Woods Creek Watershed Committee Looking for Participants

Wanted: People who care about the future of the wetlands surrounding their homes, businesses, schools and parks.

Algonquin, Lake in the Hills and Crystal Lake have joined together to create a Woods Creek Watershed Plan and the committee is looking for stakeholders to join the planning process by attending meetings and providing input. The process will take about 18 months to complete. Stakeholder meetings will be every other month as the plan progresses.

The Jan. 25 meeting will focus on reviewing the vision statement, baseline water quality monitoring results and establishing preliminary goals.

The Woods Creek Watershed stretches from Algonquin to Lake in the Hills and Crystal Lake. It is the area that drains into Woods Creek, which drains into Crystal Creek and the Fox River. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency lists the Fox River as an impaired waterway, which means it isn't safe for recreational pursuits such as swimming and fishing. The pollution also has a negative effect on the ecosystem and biological diversity in the area. 

Funding for the plan comes primarily from a $55,000 grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The full cost is $75,000. The remaining $20,000 will be split among the four government bodies.

The Woods Creek Watershed is a diverse area that includes housing developments, commercial centers, farmland and natural areas. Urban sprawl in the past 15 years has degraded the water quality. Impacts to designated uses are primarily the result of phosphorus, total dissolved solids, chloride, fecal coliform and mercury originating from municipal point sources and urban runoff/stormwater sewers.

The meeting is on Wednesday, Jan. 25 from 7-9 p.m. in the village of Algonquin board room, 2200 Harnish Drive.