Program: Singing Insects by Carl Strang

Location: Creek Bend Nature Center

Please note: Plans are to hold this meeting in person, and masks are required indoors.

It is time again for It’s Our River Day! This year it is September 18^th. To review the history that I presented last year, in 2004 former Lt. Governor, and then Governor, Pat Quinn started It’s Our River Day and the Illinois River Coordinating Council to create awareness and appreciation of our waterways.

The Fox River was of course part of this initiative. Some communities such as Algonquin have sponsored an It’s Our River Day event ever since. Early on these were river clean up events, in other places, it became much more than a cleanup – it also became a celebration of the river. It's Our River Day is generally held the third Saturday in September of each year. We would love it if every community up and down the Fox River held some kind of river cleanup and celebration event on that date. 

On the morning of Saturday, September 18^th, I will be at Jon Duerr Forest Preserve in South Elgin where the Forest Preserve District of Kane County is coordinating cleanups along the river and trails that can be accessed from that location. I will also be representing the Ottawa District of Three Fires Council, Boy Scouts of America who are encouraging our youth to join us in a cleanup at this location. Please come out and join us – in the water or on the land. Bring gloves!

At our FREP Noon Network on August 11 we learned about and then toured McHenry County Roadside Habitat projects. A pdf of the presentation is HERE

Program: Post-project tour in Carpentersville of the Keith Andres Memorial Park Stream Stabilization Project

Location: Meet first at Carpentersville Public Works

Program: Free the Fox

Location: TBA

Our 2021-22 annual dues statements to current members were sent out in June.

You can also check for your name on our FREP Membership Roll 

FREP Membership Form.

Barrington Area Conservation Trust

Barrington Area Council of Governments

Lake County Stormwater Commission

McHenry County

Tyler Creek Watershed Coalition

V3

Village of Fox River Grove

Laura Ross Stuart, Friend, Geneva

Visit the website: https://fabulousfoxwatertrail.org/

Karen Ann Miller at: millerkaren@co.kane.il.us.

CMAP staff completed the field data collection portion of the shoreland conditions assessment at Poss Lake in the Big Woods Forest Preserve. Maps showing shoreline erosion degree and riparian condition along with a summary of aquatic zone conditions will be included in the watershed resource inventory (WRI). Additionally at Poss Lake, Illinois EPA staff have been conducting water sampling this summer, and a summary of their data will be included in the final WRI as well.

Staff finished development and testing of an ArcGIS Field Maps/Survey 123 combination app to use for recording the stream physical conditions assessment information. Stream assessment field dates are currently being scheduled with partner staff. The field data collection work will continue through the summer and possibly into early fall, dependent on the availability of partner staff to join a CMAP staff person each day when wading Indian Creek and its two main tributaries.

More than 200 stormwater detention basins are present throughout the Indian Creek watershed planning area, and each will be assessed to confirm basin type (e.g., pond, dry bottom-turf or -mesic prairie, constructed wetland), native buffer extent, shoreline erosion degree, maintenance needs, retrofit opportunities, and their relative water quality benefit. Assessments are underway and will continue through the summer/early fall, the results of which will be incorporated into the final WRI.

For the pollutant load modeling requirements of the WRI, a draft technical report prepared by the project’s consultant, Geosyntec, describing the HSPF model update process, assumptions, and pollutant load estimates is under review.

On the administrative side of things, CMAP has asked Illinois EPA for an extension of the grant period through June 30, 2022. Following wrap up of the final WRI by December 31, 2021, the development of the watershed-based plan will move into high gear. Engagement activities with watershed stakeholders will be launched and will help identify opportunities to protect and improve water and aquatic habitat quality throughout the Indian Creek planning area. Keep an eye on this space for information on how you can participate!

For project updates, documents, maps, and announcements, please visit https://foxriverecosystem.org/fox/indian-creek. If you would like to be added to the contact list for Indian Creek Watershed-based Planning news and events, or have any questions about the project, please contact Holly Hudson at CMAP: hhudson@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8700.

The Tyler Creek Watershed Coalition (TCWC) toured the Village of Pingree Grove’s community water supply and wastewater treatment facilities on July 21, 2021. Pat Doherty, Director of Public Works, was host and tour guide.

Pingree Grove sits in the northwestern portion of the 40.5 square mile Tyler Creek watershed (see Tyler Creek watershed map below). Tyler Creek flows from west to east through the northern portion of the Village on its way to the Fox River in Elgin.

The Village treats groundwater from two wells to provide potable water for its residents and businesses as well as for fire suppression needs. For wastewater treatment, the Village uses an innovative land application approach for effluent disposal that helps reduce use of the potable water supply for landscape watering and thereby helps conserve groundwater. After complete treatment that meets or exceeds EPA requirements, the effluent is first stored in the Village’s 26-acre lagoon and then piped through their irrigation system to four zones as needed to water lawn and flower bed areas on Village-owned properties and rights-of-way. Care is taken to avoid overwatering that would be wasteful and lead to runoff.

The TCWC wishes to again thank Director Doherty for an excellent tour and his graciousness in answering all our questions.

Left: Pat Doherty, Pingree Grove Public Works Director, explains the water treatment process (left) and leads the tour around the wastewater treatment facilities (right).

Fox River Study Group held a special webinar session where Rishab Mahajan, senior engineer with Geosyntec, walked through the group's completed modeling results:

Evaluation of Watershed Scenarios for Improving Water Quality in Fox River-Executive Summary.

Registration is NOW OPEN for the 

McHenry County College Sustainability Center Green Guide Recycling Directory

630-482-9157 foxriverinfo@comcast.net