Crystal Lake Watershed And McHenry County College

A debate about what Mother Nature did or did not provide for the Crystal Lake area has been ongoing for many years. This has to do with what is known as the Crystal Lake watershed, which feeds the body of water know as the Crystal Lake.

Most recently it involves the McHenry County College’s plans to repair and upgrade a parking lot located on the south side of the building which is located on US Route 14.

The MCC property is located in the Crystal Lake watershed, something that was not considered when the property was acquired and the building constructed over 40 years ago. Consideration for a watershed at that time was not a worry.

Recently a citizen expressed concern on the matter, noting to the MCC Board that the construction was not following the Crystal Lake watershed requirements. 

We questioned MCC officials and were told they were following what Crystal Lake City Planning and Development Department officials required and the engineers hired by the College are working with the City.

We also checked with the City Planning Department on the matter and found that the statement is true. Just this past week, the matter was noted during the City Council meeting. The Planning Department publicly stated that MCC is following the City’s requirements regarding the watershed and the work to be accomplished on the parking lot.

So it appears the Crystal Lake Watershed is not being ignored in the upgrading of McHenry County College.