Champaign County Regional Environmental Framework
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Champaign County Regional Environmental Framework November 2020 This report was prepared with funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) by staff from the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC). CHAMPAIGN COUNTY Champaign County REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL Regional Environmental Framework FRAMEWORK November 2020 PLAN FUNDED BY & PREPARED FOR Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) PLAN PREPARED BY The Champaign-Urbana Urbanized Area Transportation Study (CUUATS), a program of: Champaign County Regional Planning Commission 1776 East Washington Street Urbana, Illinois 61802 Tel: (217) 328-3313 Fax: (217) 328-2426 Website: http://www.ccrpc.org All photos belong to CCRPC unless otherwise credited. Cover Page: Stand of walnut trees at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, IL (From Left to Right) 1. Lincoln the Lawyer, by Lorado Taft (Urbana Park District) 2. American robin at the Japanese Gardens (Kazmee, Hasan) 3. Historic Clark R. Griggs House 4. Boneyard Creek Crossing 5. Weaver Park shared-use path 6. Bridge at Meadowbrook Park CHAMPAIGN COUNTY REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL FRAMEWORK Steering Committee Brandon Curry, Head of Quaternary and Engineering Geology Section, Illinois State Geological Survey Janel Veile, Air Quality and Noise Specialist, Illinois Department of Transportation Bart Sherer, IDOT District 5 Environmental Specialist, Illinois Department of Transportation Michael Vanderhoof, Planning Services Section Chief , Illinois Department of Transportation John Sherrill, Social Economics Specialist, Illinois Department of Transportation David Wilcoxen, Associate Director of Environmental Compliance, University of Illinois Facilities and Services Bill Walsh, Special Programs Coordinator, University of Illinois Facilities and Services Wendy Schelsky, Biological Surveys Coordinator, Illinois Natural History Survey Brian Wilm, Wetland Ecologist, Illinois Natural History Survey Brian Adams, Assistant Director of Statewide Surveys, Illinois State Archaeological Survey Erin Gundy, Resource Conservationist, Champaign County Soil & Water Conservation District Renee Weitekamp, Champaign County Soil & Water Conservation District, Administrative Coordinator Michael Daab, Director, Champaign County Forest Preserve District Derek Liebert, Superintendent of Planning and Operations, Urbana Park District Andrew Weiss, Director of Planning, Champaign Park District Lacey Rains Lowe, Senior Planner, City of Champaign Planning and Development Kevin Garcia, Planner II, City of Urbana Planning Department Champaign County Regional Planning Commission Staff Rita Morocoima-Black, Planning & Community Development Director Ashlee McLaughlin, Planning Manager Kazi Jahan, Planner II James Sullivan, Planner I TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 12 1.1 Regional Overview ............................................................................................................................... 12 1.2 Report Outline ...................................................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2: Guidelines and Requirements Review .................................................................................. 16 2.1 IDOT Environmental Surveys ............................................................................................................ 16 2.1.1 Environmental Survey Request (ESR) ...................................................................................... 16 2.1.2 Addendum Environmental Survey Request (AESR) .............................................................. 18 2.2 Preliminary Environmental Site Assessment (PESA) ................................................................... 18 2.3 Planning & Environment Linkages (PEL) ........................................................................................ 19 2.4 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Review ........................................... 23 2.4.1 NEPA Authority and Terminology ............................................................................................. 24 2.4.2 The NEPA Process: Class of Action Determination .............................................................. 25 2.4.3 Key Components of the NEPA Process................................................................................... 29 2.4.4 General NEPA Guidelines ........................................................................................................... 32 2.4.5 Integrating NEPA and Transportation Planning .................................................................... 32 2. 5 Other Laws and Requirements ........................................................................................................ 33 2.5.1 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU): ........................................................................................................................................ 33 2.5.2 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21): ........................................... 35 2.5.3 Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966: .......................................... 35 2.5.4 Section 404 of the Clean Water Act: ........................................................................................ 36 2.5.5 Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966: ......................................... 36 2.5.6 Executive Order 12898- Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations: ...................................................................................... 37 2.5.7 Executive Order 11988: Floodplain Management ................................................................. 38 2.5.8 Interagency Wetlands Policy Act of 1989: .............................................................................. 38 Champaign County Regional Environmental Framework | v Chapter 3: Topography and Soil ................................................................................................................ 39 3.1 Topography .......................................................................................................................................... 39 3.2 Soil .......................................................................................................................................................... 41 3.2.1 Soil Development Potential ........................................................................................................ 41 3.2.2 Soil Associations .......................................................................................................................... 42 Chapter 4: Hydrology .................................................................................................................................. 49 4.1 Major Waterways ................................................................................................................................ 49 4.2 Flood Hazard Areas ............................................................................................................................ 49 4.3 Biologically Diverse Streams ............................................................................................................. 51 4.4 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................................... 53 4.5 Watersheds........................................................................................................................................... 55 4.6 Water quality ........................................................................................................................................ 58 4.7 Mahomet Aquifer ................................................................................................................................. 62 Chapter 5: Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................... 66 5.1 Historic Bridges ................................................................................................................................... 68 5.1.1 The Hazen Bridge ......................................................................................................................... 68 5.1.2 The East Street Bridge ................................................................................................................ 69 5.1.2 The Old Stone Arch Bridge ......................................................................................................... 69 5.2 Historic Places ..................................................................................................................................... 70 5.3 Cemeteries ............................................................................................................................................ 73 5.4 Archeological Area .............................................................................................................................. 73 Chapter 6: Wildlife and Vegetation Habitat ............................................................................................ 77 6.1 Natural Areas 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