A Need for Watershed Planning

The Upper DesPlaines River Watershed covers an area of approximately 480 square miles or 307,000 acres that is divided into 15 subwatersheds that drain to the main stem of the river.  Watershed-based planning for many of the subwatersheds is completed or currently underway to address problems such as flood damage, poor water quality, loss of green infrastructure, and habitat fragmentation.

The watershed problems that we currently experience have been largely generated through changing land use. The lower approximate two-thirds of the Upper DesPlaines River watershed has largely been developed into urban and suburban land uses.  Villages, towns and cities have replaced the natural lands and farm fields that once characterized the land area. Soil and plant growth that once absorbed and infiltrated rain fall and snowmelt have gradually been replaced with impervious surfaces of buildings, roads and parking lots that rapidly shed an increasing volume of water to our lakes, streams and river. Wildlife habitat has been fragmented by the developed areas, and invasive plants have moved into natural areas to challenge the native plant and animal communities and disrupt and degrade the remaining areas of high quality habitat.

The Des Plaines River is one of the most flood-prone waterways in the region in spite of numerous flood control efforts completed and underway. Flooding problems are scattered throughout the larger watershed, but the most severe flood damage occurs along the main stem of the river. 

Many of the watershed’s lakes and stream segments have also been diagnosed as having poor water quality including portions of the main stem of the river itself.  For example, there are thirteen lakes and a Buffalo Creek segment that are listed as impaired waters in the Indian Creek subwatershed; while the North Mill Creek watershed has ten lakes and Hastings Creek listed with impaired water quality.

The first comprehensive watershed plan for the Wisconsin portion of the watershed was completed by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission in ____.  More recently, the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) has taken the lead on developing watershed plans for Lake County subwatersheds. Watershed-based plans have been completed and adopted for Indian and Bull Creek-Bull’s Brook watersheds, a draft plan has been completed for the Newport Creek watershed and planning has just begun for the North Mill Creek watershed.  Watershed planning is also underway father south by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District – they are presently completing plans for the portion of the Des Plaines watershed in Cook County.  Join UDPREP partners in supporting watershed planning in the remaining DesPlaines watersheds and moving forward to implement the recommendations of these watershed plans once complete.

Organizing to Make Difference

Indian Creek Watershed Project Holds Their First Watershed Summit

Indian Creek watershed partners participated in a watershed summit late in 2008 to celebrate their success - and continued to implement a number of new projects in 2009. Examples of several projects underway include: wetland and stream restoration at Heron Creek Forest Preserve; four rain gardens to capture stormwater runoff before it flows in into Diamond Lake; stream restoration in several locations including projects along Seavy Drain in the Village of Vernon Hills and Indian Creek in Mundelein (Mundelein Park District).

The Indian Creek Watershed Project was founded as a not-for-profit organization in 2000 to develop and implement a watershed plan for the 38 square mile Indian Creek watershed. Indian Creek has one of the first watershed-based plans completed in the State of Illinois. Well on its way in implementing the recommendations of the plan, more than $2 million in grant funds have been used for best management practice projects to improve water quality, preserve and enhance natural resources and reduce the volume of runoff to the watershed lakes and streams.  http://www.indiancreekwp.org/index.html

Bull Creek – Bull’s Brook Establishing a Watershed Council

A watershed-based plan was completed and adopted for the Bull Creek – Bull’s Brook Watershed in central Lake County in 2009. Following the completion of the plan, the watershed partners are now working to institutionalize their organization by forming a watershed council to guide and promote plan implementation. But Bull Creek-Brook watershed partners didn’t wait until the plan was printed and adopted and the council formed to get started - they got a jump-start on watershed improvement projects in 2009.  The Liberty Prairie Area Homeowner’s Association (comprised of four homeowner associations) has been working diligently to clean up and restore Bull Creek North on private properties in their area; Mundelein Park District and the University of St. Mary’s have undertaken stream restoration projects along Bull Creek South; and Libertyville Township Open Space District decided to discontinue a farming lease and is restoring the riparian corridor along Bull’s Brook on a property recently purchased to protect and buffer Bull’s Brook.

Lake County Leads by Example with Low Impact Development in Libertyville

Lake County is constructing a new centralized facility in the Bull Creek/Des Plaines River watershed in Libertyville to house 160 employees who work for the County’s permitting agencies/departments. The new facility is nearly completion and includes low impact development stormwater management practices that absorb and filter stormwater including a green roof, two large rain gardens, bioswale/vegetated swales throughout the parking lots, and two wetland detention basins.  Native plants used throughout the facility’s landscape will also provide wildlife habitat. The County received an IL EPA nonpoint source pollution reduction program grant for the stormwater practices on the site and a grant from the USEPA State and Tribal Assistance Grant for the green roof. Both grants are being administered through the Stormwater Management Commission.  The building also includes a number of “green” features. The “green” permitting facility will be fully completed in February 2010 and will be featured on a future Des Plaines River watershed tour – stay posted.

Water Quality and Flood Mitigation Projects Funded by Lake County Stormwater Management Commission:

• Riverwoods Rain Garden Program: a village wide rain garden program to construct rain gardens and bioswales throughout the village to alleviate localized flooding.
• Carillon North Homeowners Association Retention Pond Retrofit (Grayslake): stabilization of eroding shorelines of a retention pond utilizing native plant species.
• Lakeridge Restoration Association Wetland Improvement: increasing the storage capacity of the wetland through the repair of a drain tile and enhancement of the wetland buffer utilizing native vegetation.
• Buffalo Grove Buffalo Creek Streambank Stabilization-Phase 3: stabilizing approximately 450 linear feet of Buffalo Creek and approximately 600 linear feet of an unnamed tributary to Buffalo Creek.
• Buffalo Grove Aptakisic Creek Streambank Stabilization: streambank stabilization of approximately 300 feet near Thompson Blvd. and approximately 150 feet near Weiland Rd.

Des Plaines Water Quality Projects Funded Through the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission:

• Seavey Ditch Impoundment Removal and Stream Restoration: Village of Vernon Hills removal of a low dam on Seavey Ditch within the Vernon Hills Municipal Golf Course and restoration of approximately 2,000 feet of the stream channel.
• Cambridge Country Park Detention Basin Retrofit: Mundelein Park District stabilization of approximately 2,000 feet of turfgrass detention basin shoreline by converting it to wetland and prairie vegetation.
• Ryerson Woods Hydrological and Ecological Restoration Project: Lake County Forest Preserves installed 8 rock riffles to control streambed incision and restore riparian hydrology on a 2,000-foot reach of Thorngate Creek, a small tributary of the Des Plaines River that sustains high-quality plant communities within its riparian zone. The project also stabilized 8 culvert locations within the conservation area and removed existing trails in 2 locations and replaced the trail sections with boardwalks in order to restore overland and sub-surface hydrology to the floodplain forest community.
• Valley Lake Water Quality Improvement and Shoreline Stabilization Project: The Wildwood Park District removed approximately 100 feet of stormsewer and concrete channel and replaced it with stabilized stormwater outfalls discharging into a constructed plunge pool/wetland. Water then flows into the lake through a permeable rip-rap berm at the shoreline. This area functions to both dissipate stormwater energy that was causing shoreline erosion and to improve water quality in the lake.
• In-stream BMPs (Best Management Practices) and Native Vegetation Installation in Bull Creek: University of St. Mary’s of the Lake will improve conditions along approximately 500 feet of Bull Creek. Volunteers have already begun to clear exotic understory species from the forested ravine.

Lake County Forest Preserve District Project Highlights:

• The Stoneroller Creek Streambank Stabilization and Restoration Project improved 1000 linear feet of tributary to the Des Plaines River (Gurnee, IL) and reduced sedimentation down stream by utilizing both bio- and hard engineering solutions. With the in-stream enhancement of existing stream bed structure and placement of new rock riffles and boulder toe, the project tried to balance the natural stream flow while protecting vulnerable sections of the streambank during high flow conditions related to surface runoff within the suburban watershed.
• Continued reestablishment of spotted salamanders, wood frogs, and spring peepers at MacArthur Woods. This year, LCFPD supplemented the reintroduced populations with an additional 84 spotted salamander, 123 wood frogs, and >73 spring peeper and the models are starting to show that all three species are now above the minimum viable population size.
• 5400 native wetland plants installed at Rollins Savanna.
• Reed Canary Grass and other invasive species were controlled at several preserves.
• A snake hibernaculum was constructed at Fourth Lake for Fox snakes that previously were overwintering in an abandoned house that was demolished.
• An additional 316 acres were acquired in the Des Plaines River watershed.

Looking at the Bigger Picture

DesPlaines Phase II: Ecosystem-based Planning for Flood Mitigation

The Upper Des Plaines River Phase II Feasibility Study is analyzing opportunities for multi-purpose projects that provide both flood damage/risk reduction and ecosystem restoration.  A team that includes representatives from Kenosha County in WI, Lake and Cook Counties in IL and the IL Department of Natural Resources is being led by the Army Corps of Engineers in planning. The team is looking at both structural and non-structural methods of flood damage reduction, as well as environmental restoration of degraded ecosystems within the watershed.  The study area includes the main stem of the Des Plaines River, as well as 15 subwatersheds in Illinois and Wisconsin.  Currently, numerous potential projects have been identified at the conceptual stage, and potential benefits are being analyzed to develop cost/benefit measurements for future project selections. The draft feasibility report is expected to be completed in 2010.

Removing Repetitively-Flooded Buildings from the Floodplain

The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission continues to try to find permanent solutions to flood damage by removing vulnerable structures that flood repeatedly from the floodplain. SMC received a federal grant through the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to purchase and demolish four homes that flood repetitively in the Des Plaines watershed. Properties are only purchased from willing sellers at their appraised value. Grant funds will cover 75% of the cost with 25% coming from local community and county in cash and services. Three of the four homes are flooded by the river in Gurnee and one is in unincorporated Ela Township located in a depressional area.

Gauge at Route 22

The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission has partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Villages of Lincolnshire and Riverwoods to fund the installation and maintenance of a USGS stream gauge on the Des Plaines River at the Route 22 bridge in Lincolnshire. This gauge provides a water level and flow measurement point between the existing gauges at Route 120 in Gurnee and in the City of Des Plaines. The gauge will also be used by the National Weather Service as a forecast point, which will be invaluable during times of flood response, providing expected water levels and flows to local communities and emergency responders.

Phosphorus Fertilizer Banned in Vernon Hiils

Vernon Hills joined Antioch, Lindenhurst, Third Lake, Round Lake Beach, and Long Grove in banning the use of phosphorous in most lawn fertilizer applications.

Indian Creek Watershed Project highlights:

• Held the Indian Creek Summit last November to announce their fully adopted and EPA-compliant watershed plan.
• Received a 319 grant from the EPA to restore inflow areas of Diamond Lake and to educate residents about the importance of this lake – the only naturally formed glacial lake in the watershed.
• Participated in planning with IDOT on the expansion of area roads (Routes 60 and 22) and the impacts that the widening will have on area waters.

Municipalities

The Village of Buffalo Grove stabilized approximately 1,000 linear feet of eroded streambank along Buffalo Creek within the Buffalo Grove Golf Club. With funding assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Lake County Stormwater Management Commission and design assistance from Baxter & Woodman, Inc., the Village used biotechnical approaches with native vegetation to control erosion, reduce pollutant loadings, and improve wildlife habitat. The project included the increase in flood storage volume with new floodplain terraces.

The Village of Buffalo Grove stabilized approximately 500 linear feet of eroded streambank along Aptakisic Creek at various locations within the Village. With funding assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Lake County Stormwater Management Commission and design assistance from Baxter & Woodman, Inc., the Village used biotechnical approaches with native vegetation to control erosion, reduce pollutant loadings, and improve wildlife habitat.

The City of Prospect Heights removed accumulated sediments and restored the shoreline of Old Willow Falls Pond to improve water quality of the pond and the Des Plaines River. Baxter & Woodman, Inc. assisted the City with this project.

The Village of Lincolnshire continues to manage Rivershire Park for invasive species and augment native vegetation with seeding of native plants. Approximately $15,000 was spent in 2009 for continued natural area protection at Rivershire Park.

The Village of Lincolnshire also undertook a major improvement to Indian Creek. The creek was regraded, invasive plants removed, native plants installed and seeding. Riffles were installed in the base of the creek to improve water quality. High quality native trees were also installed. The total cost when completed is estimated to be around $300,000.

Canoe Marathon Brings Recreation and Preservation Together

The 52nd Annual Des Plaines River Canoe Marathon, believed to be the largest single-day canoe race in the country, included approximately 865 competitors in 440 canoes and kayaks. The finish line festivities included an exhibit by UDPREP to familiarize race participants with efforts under way to enhance environmental and recreational features of the watershed and how they may help to achieve these objectives.

Plow Drivers Make a Difference

Road Salt: Chlorides Recognized as a Pollutant of Concern

When the trees, shrubs and grass began browning and dying at a Mundelein golf course a couple of years ago, water testing of the irrigation ponds found very high levels of chlorides as the cause of the problem.  The golf course had to convert to irrigating with ground water to save its trees and other plants. A small lake immediately upstream of the golf course was tested and revealed a chloride concentration that was more than 3 times the state standard. As a pollutant, high chloride concentrations not only kill plants, but also aquatic animals – and aren’t healthy for people either.  Besides the environmental impacts, road salt is extremely corrosive causing damage to roads, bridges and automobiles.

The problem prompted a discussion between the Lake County Health Department and Stormwater Management Commission. Finding that chloride pollution problems were widespread throughout the county, these agencies joined forces with the Lake Branch of the American Public Works Association and the Lake County Department of Transportation to find a way to make a change. They collaborated with McHenry and DuPage Counties and the IL EPA to bring a well-renowned training program for winter road maintenance best practices to Lake County.

Fortin Consulting of Minneapolis brought the training program used for certifying winter maintenance applicators in the State of MN to Northeast Illinois in September. More than 150 snow and ice removal staff representing both public agencies and private contractors who plow streets, parking lots and sidewalks participated in the training program. Participants were amazed to find out how much money they will save while protecting the environment from overuse of road salt and other chemicals by calibrating their equipment and applying the right de-icing product at the right time.  Seventy-five of the participants who voluntarily took the certification exam passed the exam and will be listed as preferred providers for winter maintenance. Thanks to IL EPA for providing much needed cost-share funding for the program.  The preferred providers list for snow removal will be posted soon on the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission and Lake County Health Department’s websites.

It’s Our River Day Event

The Stormwater Management Commission co-sponsored a river clean-up of the Des Plaines at the Monastery on Milwaukee Avenue. The annual event is organized by Mike Mieszala, Warren High School. Volunteers from Warren Township, Libertyville and Grayslake North high schools, Liberty Prairie Conservancy, HSBC and Volunteer Water TrailKeepers, as well as members of the public participated. Mike is hoping to concentrate on doing a clean-up along the Bull Creek and Bull’s Brook tributaries that drain into the Des Plaines in 2010. SMC will provide more information next spring on the clean-up to line up volunteers.