Ferson Otter Creek Watershed Planning
Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed
Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed
 
Larger map here
 
For more information about what a watershed is and general information about this planning process, please click on this link:
Watershed Planning Home
The Ferson-Otter Creek watershed consists of two subwatersheds: Ferson Creek and Otter Creek. However for our planning purposes, the two subwatersheds will be studied together as Ferson Creek is a major tributary to Otter Creek. The Ferson-Otter Creek watershed has a drainage area of approximately 54 square miles, with 29% of the land area developed. The watershed is located on the urban fringe of the Chicago Metropolitan area in Kane County, the 5th fastest growing county in Illinois and covers portions of the Cities of Elgin and St. Charles as well as the Villages of Campton Hills, South Elgin, and Lily Lake. The total population in Ferson-Otter Creek watershed is approximately 32,515.
 
Stakeholder Watershed Planning Meetings:
Please note:  meetings are open to the public and anyone interested in learning more about this project is welcome to attend and participate.
Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Meeting 

Tuesday, March 27, 2012   2-4 PM
Location TBD



Final Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Plan Documents
Submitted to IEPA 12-21-11
Great News! The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency sent approval, with no further comments, for the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Plan!
Final Plan Part 1       
Final Plan Part 2
Executive Summary
 
Special Activity:
On Wednesday, Oct. 19 we met at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles for a program on the Ferson Creek Dam Removal Project, presented by, Ken Anderson, Manager, Kane County Subdivision & Special Projects Division
This project represents Phase I of multi-phased program to create uninterrupted fish passage throughout 44 miles of stream habitat in the Ferson-Creek watershed.  Our primary objective for Phase I is to remove the impassable dam at Creek Bend Forest Preserve and to modify one low-water barrier located downstream of Creek Bend, in order to open 6.3 miles of lower Ferson-Otter Creek to the Fox River.  Completion of Phase I will allow us to use these projects as models for low cost stream restoration, and to give examples to present to other private landowners in order to foster cooperation for the watershed wide approach.  Phase one will also include evaluation of the fish community response. 
Ferson Creek (above) before dam removal
(below) after removal
 
Presentations
CMAP Overview   Talbot  9-21-10
The Conservation Foundation Overview  Tuttle  9-21-10
Ferson-Otter Creek  Talbot  11-23-10
Groundwater Protection: Should You Care?  Loftus 12-16-10
Shallow Groundwater Aquifers in Kane County Schuch 12-16-10
Planning Updates  Talbot  1-25-11
Planning Updates  Talbot & Tuttle  2-22-11
Watershed Planning  & Water Quality Monitoring  Elberts   4-26-11
Planning Updates  Talbot  4-26-11
Watershed Planning in Ferson-Otter Creek 5-11
Agricultural Conservation Practices   Musich  6-28-11
Moving Forward  10-25-11
 
Resources & Documents
Ferson-Otter Creek Project Charter
Draft Goals 11-15-10
Final Goals  11-23-10
CMAP Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance
Municipal Ordinance Review Worksheet from the Center for Watershed Protection
Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Planning Brochure
Ferson-Otter Creek Brochure - How You Can Help Reduce Water Pollution
Fecal Coliform - Pet Waste Pollution Poster
 
PLAN Documents:
Final Plan Part 1   Submitted to IEPA 12-21-11
Final Plan Part 2   Submitted to IEPA 12-21-11
Executive Summary   Submitted to IEPA 12-21-11
Draft Plan  9-20-11
Plan Outline  9-20-11
Projects List: Watershed-wide Summary of BMPs Recommended for Implementation
Educational Outreach Draft
 
 
Ferson Planning Meeting
Contact Info:
Tara Neff
630-428-4500, Ext. 23  tneff@theconservationfoundation.org
Tara Neff  Amy Talbot
Tara Neff
TCF
Amy Talbot
CMAP
 
Maps
Map of Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed  
 
Google Earth Map Files
Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed
Ferson-Otter Streams
Ferson-Otter Recommendations
Download Google Earth
How to Use Google Earth
 
Links
The Conservation Foundation
CMAP - Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
 
Meeting
 Agendas
9-21-10
10-20-10
 
12-16-10
1-25-11
2-22-11
3-29-11
4-26-11
5-24-11
6-28-11
7-26-11
9-27-11
10-25-11
12-19-11
Notes
9-21-10
10-20-10
11-23-10
12-16-10
1-25-11
2-22-11
3-29-11 
4-26-11
5-24-11
6-28-11
7-26-11 
9-27-11
10-25-11
12-19-11
 
Watershed Planning
FREP