| Watershed Planning |
| Watershed planning is a collaborative
approach to addressing a variety of related
water resource issues including water quality
protection. This approach allows stakeholders to
share information, better target limited
financial resources, and address common
water-related challenges. These challenges can
include improving stream and lake water quality,
preserving and protecting groundwater resources,
managing stormwater, reducing soil erosion and
flood damage, conserving open space, protecting
wildlife habitat, providing safe lake and stream
recreational opportunities, supporting
opportunities for economic development,
preserving prime farmland, and other issues of
concern. Watershed-based plans are being
developed throughout Illinois and elsewhere in
the country to address
nonpoint-source pollution prevention and
water resource protection needs as well as
provide a unique forum for public education,
involvement, outreach, and community-capacity
building opportunities. |
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| Benefits of Participation |
Benefits of Participation Planning on a
watershed basis provides an opportunity to
address quality-of-life issues related to
natural resources that we share in common.
Watershed planning enables development of
solutions to common problems that better match
the way in which water flows through our local
landscapes.
Watershed planning can increase
public awareness and community support for local
sustainability initiatives. Outcomes include
recommendations for priority watershed projects
and plans. Action items identified in the plan
become eligible for state and federal funding to
help local sponsors implement those projects. |
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| Project Background Information |
The
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for
Planning (CMAP) is the delegated authority for the region’s
areawide water quality management plan.
CMAP entered into an agreement with the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency (IEPA) to complete four watershed-based plans
within the Fox River Basin.
The watershed planning project commenced in September
2010 in Blackberry Creek
and Ferson-Otter Creek watersheds (Lower Fox River, Kane and
Kendall counties) and in Sleepy Hollow Creek and Silver Creek
watersheds (Upper Fox River, McHenry County). Funding for these
projects was provided by the IEPA through Section 604(b) of the
Clean Water Act (CWA).
The Conservation Foundation (TCF), Environmental Defenders of
McHenry County (EDMC), and the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership
(FREP) are partners in the planning process and have received
grants from CMAP. TCF and EDMC serve as local watershed
coordinators in the Lower Fox and Upper Fox watersheds
respectively, convening local stakeholders and executing an outreach
plan.
FREP supports the outreach and education effort through these webpages, highlighting watershed planning
activity in the month e-newsletter
Downstream, and
future Noon
Network programs to be held in each of the four watersheds.
The Fox River Study Group's hydrologic and
water quality simulation models being developed by the
Illinois State Water Survey were used to estimate
watershed-pollutant loads. Thus, CMAP is supporting a
collaborative structure for conserving the Fox River, an
important source of regional water supply.
The planning process and watershed plans are to
be completed by December 31, 2011. |
Funding for these projects is provided by
the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
(IEPA) through Section 604(b) of the Clean Water
Act (CWA). Watershed planning oversight is the
responsibility of the Chicago Metropolitan
Agency for Planning (CMAP) under a master
agreement with the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency (IEPA). CMAP is the delegated
authority for the region’s areawide water
quality management plan.
The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County
(EDMC) and the
Fox River Ecosystem Partnership (FREP) are
partners in the planning process and have
received grants from CMAP to provide watershed
coordination and community outreach.
The
Fox River Study Group is also involved
because the hydrologic and water quality
simulation models being developed for them by
the Illinois State Water Survey will be used to
estimate watershed-pollutant loads. The
watershed plans are to be completed by December
31, 2011. Watershed plans funded by the CWA must
meet criteria established by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
This planning
process will follow the
Guidance for Developing Watershed Action Plans
in Illinois, created by CMAP and IEPA.
Additionally, this plan will work to address
newer regional planning criteria including
groundwater protection strategies. |
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| The Fox River Basin |
The Fox River Basin is a collection of
nested watersheds and serves as a vital drinking
water supply for communities large and small.
The Fox River Basin is a significant
recreational resource, and home to 150
state-threatened and endangered species in the
region. However, Fox River water quality has
been impaired by land-use change and other
activities that have not adequately protected
the rich natural resources of the river basin.
Working to protect the watersheds of tributary
streams such as Blackberry Creek, Ferson-Otter
Creeks, Silver Creek, and Sleepy Hollow
Creek will support local communities and help to
restore the Fox River. |
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| What is a watershed? |
| A Watershed is an area of land that drains
water into a common receiving body or outlet
such as a stream. Watershed boundaries are
defined by nature and are largely determined by
the topography or "lay of the land." |
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| Planning Meeting
Schedule: |
| Please note: these meetings are
open to the public and anyone interested in learning
more about this project is welcome to attend and
participate. |
|
Blackberry Creek Watershed Meeting
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
2-4 PM
Location TBA
Blackberry Creek
Page
For more information, Email Tara Neff at:
tneff@theconservationfoundation.org |
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Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Meeting
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
2-4 PM
Location TBD
Ferson-Otter
Creek Page
For more information, Email Tara Neff at:
tneff@theconservationfoundation.org |
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Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow
Creek Watersheds Meeting
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
1 - 3 PM
Prairie View Education
Center
2112 Behan Rd., Crystal Lake
For more information, Email Lynn Rotunno at:
watershedinfo@mcdefenders.net
Silver &
Sleepy Hollow
Creek Page |
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Other Watershed Groups
that have developed Plans |
| In the Fox River Watershed in
IL: |
|
Fish Lake Drain Watershed |
|
Flint Creek Watershed |
|
Nippersink Creek |
|
Poplar Creek Watershed |
|
Sequoit Creek Watershed |
|
Squaw Creek Watershed |
|
Tyler Creek Watershed |
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| Links to plans outside the Fox
River Watershed: |
|
Hickory Creek - Lower Des Plaines, IL |
|
Lower DuPage River, IL |
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| Key Links |
|
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for
Planning |
|
The Conservation Foundation |
|
Environmental Defenders of McHenry County |
|
Fox River Study Group |
|
FREP
- Subwatersheds of the Fox Page |
|
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency |
|
EPA Healthy Watersheds |
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