Upper Kishwaukee River Watershed Plan Technical Report November 2008 Upper Kishwaukee River Watershed Plan November 2008 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report was prepared using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funds under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act distributed through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The findings and rec- ommendations contained herein are not necessarily those of the funding agencies. Additionally, the Chi- cago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) provided a cash-match contribution as did the Kish- waukee River Ecosystem Partnership (KREP) through a grant from the Grand Victoria Foundation that was administered by the Natural Land Institute. Openlands also provided in-kind match. The planning process was coordinated by KREP and CMAP. Contributors to the plan include Jesse Elam, Kristin Heery, Lori Heringa, and Tim Loftus of CMAP and Ders Anderson of Openlands/KREP. Nathan Hill of KREP provided GIS consultation and map analysis. Hey and Associates, Inc. provided assistance with urban best management practices and ecosystem restoration recommendations. The authors grate- fully acknowledge the many contributors to this planning process and especially thank the staff of the Village of Lakewood, City of Crystal Lake, City of Woodstock, McHenry County Department of Planning and Development, McHenry County Conservation District, McHenry County Soil and Water Conserva- tion District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, McHenry County Health Department, and mem- bers of the Kishwaukee River Ecosystem Partnership. Finally, the authors wish to acknowledge the work and stewardship role of the Kishwaukee River Ecosys- tem Partnership. Prior to this planning process, KREP developed initial watershed plans for each of the 42 subwatersheds of the Kishwaukee River Basin. The KREP-developed watershed plan for the Upper Kishwaukee River was a valuable component to the award-winning Section 319 grant application. KREP’s reputation, reconnaissance of watershed resources, and knowledge of the river basin proved use- ful throughout the planning process. i November 2008 Upper Kishwaukee River Watershed Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................................................... i Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................................... ii 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 Purpose..................................................................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Regional Context ..................................................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Focus Area.............................................................................................................................................1-2 1.3 Plan Guidance.......................................................................................................................................1-3 2. Inventory and Assessment..........................................................................................................................2-1 2.1 Sources of Water Quality Degradation .............................................................................................2-1 2.1.1 Designated Uses and Biological Endpoints.........................................................................2-1 2.1.2 Fish Consumption...................................................................................................................2-3 2.1.3 Causes of Aquatic Life Impairment......................................................................................2-4 2.1.3.1 Nitrogen.........................................................................................................................2-4 2.1.3.2 Sedimentation...............................................................................................................2-5 2.1.3.3 Alteration in Streamside or Littoral Vegetative Covers..........................................2-6 2.1.3.4 Phosphorus....................................................................................................................2-6 2.1.4 Pollutant Loading and Sources .............................................................................................2-7 2.1.4.1 Overview .......................................................................................................................2-7 2.1.4.2 Results............................................................................................................................2-9 2.1.4.3 Consistency .................................................................................................................2-10 2.1.4.4 Summary of Sources of Impairment........................................................................2-10 2.2 Load Reduction Targets ....................................................................................................................2-11 2.2.1 Nutrients ................................................................................................................................2-11 2.2.2 Sediment.................................................................................................................................2-13 2.2.3 Summary................................................................................................................................2-14 2.3 Existing Protections............................................................................................................................2-15 2.3.1 Local Ordinances...................................................................................................................2-15 2.3.1.1 Stormwater Management..........................................................................................2-15 2.3.1.2 Zoning and Subdivision Codes ................................................................................2-16 2.3.1.3 McHenry County Conservation Design Standards and Procedures ..........................2-22 2.3.2 NPDES Phase II .....................................................................................................................2-22 3. Estimation of Future Needs and Concerns ..............................................................................................3-1 3.1 Future Land Use Projection ................................................................................................................3-1 3.1.1 Current Land Use....................................................................................................................3-1 3.1.2 Municipal Land Use Plans.....................................................................................................3-1 3.1.3 Future Land Use in Unincorporated Areas.........................................................................3-6 3.2.4 Impervious Cover Projection.................................................................................................3-6 3.2 Wastewater Discharge Projection ......................................................................................................3-6 3.3 Change in Sources of Water Quality Degradation ..........................................................................3-7 3.3.1 Nutrients ..................................................................................................................................3-7 3.3.2 Sediment...................................................................................................................................3-8 3.3.3 Riparian Buffers.....................................................................................................................3-10 3.3.4 Channelization.......................................................................................................................3-10 3.3.5 Emerging Threats..................................................................................................................3-10 3.4 Loss of Prime Farmland ....................................................................................................................3-11 4. A Vision for the Watershed ........................................................................................................................4-1 ii Upper Kishwaukee River Watershed Plan November 2008 4.1 Issues, Opportunities, and Beneficial Initiatives by Local Government.......................................4-1 4.1.1 Village of Lakewood...............................................................................................................4-1 4.1.2 City of Crystal Lake................................................................................................................4-2 4.1.3 City of Woodstock ..................................................................................................................4-2 4.1.4 Unincorporated area...............................................................................................................4-3 4.1.5 McHenry County Conservation District..............................................................................4-4 4.1.5.1 Pleasant Valley Conservation Area ...........................................................................4-4