Trout Valley Forestry Board
The Trout Valley Forestry Board was established in 2011. The purpose was to have a collaboration between the Village of Trout Valley and the Trout Valley Association regarding responsibility for trees on common ground within the Village boundaries.
In January of 2020 Trout Valley was recognized by the Land Conservancy of McHenry County for the board's efforts in maintaining Trout Valley’s rare Oak Tree Savannah.
In January of 2020 Trout Valley was recognized by the Land Conservancy of McHenry County for the board's efforts in maintaining Trout Valley’s rare Oak Tree Savannah.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Manage the expenditure of Village funds budgeted for planting new trees, removing dead and diseased trees, providing treatment to protect trees from disease and pruning trees on an annual basis.
- Implement an annual pruning of Trout Valley’s trees to keep the streets safe for our residents and to maintain the health of our trees. The pruning is based on recommendations provided by a certified arborist.
- Administer the Tree City program and ensure the Village complies with the requirements of Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City status.
- Monitor the work of utility companies regarding compliance with the care of trees in utility easements. Monitor removal of trees in utility easements. Receive permit requests to remove trees by utility companies and deny or approve accordingly.
- The Forest Board has an area on Village property that is a dedicated nursery. This nursery nurtures small trees and bushes. The purpose is to have these plants available so they can be planted in different areas around Trout Valley.
- Read more about Trout Valley's tree canopy here.
Past Projects:
- Develop a planting area around the baseball/softball field.
- Promote pollinator plantings in the Trout Valley gardens. The first project was a Monarch Butterfly Way Station at the Trout Valley Lodge. A further two more pollinator areas were established. These areas help to provide, not only native flowers, but food for our pollinators.
- Apply for and received grants to help pay for Trout Valley’s planting projects.
- Celebrate Arbor Day each year with the planting of a new tree in Trout Valley.
- Introduce Trout Valley residents to the name and history of the gentleman responsible for providing Trout Valley with its beautiful landscape plan. Jens Jensen was the famous Landscape Architect that designed Trout Valley, (known back in the 1920s as Leona Farms) for John D. Hertz.
Board:
- Kristin Purtill – Chair
- Robert Antrim
- Sheelagh Cooke
- David Hall
- Linda Stelle
- Trout Valley Maintenance Representative
Documents: