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Origins of the Greenbelt Management Plan

Image above:  taken from  FEMA GIS maps of the Catatoga Greenbelt

The 53.5 acres of green space we refer to as "the Greenbelt" was represented to the purchasers in Catatoga as a "recreation area" by the original developer during the 1970s.  At the time the subdivision was established, flood plains, wetlands, and stormwater management were not subject to the same regulations as they are today.  The implementation of the Clean Water Act in 1972 impacted the categorization of these open space parcels and prohibitions related to use of the land went into effect. 

Over the decades, various care plans were focused on creating recreational walking paths for the enjoyment of residents in keeping with the developer's original description of the land, however, this was not an appropriate or permitted use of the land given the special classification of the wetlands throughout the Greenbelt.



In 2014, a conversation was held and documented between the CPOA Board and the Army Corps of Engineers about pollution running off of Catatoga properties into Fitchie Creek after residents raised some concerns.  Discussion about subsoil changes related to the dumping of yard debris in the Greenbelt was also discussed.  Potential fines of up to $30,000 day for such activities were noted.  This drove home the fact that perhaps the association did not fully understand their obligations to the land, its permitted use, or how to care for it.  The board approached Kane County for assistance in better understanding all of these things.

In 2015, after walking the length of the 6 open space parcels that make up the Greenbelt, the Kane County Division of Environmental & Water Resources issued a memorandum to the CPOA detailing the "poor ecological state" of the Greenbelt and provided specific directives on the remediation needed to restore its health. They also advised that whenever possible, it was appropriate to use volunteers in coordinated efforts to reduce the expenses related to stewardship of the land.

Starting in Fiscal Year 2020, the entire Greenbelt Management Plan was revisited by the CPOA Board of Directors together with the Kane County Division of Environmental & Water Resources, as well as the Kane County Forest Management Division. The findings of their memo from 2015 were reaffirmed and some additional stewardship advice was provided.  The Forest Management Division provided a detailed plan on how they would approach managing the land if it were in their care and that, along with the recommendations from 2015, became the foundation for the stewardship plan put into effect in 2020, that we work with today.  We continue to reach out to Kane County on an annual basis to revisit that memo and take steps towards addressing the issues noted within with our volunteer stewardship team.

As of May 2023, care of the Greenbelt is divided between lots 105, 106, & 107 owned by the Catatoga III Natural Habitat & Wetlands, Inc. and lots 92, 93, and 94, owned by the Catatoga Property Owners Assocation, Inc.

What IS "the Greenbelt"?

The Greenbelt is first and foremost a regulatory floodway recognized by FEMA and contains a flood buffer zone.  It is also a recognized wetlands area protected under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.  Fitchie Creek runs through the Greenbelt and is identified as a "small tributary" that feeds into the Otter-Ferson Creek Watershed leading to the Fox River, which is responsible for the drinking water of over 300,000 people in Elgin and Aurora.  The map below shows how Fitchie Creek flows from Fitchie Preserve in the Otter Creek Watershed to our Northwest, through our Greenbelt, and on to the Ferson Creek Watershed to the Southeast...eventually leading to the Fox River in St. Charles.


Regulations & Prohibitions Applicable to the Greenbelt

Management of the Greenbelt is subject to Kane County’s Stormwater Management Ordinance under IDNR 9-142 Floodway Standards.  This standard specifically prohibits regulatory floodways from having recreation areas, ballfields, and trail systems unless the land is owned by and managed by a government entity or agency.  

Paths or trails may be established for the purposes of creating access to the interior of the property for maintenance reasons only. While those same paths or trails can be used secondarily for walking, the trails cannot exist simply for recreation purposes.

Additionally, Fitchie Creek is considered a "navigable waterway" and any improvements, projects, construction, changes, and the like are subject to review and approval by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

It is our obligation to protect the integrity of the floodway, the health of the wetlands, keep the creek clear from obstruction, and avoid polluting the creek through contaminated runoff from our surrounding properties.  We are also required by regulation and by deed to insure we cause no changes to the “subsoil”.  

This Means:

  • we cannot dump yard or other debris in the Greenbelt other than that which is generated inside the property lines of the open space parcels
  • we cannot burn in the Greenbelt unless it is a controlled, permitted, & proscribed burn (no residents may create burn or fire pits for personal use beyond their own property line - please see Kane County Burn Regulations for more information on the law related to burning in Kane County)
  • we cannot mow inside the Greenbelt aside from approved paths that are created specifically to allow access to the land and creek for the purposes of maintenance

Violating any of these prohibitions can result in individual Catatoga residents being fined by Kane County and/or other regulatory agencies.  It is the responsibility of the Catatoga III NHW to ensure all residents understand these prohibitions, as well as documenting and reporting violations to the appropriate local, state, and federal agencies as they are found so that they may impose fines or penalties based on the appropriate regulations or ordinances. 

SUMMARY

Members of the Catatoga III NHW have an important obligation to care for this special set of parcels.  It is a haven for wildlife, a critical pathway for water to flow into the Fox River, and we are its custodians.  

About us

The Catatoga III Natural Habitat & Wetlands, Inc. exists to maintain & preserve the 53.5-acre Greenbelt that spans our community.  Learn more about us...

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