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HomeMy WebLinkAboutG23-12 • Ordinance No. G23-12 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE FERSON-OTTER CREEK WATERSHED PLAN AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND DESIGN GUIDELINES OF 2005 WHEREAS, the City of Elgin has heretofore adopted the Comprehensive Plan and Design Guidelines of 2005 for the City of Elgin; and WHEREAS, on February 20, 2012, the Planning and Development Commission of the City of Elgin conducted a public hearing on the proposed Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Plan; and WHEREAS, the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Plan was developed in a collaborative manner with diverse stakeholder input; and WHEREAS, stewardship of watershed resources including water quality is important to the prosperity of residents and landowners of the City of Elgin and elsewhere in Kane County; and WHEREAS, the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Plan offers reasoned guidance to urban and rural landowners and decision-makers alike for conserving the land, soil and water resources of the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed. WHEREAS, all persons appearing and desiring to be heard concerning said proposed Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Plan were heard at said public hearing; and WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Commission has heretofore submitted its findings and recommendation for the proposed Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Plan; and WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the City of Elgin find and determine that it is in the best interests of the City of Elgin to adopt the proposed Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Plan as an advisory document. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS: Section 1. That the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Plan, dated December 2011, a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part hereof by reference, is hereby approved and adopted as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan and Design Guidelines of 2005. Section 2. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be and are hereby repealed. • Section 3. That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its • passage in the manner provided by law. a4w David J. K tain ayor Presented: April 25, 2012 Passed: April 25, 2012 Omnibus Vote: Yeas: 5 Nays: 0 Recorded: April 25, 2012 Published: April 27, 2012 Attest: Kimberly Dewis,Uty Clerk • • - 2 - • s • AP L r n r r r n xecu ive u m ma r ,Jf'.-> 'v ` •" .t "" v? '�'- � ?' � yydi`•""�js J' -�•w„k"�� an..^T..,�.. ✓"n�. ��' ',,Jr°n�-- � �f .f"j..,'*�� `�..��'�c,v�. ''«.� t .B- ,t�qM ��.:} •' ,t,f8 r'��}f�„F..'�f.w 4-i �_:r^' -1r`.•!:..: '�� �-:♦ .yFyr.._ %!'O���,. t�. 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WATERSHED PLANNING • 3 A watershed is defined as the land area from which surface runoff from precipitation Land Clearing drains to a common point downhill;usually another stream,river,lake or estuary.In this Agriculture $ • ,e Dams Traditional urban _ •a� planning process,the watershed is used as an organizing principle for understanding the and Development Livestock Air Pollution interrelationships among the many ways that people view,impact,and interact with both land and water resources.When combined with an adaptive management approach to ` o plan implementation,the plan and its stakeholders offer a potentially effective framework for producing and evaluating project and policy recommendations to correct water resource problems.It is from this viewpoint that the Ferson-Otter Creek WatershedM/�� plan was created. Planning Process The Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed planning process was designed to be stakeholder- Pollutants driven with assistance from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning(CMAP)and Human impacts on our and Spills i other partner agencies.As the project lead,CMAP facilitated monthly meetings from watersheds will increase with continued population growth and Septic September 2010 to December 2011 and provided technical assistance for the watershed- development. Fields based plan.CMAP also facilitated one evening Open House to give a wider variety of wells stakeholders greater access to the planning process and coordinated two"stream Figure 2.Why do watersheds matter? walks"in which stakeholders learned about both healthy landscapes and areas in need of Watersheds are important because what we Adapted from improvement within their watershed.Together these activities directed the development do on the land directly affects the quality of our Healthy Watersheds,Healthy People, Washington Department of Ecology,2008 of the plan based on stakeholder input and best professional judgment. surface waters,drinking water supply,local economy,wildlife habitat,and recreational The Conservation Foundation(TCF)and the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership(FREP) resources. are both partners in the planning process.In coordination with CMAP and FREP,TCF served as the watershed coordinator,convened local stakeholders,and executed an information and outreach campaign during the planning process.FREP supported this effort by upgrading theirwebsite,serving as a source ofwatershed planning news and information,and highlightingwatershed planning activities in their monthly Downstream e-Newsletter. The following sections provide the plan highlights.The Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Plan in its entirety can be found at www.cmap.illinois.goy watershed-planning. 4 FE -OTTER CREEK WATERSHED PLAN RD RM Mrood( cto5OoX11 The Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed is located within the Lower Fox River Basin(Hydrologic Unit Code [HUC]07120007)and consists of Ferson Creek(HUC 071200070104)and Otter Creek(HUC 071200070103) subwatersheds.Ferson and Otter Creeks and their tributaries form over 55 stream miles throughout the watershed.The Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed is located on the urban fringe of the Chicago metropolitan area in Kane County,the 5th most populated county in Illinois.Since 2000,the watershed has experienced a 49% increase in population and is now home to an estimated 51,000 people.As seen in Figure 3,the watershed includes portions of the Cities of Elgin and St.Charles,the Villages of Campton Hills,South Elgin,and Lily Lake,and the townships of Campton,Plato,Elgin,and St.Charles.' About half of the watershed's land area is located in unincorporated Kane County.The majority of the watershed's land use is either residential or agricultural in nature.Although the watershed has experienced rapid growth in the last decade,the watershed contains some substantial protected open space areas such as the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve,Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve,and Meissner-Corron Forest Preserve to name a few. A summary of basic watershed data is found in Table 1. Table 1:Summary of basic watershed dataz Size of watershed 54 square miles(34,560 acres) Municipalities in watershed Campton Hills,Elgin,South Elgin,St.Charles,Lily Lake Population in watershed 50,704 Percent of developed land area(2005) 29% Land in unincorporated Kane County 19,456 acres/56% Land in residential use(2005) 12,381 acres/36% Land in agricultural use(2005) 11,596 acres/33% Land in protected open space 3,771 acres/11% Length of stream network in watershed 55.1 miles Water supply source Groundwater and Fox Rivera Dominant soils Silt loam or silty clay loam,Hydrologic Soils Group B Percentage of parcels on septic 70% 1 Information summarized here is documented comprehensively in the full plan. 2 All values for 2010 unless otherwise noted. 3 Only Elgin obtains drinking water from the Fox River among communities in the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed. — Legend Mtershed Planning Area Elgin Interstate 20 Elgin US/State Hwy LJ Plato Township Lines ADID Streams Campton Hills Elgin Lily Lake saint Charles 0 South Elgin South Igin 47 rq Ll Cam ton Hills 31, S �-Fe on Creek Watershed Chicago Metropolitan pton Agency for Plzinning Saint Charle Souice:Watershed Planning Area- Illinois State Watei Survey(2005):Major Roads-ESRI 2000:Kane County,Advance Identification Sttdy(ADID)(2004): 6' FE OTTER CREEK WATERSHED PLAN Milk Purpose ®f the Nan The plan provides a roadmap for improving local water quality and thus,the quality of life for those that live, work,and play within the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed.Water quality is generally evaluated by the absence or presence of certain elements(e.g.water chemistry)or attributes(e.g.aquatic biology,physical characteristics of stream network).Although many of these elements are naturally occurring and not innately harmful,it is their excessive concentrations,in some cases,that can negatively affect water quality.Table 2 provides a summary of common water quality indicators and associated sources of impairment. Table 2:Water quality indicators and potential primary sources of impairment WATER QUALITY INDICATOR POTENTIAL PRIMARY SOURCES OF IMPAIRMENT Chloride Road salt,water softeners Fecal coliform Potentially many,including failing septic systems,pet waste,waterfowl and other wildlife waste,manure,illicit sewer connections,etc. Dissolved oxygen Sediment oxygen demand,algal blooms/respiration,hydrologic modification Phosphorus Wastewater treatment plants,septic systems,urban&agricultural runoff including pet, waterfowl/wildlife,&livestock waste Nitrogen Wastewater treatment plants,septic systems,urban&agricultural runoff including pet, waterfowl/wildlife,&livestock waste Suspended sediments Erosion from streambanks,lakeshores,construction sites,agricultural fields Regular testing of Illinois'streams and lakes for these and other pollutants is managed by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency(IEPA).Water bodies are assessed for certain designated uses(e.g.,aquatic life,primary contact,water supply)and the results are produced every two years in the Illinois Integrated Water Quality Report and Section 3o3(d)List(Report).In the 2oio Draft Report,the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed was assessed for two of the seven designated uses for a stream:Aquatic Life and Primary Contact.The Report's findings are spatially displayed in Figure 4. Both Ferson and Otter Creeks were found to be in full support(i.e.not impaired)of the Aquatic Life designated use. 4 Also identified by IEPA as potential causes of designated-use impairment. • • AXVM@91qDQAM • ftma Legend —-------- ---- - ------i � Watershed Planning Area i Township Lines 20 Interstate Plato US/State Hwy Elgin Draft 303(d)Impairment Status Assessed, Not Impaired Assessed, Impaired Unassessed Otter eek Watershed a� N W 1: Ferson C_.reek Watershed 31 26 S Miles 0 0.5 1 2 sa St. Charles IN Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Sources:Watershed Planning Area-Illinois State Campton Water Survey(2005);Major Roads-ESRI(2000); National Hydrology Dataset water features- USGS;Municipality and township lines-CMAP (2010):ADID streams-NIPC and Kane County- (2004);Draft 303(d)impaired waterbodies-IEPA (2010). b' FE "-OTTER CREEK WATERSHED PLAN Stakeholder Concerns and Goals However the Report finds Ferson Creek to be impaired or not supporting of the Primary As a first task in developing plan recommendations,stakeholders identified local water Contact(e.g.swimming,water skiing)designated use due to fecal coliform contamination quality concerns beyond the watershed's identified cause of designated use impairment (Otter Creek was not assessed for primary contact).As the only confirmed contaminant (fecal coliform).Stakeholders identified nutrients,sediment and other pollutants in the watershed,stakeholders set a fecal coliform target load reduction of 44%for from runoff as potential concerns in Ferson and Otter Creeks.Stakeholders were also the geometric mean of the number of fecal coliforms per ioo mL.This pollutant- interested in addressing impacts from development and stormwater management in load reduction is derived from data collected by Illinois EPA compared with the Illinois the watershed more broadly.Additionally,stakeholders want to protect the quality of water quality standard for fecal coliform as is shown below in Table 3. the stream corridor and open space throughout the watershed.Specifically,logjams, beaver dams along the creek,and tree and debris removal were also noted by stakeholders Table 3:Ferson Creek fecal coliform contamination regardingthe physical and ecological health of streams and open space.Public outreach FLOW WEIGHTED and education were identified as important areas to address in the plan,particularly WATER QUALITY MEAN CONCENTRATION IEPA IMPAIRMENT REDUCTION education for riparian landowners to encourage best management practices.Lastly,the STANDARD IN FERSON CREEK STANDARD NEEDED need for more recreation and education opportunities on public land in coordination with Geometric Mean 355(#/100mL) 200(#/100mL) 44% Kane County was expressed. As a next step,goals were then drafted directly from the concerns expressed by the In order to work towards achieving this reduction,the plan recommendations will stakeholders.The final goals outlined below capture the desired outcomes for the focus in part on reducingfecal coliform to the extent possible.Recommendations also watershed.Recommendations throughout the plan will address each of these goals. address water quality in Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed more broadly,including projects 1)Reduce fecal coliform contributions to Ferson and Otter Creek. and policies to reduce contaminants other than fecal coliform in water runoff and to protect and restore stream and habitat quality.Details about recommendations are 2)Reduce nutrients,sediments,and other pollutant contributions to Ferson and discussed below. Otter Creek. 3)Raise stakeholder(residents,public officials,etc.)awareness about the importance and best management practices of proper watershed stewardship. Additional Water Quality Concerns 4)Promote land use and best management practices that minimize increases in the While total phosphorus,sedimentation/siltation,and total suspended solids are volume of stormwater runoff and reduce the risk of flood damage. identified causes of impairment in the mainstem Fox River below the mouth of Ferson Creek,neither nutrients nor sediment are implicated as causes of any designated use 5)Protect the quality and quantity of our water supplies. impairment within Ferson Creek in the Report.Illinois offers statistically-derived 6)Improve the physical condition of our waterways. guidelines that are used to identify potential designated use impairment.Water quality data for Ferson Creek and their associated guidelines are compared in Chapter3. 7)Develop an effective and lasting Watershed Coalition to foster continuing Neither the nutrient concentrations nor suspended solids concentration exceeds the stewardship efforts in the watershed. recommended guidelines in the watershed.Thus,the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed stakeholders did not set a threshold for acceptable nutrient or sediment concentrations. Establishing target load reductions for nutrients or sediment,therefore,was deemed unnecessary at this time.It should be noted that although the Report does not show definitive data pointing to an impairment,nutrients and sediment are still a stakeholder concern in the watershed,which is affirmed by the plan's short-term project recommendations discussed on the following page. • • PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS • y Nan recommendaUlons Stakeholder concerns and goals guided the plan's recommendations.Plan recommendations are organized into three groups:(i)Project,(2)Policy,and(3)Education and Outreach and can be found in Chapters 4,5, and 6 respectively.Recommendations are aimed at a variety of implementers including local governments, homeowners associations,and community groups.Furthermore the recommendations have been approved by the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Coalition(Coalition)as actions that will improve water quality in the watershed.It should be noted that these recommendations are advisory in nature. Project Recommendations Four types of on-the-ground projects were identified in the plan:stream stabilization,buffer establishment, detention basin retrofit,and stream habitat restoration.These projects,summarized in Table 4 are scheduled to be implemented within 5 years of plan completion and are referred to as short-term projects. Short-term projects were selected based on the following criteria: • Ability to address the primary contact use impairment • Ability to support Ferson-Otter Creek in Ferson Creek;s Watershed Goals; • Ability to address aquatic life and fish consumption • And degree of lead implementer,local,and impairments in downstream segment of the Fox River; municipal support. Table 4:Ferson-Otter Watershed Creek plan's 21 short-term projects,by IEPA project category PROJECT NUMBER LEAD IMPLEMENTER PROJECT NAME IEPA PROJECT CATEGORY 1-14 South Elgin' Streambank Stabilization for Otter Creek Hydrologic 1s Kane County Forest Streambank Stabilization in Leroy Oakes Hydrologic Preserve District Forest Preserve 16 Lake Campton Property Vegetative Clearing and Naturalized Other Owners Association Buffer Installation for Lake Campton 17 Kane County Dam Modification/Removal Other 118 South Elgin Detention Basin Retrofit at Urban Corron School �19 Elgin Detention Basin Retrofit at Urban Edgewater/Columbine Subdivisions 120-21' Campton Township Stabilization Projects Urban 5 Limited data and knowledge about exact locations and sources of primary contact impairment were understood and taken into consideration. 6 Fourteen stabilization projects are represented here,each with a different site location on Otter Creek.See full plan for details. 7 Two stabilization projects are represented here.See full plan for details. 1b FE -OTTER CREEK WATERSHED PLAN Policy Recommendations Expected Water Quality Benefits and Costs In addition to on-the-ground projects,changes in policy can also have a positive CMAP retained the services of Hey and Associates to calculate pollutant load reduction effect on water quality.Policies(i.e.,ordinances and codes)can encourage or require and cost estimates for each of the above short-term projects.Sediment,total suspended certain practices for responsible land development and continued stewardship.Green solids,phosphorus,fecal coliform,and nitrogen reductions were considered in the infrastructure,groundwater protection,agricultural best management practices,and estimates.Table 5 summarizes expected pollutant load reductions organized by IEPA ordinance recommendations are included in the plan's policy recommendations section. project categories.' Additionally,policy recommendations that specifically address fecal coliform are highlighted separately.All recommendations are shown in BOLD text. Table 5:Expected pollutant load reductions organized by IEPA project categories Green Infrastructure IEPA PROJECT SEDIMENT TSS PHOSPHORUS FECAL COLIFORM NITROGEN CATEGORY (tons/year) (Ibs/year) (Ibs/year) (counts/year) (Ibs/year) Green infrastructure can be described as an interconnected system of open space and natural areas that provides many services including habitat for wildlife;flood protection; Hydrologic 108 — 173 — 434 recreational opportunities;water quality protection;and groundwater recharge.'° Other — 421 3 250,000,000,000 5 To address the preservation of open space and natural areas,the plan created a Green Urban 14 1,474 28 1,220,000,000,000 1,159 Infrastructure Framework that consists of two tiers—Tier i and Tier 2.The purpose of these tiers is not to prioritize open space and natural areas,but rather to group certain Total- 122 1,895 204 1,470,000,000,000 1,598 characteristics,functions,and areas together so that integrated policy recommendations All categories can be applied to these grouped areas. Additionally,costs for each short-term project have been calculated and are displayed Tier 1,or the Reserve,includes protected public and private open space;the stream in Table 6.However,it should be noted that some lead implementers will need to further network and recommended buffers(ioo feet);threatened and endangered species sites; develop project proposals.This will likely affect and potentially increase the estimated/ and the ioo-year floodplain(Figure 5)."For all Tier i land,the plan's green infrastructure preliminary project costs due to a number of reasons including unforeseen variables such recommendation is as follows: as site conditions,implementation timelines,etc.Funding for these short-term projects • All Tier i area landowners should apply or maintain protective measures will likely come from state and federal grants and local sources. including conservation easement(purchased or donated). Tier 2,or Developable Land includes:hydric soils;groundwater recharge areas;high Table 6:Short-term project costs sensitivity aquifer areas;critical woodland areas;significant tree stands;remnant IEPA PROJECT CATEGORY' ACCUMULATIVE COST OF SHORT-TERM PROJECTS natural areas;and existing,proposed,and potential greenways and trails(e.g.,green Hydrologic $1,265,029 infrastructure corridors)(Figure 5).Currently,land in Tier 2 is not formally protected but contains characteristics that are valuable to maintaining and protectingwater quality. Other $304,721 For all Tier 2 land,the plan's green infrastructure recommendation is as follows: Urban $221,827 • All Tier z area landowners should incorporate low impact development(LID) Total-All categories $1,791,577 best management practices when and if the Tier z land is developed." After the short-term projects were identified from all of the stakeholder on-the- ground project submissions,the remaining projects were classified as long-term,with 8 Project specific pollutant load reductions are found in the full plan. implementation expected within 5-10 years of plan completion.Long-term projects can be 9 Project specific costs are found in the full plan. found in the plan's Appendix.Please note that the long-and short-term projects outlined 10 "Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure,"U.S.EPA,last modified January 4,2011,accessed November 9,2011, in the plan do not represent all the opportunities forwater quality improvement projects htt cfpub.epa. ov np4es/home.cfm?program-id=298. in the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed. 11 The floodplain includes all floodways. 12 Or similar concepts like conservation design and light imprint. • . 0.tG`.�I• � g•lr o . fit Tier 1:The Reserve Tier 2:Developable Land N N W H W ` 2e Zo S �58 S , (58 Elgin 1B I ` 19 e 1 _ Elgin f , _ e � • �r _ Otter Creek Watershed' .0 Otter Creek Watershed ' 'rte South lgin South Igin 47 47 on / r ` 0 Campton Hills 1 _ ` 25 „•� Lily ake '-- 41y Lake ! I 31 �� , 11 �`' Ferson Creek Watershed 1/ a Ferson Creek Watershed ll 11 -V ti- I" CZZ,1 •• 64 84 x 6 Saint Charles Saint Charles Campton Hills 1 Milos Mib 0 0.5 1 2 0 0.5 1 2 79 18 Legend Legend []Watershed Planning Area ❑Saint Charles N Chicago Metropolitan []Watershed Planning Area ❑Saint Charles Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Agency for Planning ❑ Tier 1 ❑South Elgin El Tier 2 ❑South Elgin Kane County Forest Preserve-FPDKC(2009);Campton Watershed Planning Area,Illinois State Water Survey ❑ Campton Hills Township,Other Public Open Space,Private Open Space, ❑ Campton Hills (2005),Kane County Advanced Identification Study —ADID Streams South Elgin Open Space and St.Charles Park District- —ADID Streams (ADID)(2004);Major Roads,ESRI(2000);Municipal Campton Township Green Infrastructure Plan(2010), Boundaries,CMAP(2010);USGS Campton Township ❑ Elgin =Interstate Elgin Open Space(2011),Watershed Planning Area, ❑ Elgin =Interstate GroundwaterStudy(2006);Kane County,Aquifer Illinois State Water Survey(2005),Kane County, ❑ Lily Lake Advanced Identification Study(ADID)(2004),Major ❑ Lily Lake Sensitivity(2007);Soil Survey GeographicDatabase —US/State Hwy Roads,ESRI(2000),Municipal Boundaries,CMAP(2010). —US/State Hwy National Resource Conservation Service(2010). 11 FE -OTTER CREEK WATERSHED PLAN Groundwater Protection Ordinance Recommendations Groundwater protection is especially important in the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Local ordinances and codes such as subdivision standards for development because the majority of the watershed's communities rely solely on groundwater for regulate and guide impacts from land use.For example,how a community addresses water supply.13 The plan's groundwater recommendations are generally aimed at local impervious surfaces such as sidewalks,streets,and parking has a substantial effect on governments and are summarized as follows: the community's runoff both in terms of water quality and quantity.Research has • Adopt groundwater protection ordinances. shown that as impervious cover in a watershed increases,generally so do the concentrations of nutrients,sediment,and trace metals in surface waters."The • Establish Wellhead Protection Programs. plan's ordinance recommendations are generally aimed at local governments and are • Implement sensible salting practices. summarized as follows: • Install demand-initiated water softeners. • Local governments should adopt ordinances that incentivize: • Review street sweeping practices. • Shared parking; • Become a WaterSense Partner.14 • Decreased dimensions in residential driveways/parking areas; • Adopt portions or all of CMAP's Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance:s • Use of biorention for on-site stormwater treatment; Agricultural Recommendations • Development design that minimizes road width and length; There are many best management practices(BMPs)available and appropriate for implementation in agricultural areas. The Natural Resource Conservation Service • Flexible arrangements to meet parking standards. (NRCS)Field Office Technical Guides(FOTG)comprehensively document conservation • Local governments should adopt ordinances that include: practices applicable to the State of Illinois as well as standards and specifications for these practices.The plan's agricultural recommendations are in line with the NRCS Guides,are • Allowances for stormwater management BMPs and reductions in impervious cover; generally aimed at agricultural landowners,and are summarized as follows: • Livestock managers should implement livestock exclusion fencing to • Reduced setbacks,smaller lots,and cluster developments. separate livestock from direct contact with streams. • Local governments should adopt policies and incentives that: • Heavy use area protections should also be established to reduce erosion from • Utilize existing infrastructure such as water and sewer; livestock. • Encourage compact,mixed use,and transit-orientated developments. • Agricultural landowners should adopt integrated nutrient and/or pest • Local governments should consider mandatory no-development buffer codes management plans that help to reduce nutrient and pesticide runoff to for critical areas such as wetlands,floodplains,lakes,streams,and rivers. streams in the watershed planning area. • Cropland management practices such as rotational grazing,cover cropping • Local governments should adopt programs for tree protection and and/or conservation tillage should be implemented to control erosion and maintenance on public properties and right-of-ways,require tree reduce required nutrient applications. replacement for losses during development,and implement tree planting initiatives. • Agricultural landowners should implement general best management - - - - ---- - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - practices like upland erosion controls,streambank or lake shore protection 13 Only Elgin obtains drinking water from the Fox River among communities in the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed. (e.g.,filter strips),and/orwetland protection/restoration to protect water 14 U.S.EPA WaterSense Program,http://www.epa.gov/watersense/. quality,in addition to agriculture-specific BMPs discussed above. 15 Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning(CMAP)Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance, www.cmap.illinois.gov/water-2050 16 The Center for Watershed Protection.Impacts of Impervious Cover on Aquatic Systems.Mansfield,CT: University of Connecticut,2003.http://clear.uconn.edu/pro'el cts/TMDL/library/gapers/Schueler_2003.pdf (accessed November 8,2011). • • PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS 0 13 Education and Outreach Recommendations Fecal Coliform Recommendations—Critical Areas Analysis Throughout the watershed planning process,the stakeholders discussed education Three metrics were analyzed at a subwatershed level to help target fecal coliform-related and outreach efforts extensively.The following recommendations and list of activities policy recommendations:density of pet populations,density of parcels that likely use were determined to be desirable actions following plan completion.To accomplish these septic systems,and percentage of agricultural areas used for livestock and equestrian actions,stakeholders expressed an interest in partneringwith local,regional,and state purposes.'?The analysis approximates which areas of the watershed are likely generating resources with similar goals and missions. higher unit-area loads of fecal coliform contamination.Consequently,the following The Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Coalition should: recommendations are made based on this analysis: • Hire a part-time watershed coordinator to promote and coordinate the • The Village of Campton Hills and Kane County should adopt a pet waste implementation of the watershed plan's recommendations; pickup ordinance. • Partner with existing organizations to provide a 319 grant writingworkshop • The Village of Campton Hills,the Village of Lily Lake,and Kane County to assist lead implementers with 319 applications; should require or at least encourage cyclical septic system maintenance. • Work with partnering organizations to raise awareness about all potential • Livestock and equestrian landowners in the Village of Campton Hills and sources of fecal coliform bacteria and water quality; Kane County should be contacted and encouraged by local authorities • Heavily target landowners/Homeowners Associations,especially those or agencies(e.g.,county Soil and Water Conservation Districts)to adopt identified in the critical areas analysis for fecal coliform,about proper septic manure management plans and livestock exclusion(from direct access to maintenance and warning signs of a failing system; streams)practices. • Distribute U.S.EPA's Healthy Lawn Care Practices and Reduce Runoff:Slow it Down,Spread it Out,Soak it in!DVD to Homeowners Associations for use at meetings as an educational tool; • Continuously work with municipalities to promote the use of CMAP's Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance in their respective municipalities; • Hold two educational seminars per year on stormwater issues for all NPDESiO Phase II permit holders in the watershed; • And encourage participation in the following programs in the next three-five years: • Envirothon Competition(every high school in the watershed); • World Water Monitoring Day; • Watershed Quilt Program. 17 Full analysis found in Chapter 3 of the plan. 18 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System(NPDES).For more information,http-.//cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/. 14 FEWTTER CREEK WATERSHED PLAN Timeline and Implementers e School districts and park districts within the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed A schedule for plan implementation was developed for each recommendation category should implement the Mighty Acorns program within the next five years. (Project,Policy,and Education and Outreach)with the assumption that the plan will be o The USDA Agriculture in the Classroom(AITC)program should be updated every five years.The short-term projects outlined in Chapter 4 are scheduled for implemented or expanded in the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed in the next completion by the end of 2oi6.It should be noted that project implementation is based 5 years. on a variety of factors including,but not limited to,securing appropriate funding and receiving participation from willing landowners and local governments. o Support strategies to implement water science curriculums into In addition to short-term projects,the watershed plan also describes numerous policy classrooms and training opportunities for teachers that will increase their recommendations.Identified parties are encouraged to consider and implement the capacity to incorporate concepts of water science in their environmental plan's policy recommendations by 2oi6.To help facilitate these efforts,CMAP or other education classrooms.Support activities that will promote the growth consultants can provide assistance to communities for those recommendations that of students'awareness of water-related employment opportunities and are related to comprehensive plans and ordinances,such as incorporatingCMAP's educational criteria. Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance.Furthermore the Coalition will continue (A complete list of recommendations is found in the full plan.) to work with the watershed's communities to support this effort.The outreach and education recommendations will be an on-going effort for the Coalition,partnering agencies,homeowners associations,and other relevant groups that are active within the watershed.The pace of implementation of the outreach and education recommendations would be greatly increased by hiring a part-time watershed coordinator. Additional Monitoring Needs As stated throughout the plan,fecal coliform is the watershed's only identified impairment(specifically in Ferson Creek).Although the Illinois 303(d)list has identified potential sources for the primary contact impairment as urban runoff and storm sewers, and runoff from forests,grasslands and parks,both the geographical location(s)and origin(s)of fecal coliform contamination are still unknown. By 2oi6,more detailed and frequent monitoring should be implemented throughout the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed.The Coalition should partner with Fox River Study Group (FRSG)and Illinois State Water Survey(ISWS)to develop a more robust water quality monitoring scheme with a goal of achieving an improved understanding of the sources and locations of fecal coliform within the watershed.After such monitoring data are collected and analyzed with conclusive results,the Coalition can reevaluate the plan's recommendations and make appropriate adjustments to priorities at that point. 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(58 w Q- _ Elgin 19 -1( r 18 Otter Creek Watershed 11 Otter Creek Watershed ` d Y VQ _ 9 South Igin V 4 South Igin 47 47 n r � Campton Hills I r i• (25� "" Lily ako Lily Lake ► .� ` ,J1 Al' s Ferson Creek Watershed 6 Ferson Creek Watershed ✓ 84 1 64 �• 6 Saint Charles Saint Charles Campton Hills 1 Mlles Mil. 0 0.5 1 2 0 0.5 1 2 38 38 Legend Legend Q Watershed Planning Area []Saint Charles Chicago Metropolitan []Watershed Planning Area ❑Saint Charles Chicago Metropolitan ❑ Tier 1 ❑ Agency for Planning Agency for Planning South Elgin E3 Tier 2 South Elgin Kane County Forest Preserve-FPDKC(2009);Campton Watershed Planning Area,Illinois State Water Survey ❑ Campton Hills Township,Other Public Open Space,Private Open Space, ❑ Campton Hills (2005),Kane County Advanced Identification Study ADID Streams South Elgin Open Space and St.Charles Park District- —ADID Streams (ADID)(2004);Major Roads,ESRI(2000);Municipal Campton Township Green Infrastructure Plan(2010), Boundaries,CMAP(2010);USGS Campton Township ❑ Elgin =Interstate Elgin Open Space(2011),Watershed Planning Area, ❑ Elgin =Interstate GroundwaterStudy(2006);Kane County,Aquifer Illinois State Water Survey(2005),Kane County,I ❑ Lily Lake Advanced Identification Study(ADID)(2004),Major ❑ Lily Lake Sensitivity(2007);Soil Survey GeographicDatabase US/State Hwy Roads,ESRI(2000),Municipal Boundaries,CMAP(2010). —US/State Hwy National Resource Conservation Service(2010). 1[ FE OTTER CREEK WATERSHED PLAN Groundwater Protection Ordinance Recommendations Groundwater protection is especially important in the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Local ordinances and codes such as subdivision standards for development because the majority of the watershed's communities rely solely on groundwater for regulate and guide impacts from land use.For example,how a community addresses water supply.13 The plan's groundwater recommendations are generally aimed at local impervious surfaces such as sidewalks,streets,and parking has a substantial effect on governments and are summarized as follows: the community's runoff both in terms of water quality and quantity.Research has • Adopt groundwater protection ordinances. shown that as impervious cover in a watershed increases,generally so do the concentrations of nutrients,sediment,and trace metals in surface waters.i6 The • Establish Wellhead Protection Programs. plan's ordinance recommendations are generally aimed at local governments and are • Implement sensible salting practices. summarized as follows: • Install demand-initiated water softeners. • Local governments should adopt ordinances that incentivize: • Review street sweeping practices. • Shared parking; • Become a WaterSense Partner.14 • Decreased dimensions in residential driveways/parking areas; • Adopt portions or all of CMAP's Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance:s • Use ofbiorention for on-site stormwater treatment; Agricultural Recommendations • Development design that minimizes road width and length; There are many best management practices(BMPs)available and appropriate for implementation in agricultural areas. The Natural Resource Conservation Service • Flexible arrangements to meet parking standards. (MRCS)Field Office Technical Guides(FOTG)comprehensively document conservation • Local governments should adopt ordinances that include: practices applicable to the State of Illinois as well as standards and specifications for these practices.The plan's agricultural recommendations are in line with the NRCS Guides,are • Allowances for stormwater management BMPs and reductions in impervious cover; generally aimed at agricultural landowners,and are summarized as follows: • Livestock managers should implement livestock exclusion fencing to • Reduced setbacks,smaller lots,and cluster developments. separate livestock from direct contact with streams. • Local governments should adopt policies and incentives that: • Heavy use area protections should also be established to reduce erosion from • Utilize existing infrastructure such as water and sewer; livestock. • Encourage compact,mixed use,and transit-orientated developments. • Agricultural landowners should adopt integrated nutrient and/or pest • Local governments should consider mandatory no-development buffer codes management plans that help to reduce nutrient and pesticide runoff to for critical areas such as wetlands,floodplains,lakes,streams,and rivers. streams in the watershed planning area. • Local governments should adopt programs for tree protection and • Cropland management practices such as rotational grazing,cover cropping and/or conservation tillage should be implemented to control erosion and maintenance on public properties and right-of-ways,require tree reduce required nutrient applications. replacement for losses during development,and implement tree planting initiatives. • Agricultural landowners should implement general best management ----- - --- - - - - practices like upland erosion controls,streambank or lake shore protection 13 Only Elgin obtains drinking water from the Fox River among communities in the Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed. (e.g.,filter strips),and/or wetland protection/restoration to protect water 14 U.S.EPA WaterSense Program,http://www.epa.gov/watersense/. quality,in addition to agriculture-specific BMPs discussed above. 15 Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning(CMAP)Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance, www.cmap.illinois.gov/Water-2050 16 The Center for Watershed Protection.Impacts of Impervious Cover on Aquatic Systems.Mansfield,CT: University of Connecticut,2003.http_//clear.uconn.edu/-projects TMDL/library/papers/Schueler_2003.pdf (accessed November 8,2011).