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The Nippersink Creek Watershed Plan (September 1998)
lists nonpoint source pollution as one of the major watershed concerns.
Erosion and sedimentation from construction sites, cropland and streambanks,
as well as nutrient loadings from private and public wastewater treatment
systems and livestock operations have all been identified as potential
sources of water quality impairments.
The watershed is facing significant development pressure. When the watershed
plan was prepared in 1998, it was estimated that roughly 65% of the Illinois
portion of the watershed is in agricultural use, with an additional 25%
urban and 10% open space. The watershed contains the municipalities of
Hebron, Richmond, Spring Grove, and Woodstock, all of which are poised to
significantly increase the amount of residential and commercial land uses
within their jurisdictions. As a gross estimate, the recently released
McHenry 2020 Unified Plan, utilizing NIPC population projection data under
the South Suburban Airport scenario, projects a combined 5150 increase in
population from 2000 to 2020 in the townships of Alden, Burton, Dorr,
Greenwood, Hebron and Richmond.
These conditions indicate that that both remedial and preventative actions
are needed to address current nonpoint source pollution issues, as well as
to protect, maintain, and hopefully, enhance the high quality of the
Nippersink Creek watershed and to not further contribute to the degradation
of the Fox River.
The Nippersink Creek Watershed Plan, now six years old, has given
watershed residents a general view of the problems facing the watershed and
potential solutions. However, it lacks the detail needed to effectively
focus restorative and preventative efforts. Work is needed to upgrade the
plan to make it an effective tool in guiding implementation efforts. The
nine elements now required of a watershed-based plan need to be incorporated
into the existing plan.
Stakeholders within the watershed have indicated a willingness to cooperate
and partner on this watershed initiative by providing letters of support or
financial support. This broad base of support will greatly increase the
effectiveness of the plan and its implementation strategy. |
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