Water Resources Subcommittee

Meetings on the 4th Thursday of the month at 6 p.m.

Scope and Definitions

The Water Resources Working Group is focused on the complex and interrelated water resource issues facing McHenry County. Relevant water resources issues include:

• groundwater and related water supply considerations;
• water quality of streams, lakes, and wetlands, and related aquatic habitat considerations; and
• stormwater and flooding.

Groundwater and Water Supply : Current water supply in McHenry County is derived almost exclusively from groundwater, except for limited irrigation supplies drawn from surface water. Although McHenry County possesses an abundance of surface and groundwater, there are growing concerns that future water supply demands will outstrip available supplies. This concern is related to the fact that the withdrawal of groundwater is beginning to approach or exceed the natural ability of aquifers to be recharged by rainwater. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that development adversely affects groundwater recharge due to soil compaction and impervious surfaces, such as roads and parking lots. In addition, experience has shown that the quality of surface and groundwater can suffer as watersheds urbanize.

Water Quality : From a land use perspective, regional studies have shown that agriculture can have minor to moderate impacts on water quality due to the effects of erosion, channelization, and wetland loss. However, streams and rivers in largely agricultural areas, such as the Kishwaukee River and Nippersink Creek, tend to be in relatively god condition and generally meet designated water quality standards. In contrast, there is clear evidence that much more severe impacts are caused by urbanization and suburban development, particularly due to wastewater and stormwater discharges and erosion from construction site. As a consequence, the waterbodies in urbanized watersheds often are not safe for swimming and do not support diverse, healthy fish communities.

Stormwater and Flooding : Annual flood damages in the six-county northeastern Illinois region average about $40 million. While estimated flood damages in McHenry County pale in comparison to more urbanized neighboring counties, ongoing and future development likely will pose increasing problems. Development impacts include increased stormwater runoff and continuing pressure to develop flood prone areas. In addition, increased runoff commonly causes related damages associated with streambank erosion.

The Planning Process

The 2030 planning process will focus specifically on the implications of land use and development on water resources. And just as water resource issues and problems are inter-related, it will take integrated, comprehensive strategies to address them.

The planning process will involve the following basic steps:

• Identify goals and objectives;
• Inventory water resources conditions in the county;
• Identify problems, issues, and threats;
• Specify resource protection priorities; and
• Propose policies, strategies and implementation measures .

Work Group Participants

The Water Resources Working Group includes six members of the Regional Planning Commission.

Ron Baumann

Dennis Dreher (Chair)

Frank Harrison

Craig Hubert

James McNutt

Nancy Schietzelt

In addition, the Plan Commission invites other individuals with an interest and/or expertise in water resource management to expand the knowledge and broaden the perspective of the group. In particular, individuals representing the following perspectives are invited to participate:

Municipal engineers and planners

Water utilities

Health departments

Conservation and resource agencies

Water resource consultants

Watershed groups

Conservation and advocacy groups

Development and agricultural communities

Interested citizens

Goal:

Wise land use and development decisions that preserve and enhance existing surface and groundwater resources.

Objectives:

1. Preserve and replenish the quality and quantity of existing groundwater resources.

2. Preserve the capacity of groundwater systems to supply projected drinking and irrigation water needs and to provide adequate flows to sustain healthy aquatic ecosystems

3. Promote land use and development and placement practices that conserve and replenish water resources

4. Preserve and enhance the chemical, physical, biological and hydrologic integrity of streams, lakes and wetlands. More specifically, preserve and enhance streams and rivers to achieve a minimum Class B rating for aquatic integrity as reported by the Illinois EPA.

5. Protect and enhance the capacity of streams and lakes to meet recreational demands for fishing, swimming, and boating.

6. Prevent increases in flooding and flood damages and associated channel erosion related to increased stormwater runoff.

Water Resources Subcommittee Links

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