Thorn Creek Watershed Based Plan December 2005 Thorn Creek Watershed Based Plan December 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page List of Figures..............................................................................................................................................................v List of Tables...............................................................................................................................................................vi Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................................................vii Executive Summary...................................................................................................................................................ix 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1. Overview .................................................................................................................................................. 1-2 1.1.1. Plan Organization.......................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.2. Model Watershed Planning Strategy .................................................................................................... 1-4 1.2.1. Methodology.................................................................................................................................. 1-5 1.2.1.1. Identify and Assemble Stakeholders ................................................................................ 1-5 1.2.1.2. Establish Goals..................................................................................................................... 1-6 1.2.1.3. Inventory Watershed Resources and Conditions ........................................................... 1-6 1.2.1.4. Assess Existing Watershed Problems and Threats ......................................................... 1-7 1.2.1.5. Recommend Objectives and Management Practices for Prevention and Remediation ................................................................................................................. 1-7 1.2.1.6. Develop an Effective Action Plan...................................................................................... 1-8 1.2.1.7. Implement Plan and Monitor Success .............................................................................. 1-8 1.2.2. Evaluation of Plan Conformity to the Nine Minimum Elements ........................................... 1-9 1.3. Stakeholders ............................................................................................................................................1-11 1.4. Initial Concerns and Goals for the Thorn Creek Watershed.............................................................1-14 1.4.1. List of Issues and Concerns from meeting December 8, 2003 ................................................1-14 1.4.2. Goals and Objectives for the Thorn Creek Ecosystem Partnership as noted in A Watershed Plan for Thorn Creek ............................................................................1-15 1.5. Thorn Creek Goals and Objectives.......................................................................................................1-17 1.5.1. Overall Goal..................................................................................................................................1-17 1.5.2. Resource Based Goals ..................................................................................................................1-17 1.5.2.1. Habitat and Natural Resources ........................................................................................1-17 1.5.2.2. Water Quality......................................................................................................................1-17 1.5.2.3. Water Supply ......................................................................................................................1-18 1.5.2.4. Recreation and Access .......................................................................................................1-18 1.5.2.5. Flooding...............................................................................................................................1-19 1.5.3. Watershed Coordination Goals ..................................................................................................1-19 1.5.3.1. Communication, Coordination, and Governance..........................................................1-19 1.5.3.2. Education and Stewardship..............................................................................................1-20 2. Thorn Creek Watershed Resource Inventory ............................................................................................... 2-1 2.1. Climate ...................................................................................................................................................... 2-2 2.2. Geology and Physiography.................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.2.1. Bedrock and Glacial Geology....................................................................................................... 2-3 2.2.2. Topography and Stream Gradient .............................................................................................. 2-3 2.2.3. Soils.................................................................................................................................................. 2-4 2.2.4. Aquifer Sensitivity......................................................................................................................... 2-5 i Thorn Creek Watershed Based Plan December 2005 2.3. Hydrology and Waterbodies.................................................................................................................. 2-6 2.3.1. Streams............................................................................................................................................ 2-6 2.3.2. Lakes...............................................................................................................................................2-10 2.4. Water Quality Assessment ....................................................................................................................2-12 2.4.1. Illinois EPA Water Quality Assessments ..................................................................................2-12 2.4.1.1. Lakes ....................................................................................................................................2-13 2.4.1.2. Streams.................................................................................................................................2-14 2.4.2. NIPC Water Quality Assessments .............................................................................................2-17 2.4.2.1. NIPC Water Quality Empirical Analysis ........................................................................2-17 2.4.2.2. NIPC Land Use Pollutant Loading Analysis..................................................................2-19 2.4.3. Results of NIPC Water Quality Assessments ...........................................................................2-23 2.4.3.1. Fecal Coliform.....................................................................................................................2-23 2.4.3.2. Dissolved Oxygen ..............................................................................................................2-24 2.4.3.3. Biological Oxygen Demand..............................................................................................2-24 2.4.3.4. Total Dissolved Solids .......................................................................................................2-25 2.4.3.5. Sulfate ..................................................................................................................................2-26 2.4.3.6. Total Phosphorus and Chlorophyll a...............................................................................2-27 2.4.3.7. Nitrogen...............................................................................................................................2-28 2.4.3.8. pH.........................................................................................................................................2-29 2.4.3.9. Metals...................................................................................................................................2-30 2.4.3.10. Total Suspended Solids ...................................................................................................2-31 2.4.4. Additional Data on Water Quality in Thorn Creek .................................................................2-32 2.4.4.1. Thorn Creek Stream Inventory and Opportunity Assessment ....................................2-32 2.4.4.2. Illinois EPA-identified Impairments Not Captured in NIPC Assessments ...............2-32 2.5. Fish and Biotic Indicators ......................................................................................................................2-33 2.5.1. Sampling Locations......................................................................................................................2-33 2.5.2. RiverWatch Program Macroinvertebrate