The McHenry County Board recently approved the McHenry County Water Resources Action Plan (WRAP). This plan was developed over a two and a half year time period using a consensus building approach with McHenry County municipalities, townships, and other interested stakeholders.
The plan underwent an additional two years of review by the County Board’s Natural and Environmental Resources Committee. The Plan is vitally important because the County is solely dependent on groundwater for all of its potable water needs, with no other options available.
Studies suggest that areas in Northeastern Illinois and McHenry County may experience water supply shortages as early as 2030. In an effort to plan for the future and guard against supply shortages, McHenry County engaged in a comprehensive effort to study its Groundwater. In 2007, McHenry County hired a Water Resource Manager and initiated the development of a comprehensive water resources plan. The Water Resources Action Plan is predicated on the importance of cooperative planning and the significance of building a strong base of scientific knowledge.
While developing the WRAP, McHenry County engaged in four scientific projects by partnering with state and federal agencies. McHenry County has invested nearly $2 million dollars of county, state and federal funds to complete these projects.
Projects include:
The plan underwent an additional two years of review by the County Board’s Natural and Environmental Resources Committee. The Plan is vitally important because the County is solely dependent on groundwater for all of its potable water needs, with no other options available.
Studies suggest that areas in Northeastern Illinois and McHenry County may experience water supply shortages as early as 2030. In an effort to plan for the future and guard against supply shortages, McHenry County engaged in a comprehensive effort to study its Groundwater. In 2007, McHenry County hired a Water Resource Manager and initiated the development of a comprehensive water resources plan. The Water Resources Action Plan is predicated on the importance of cooperative planning and the significance of building a strong base of scientific knowledge.
While developing the WRAP, McHenry County engaged in four scientific projects by partnering with state and federal agencies. McHenry County has invested nearly $2 million dollars of county, state and federal funds to complete these projects.
Projects include:
- 3-D Hydrogeological Modeling (ISGS)
- Groundwater Flow Modeling (ISWS),
- Installation of and real-timing of 41 Observation Wells,
- 2 Stream Gauges
- Precipitation Gauges (USACE, USGS, and ISGS)
- Water Quality Sampling (USGS).
In March, the United States Geological Survey launched the McHenry County Hydrologic Information Website to track the real-time information:
http://il.water.usgs.gov/data/McHenry/index.php.
The data are collected and transmitted on an hourly basis to record the short and long-term hydrological condition of the County. The data gathered from this project will be used to develop and refine a groundwater-flow model to assist with future groundwater management decisions
View the entire plan here
For more information on the McHenry County WRAP, please contact Water Resources Manager Cassandra McKinney at 815-334-4213 or clmckinney@co.mchenry.il.us.
http://il.water.usgs.gov/data/McHenry/index.php.
The data are collected and transmitted on an hourly basis to record the short and long-term hydrological condition of the County. The data gathered from this project will be used to develop and refine a groundwater-flow model to assist with future groundwater management decisions
View the entire plan here
For more information on the McHenry County WRAP, please contact Water Resources Manager Cassandra McKinney at 815-334-4213 or clmckinney@co.mchenry.il.us.
No comments:
Post a Comment