The Campaign for Sensible Growth releases interim watershed plan reports for the Trim Creek and Greater Marengo-Union Area watersheds.
Interim watershed plan reports have been released for two pilot watershed
projects being sponsored by the Metropolitan Planning Council, Campaign for
Sensible Growth and Openlands. For each pilot watershed, the “Year One Report
and Action Plan” identifies watershed problems and opportunities, interim
watershed goals and objectives, and critical steps for the completion of
watershed plans by August 2006. The watershed planning work is being carried out
by the sponsoring organizations in collaboration with watershed steering
committees representing the local and county governments in the two watershed
planning areas. The watershed planning is being funded by the Joyce Foundation
and the Lumpkin Family Foundation.
Both watershed planning areas are within the drainage basins of major high
quality rivers where anticipated urban growth, if not properly managed, could
pose serious flooding, water quality and water supply problems. The Trim Creek
Watershed Planning Project addresses water management issues confronting Trim
Creek itself and its receiving stream, the highly valued Kankakee River . Here
the major participants in the project are the villages of Beecher and Grant
Park, Will County, Kankakee County, and the Washington Township Drainage
District.
The Greater Marengo-Union Area Watershed Planning Project operates in a four
township area of southwest McHenry County . Participating in the project are the
City of Marengo, the Village of Union , McHenry County and the township
governments. These jurisdictions want to ensure that future urban development
protects the Kishwaukee River and its tributaries. Stormwater management, water
quality and aquatic habitat protection, as well as preservation of high quality
groundwater, are key objectives for this watershed planning initiative.
The success of public workshops held in both watershed planning areas has
demonstrated the keen interest of watershed residents, landowners, farmers,
local governments and business. Workshop and steering committee discussions
suggest that effective watershed management needs to occur via an integrated
approach that involves conservation activities, high quality planning and design
for new development, and improvement of water management in developed and farmed
areas.
Both the Trim Creek Watershed Year One Report and Action Plan
and Greater Marengo-Union Area Watershed Year One Report and Action
Plan
are available for download from.