BMP Talk and Tour: Successful Natural Areas Management for Homeowner Associations
This Talk and Tour will provide a first-hand look at successful natural area management at the McAndrews Glen subdivision in Bull Valley. It will also include a brief visit to the adjacent Boloria Meadows Nature Preserve.
Dennis Dreher, Geosyntec Consultant and volunteer Nature Preserve steward, will lead the tour and discuss elements of successful management of 25 acres of natural area in the McAndrews Glen. The subdivision was developed 20 years ago following a conservation design theme with homes clustered within naturalized open space. The natural area, which includes four detention basins, was formally designated as a common area in the plat of subdivision and the approved HOA covenants require long-term ecological stewardship of the area.
The HOA natural area abuts Boloria Meadows Natural Preserve, owned by The Land Conservancy of McHenry County. To better protect the Preserve and to enable flexible ecological management, 6 acres of HOA natural area were placed into a Nature Preserve Buffer that is cooperatively managed by the HOA contractor and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.
The natural area is routinely managed by a contractor hired by the HOA. The management approach focuses on control of invasive species and regular controlled burning. While the overall appearance and ecological quality of the natural area has improved significantly over time, some ongoing issues with invasive species persist.
The tour will visit several representative zones in the natural area as well as the adjacent Nature Preserve. Discussion will address several important topics:
- The role of the HOA in funding and overseeing natural area management. (A HOA board member has been invited to participate.)
- Considerations in hiring and overseeing natural area contractors.
- The role of local government in approving effective institutional arrangements, including covenants. (A representative of the Village has been invited to participate.)
- Effective communication with HOA residents.
- Synergies and opportunities of cooperating with The Land Conservancy and other adjacent landowners.
- Benefits of sound natural area management to stormwater and water quality.
- Cost savings of natural area management vs. turf grass maintenance.
To register, please RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/BMPTourSignup. Directions and parking instructions will be sent after you have RSVP’d. These popular Talk and Tour programs showcase Best Management Practices successfully implemented in McHenry County. The programs are a collaborative effort with the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and the McHenry County Department of Planning and Development.