or Procedure Award for Bicycle Rack Art Contest
- 2010: Received Environmental Protection Agency & Chicago Wilderness Conservation Award for Yellowstone Naturalized Area
- 2012: Adopted the Jelke Creek Watershed Plan
- 2013: Adopted the Woods Creek Watershed Plan
- 2013: Added Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Vehicles to Village Fleet
- 2014: Launched Bring Your Own Bag (BYOBag) Algonquin Program
- 2014: Adopted Complete Streets Policy
- 2015: Adopted Fox River Corridor Plan
- 2016: Endorsed the Metropolitan Mayors' Caucus Greenest Region Compact 2
- 2017: Converted streetlights in Algonquin to LED
- 2017: Received ComEd Green Region Program grant to construct Spella Park Pollinator Project
- 2017: Received Environmental Protection Agency 319 Grant for Woods Creek Stream Restoration
- 2018: Installed electric charging stations in Old Town Algonquin
- 2018: Approved Solar Panel Installation at Community School District 158 Algonquin Campus
- 2018: Conducted Solar Energy Feasibility Study at the Wastewater Treatment Facility and Water Treatment Plant #3
- 2019: Permitted Large-Scale Solar Installation at Target Store in Algonquin
- 2019: Received Streambank Stabilization and Restoration Program Grant for Souwanas Creek Reach 2 Stream Restoration
- 2019: Received ComEd Green Region Grant for Woods Creek Pollinator Project
- 2022: Received Environmental Protection Agency 319 Grant for Ratt Creek 5 Stream Restoration
- 2023: Received ComEd Green Region Grant for Wynnfield Detention Naturalization Project
Associated Documents
- Additional Information
