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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 gave given watershed residents a general view of the
problems facing the watershed and potential solutions.
However, it lacked the detail needed to effectively
focus restorative and preventative efforts. Work was 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 indicated a
willingness to cooperate and partner on this watershed
initiative by providing letters of support or financial
support. This broad base of support has greatly
increased the effectiveness of the plan and its
implementation strategy. |
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