Protecting the wetlands in Lake in the Hills and environs is an important and continuing issue for the Village. Lake in the Hills recognizes the aesthetics of the wetland areas as well as the natural cleansing action and the educational aspects.

As part of the Village Subdivision Control Ordinance, Town and Country Homes of Westchester embarked upon a 10 acre wetland project that provides for a continuing preservation.

Wight Consulting Engineers, Inc. of Barrington represented the Village in reviewing the design and inspecting the implementation of the wetlands project. LaFayette Homes Nursery, Inc. of LaFayette, a 109 year old firm that has been a long time award winning member of the Illinois Nursery Association, performed the proper wetlands planting.

LaFayette hand planted 2,660 native plants in 9 pods. Each pod is fenced for approximately two years to establish a strong root system while protecting the plants from water fowl, primarily Canadian geese. The pods are placed at various water levels from shoreline to three foot of depth and complement the shoreline planting that is part of the wetlands preservation.

The wetland plants include:
                    • Water Plantain (Alisma plantago)
                    •Yellow pond lily (Nuphar advena)
                    • White water lily (Nymphea tuberosa)
                    • Sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus)
                    • Dark green rush (Scirpus atrovirens)
                    • Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya)
                    • Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
                    • Little bluestem grass (Andropogon scoparius)

This 10 acre project is part of a natural wetlands area of 30 acres and in time the whole area will serve the preservation of wetlands as well as nature walks and the education which is part of this project.

Lake in the Hills has over 300 acres of wetlands within its boundaries and carefully monitors all of the areas to see that the wetland classification remains and that these environmentally sensitive areas get the type of attention necessary for their preservation. •

August 1996 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 13