Watersheds--Learn About Them and Their Part In Our Every Day Living

The public is invited to participate in new watershed planning projects developed to protect water resources in two eastern McHenry County watersheds. The planning areas are the Sleepy Hollow Creek and Silver Creek watersheds in eastern McHenry County (see maps below). Communities within the watersheds include Oakwood Hills, Prairie Grove, and portions of Bull Valley, Cary, Crystal Lake, McHenry, and nearby areas of unincorporated McHenry County. Community members who live or work in these watersheds are invited to provide input towards developing goals for these watershed planning projects.

A watershed is an area of land that drains water into a common receiving body or outlet such as a stream. The watershed planning areas include streams called the Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek. These watersheds are home to significant natural resources, including dedicated Illinois Nature Preserves, rare wetlands, and several lakes enjoyed by community members as a source of recreation. The Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek watersheds drain to the Fox River, an important source of drinking water, community recreation, and wildlife habitat. Working to protect the Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek watersheds will support local communities and help restore Fox River water quality and natural habitat.

Watershed planning is a collaborative, locally supported approach to improving water quality, considering groundwater protection, and restoring healthy aquatic habitat.  Input from the meetings will be considered in the development of goals for the Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek watershed plans, said Lynn Rotunno, EDMC Watershed Coordinator.

One purpose of this collaborative effort is to identify priority project and planning recommendations to improve water quality.  Projects identified in these plans can become eligible for state and federal grants.

 “Input from watershed community members is very valuable, in order to create watershed plans that consider local environmental concerns and priorities,” Rotunno said.

For more information, visit http://foxriverecosystem.org/planning.htm. You can also contact the Watershed Coordinator, Lynn Rotunno, at watershedinfo@mcdefenders.net or call the EDMC office at (815) 338-0393.

These planning projects are funded by Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act by way of a grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Water, to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Watershed planning oversight is the responsibility of CMAP. Planning Partners include the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, and the Fox River Study Group.

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a citizen-based, 501c3 not-for-profit organization, dedicated to the preservation and improvement of our natural environment.   For information about programs and membership, visit www.mcdef.org or email to mcdef.outreach@gmail.com.

Scheduled Planning Meetings 

Wednesday, October 27, 2010
3p.m. – 5p.m.
Park Place, 406 W. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake.  Meeting participants will provide input towards developing goals and objectives for the planning projects.

Evening Meeting: Planning Projects Overview, 7p.m. - 8p.m.

Park Place, 406 W. Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake. Community members that are not able to attend the daytime meetings can participate in an evening meeting. An overview of the watershed planning projects will be presented and participants are encouraged to provide input related to community priorities and concerns. All persons interested in learning more about the planning projects and how watershed planning can benefit communities are welcome to attend. RSVP is requested by October 26 to watershedinfo@mcdefenders.net. 

Additional day and evening meetings will be held in the watersheds through December of 2011. All meetings are open to the public.