|
Watershed Planning
While ecosystem partnerships are based on larger watershed basins (e.g.,
Fox River, Upper DesPlaines River), watershed planning can be accomplished at a tributary watershed scale (e.g., Poplar Creek,
Blackberry Creek, Nippersink Creek). We are often invited to
participate in watershed planning along with local stakeholders.
This enables us to work at a grass-roots level with citizen stakeholders
and local governments. We provide technical assistance to these
groups while gaining local contacts to help us accomplish our
mission.
Working Groups
Another way that the Chicago Field Office is able to serve the region is
by participating in various working groups and technical advisory
committees set up by local governments and organizations. For
example, we hold an appointed seat on the
Lake County Stormwater
Management Commission's Technical Advisory Committee and through that
provide input on the conservation of wetlands using local
ordinances. We also hold an appointed seat on
Fermilab's
Ecological Land Management Committee and thereby have input into the
management of over 6000 acres of habitat for the benefit of wildlife at
Fermilab.
http://www.co.lake.il.us/smc/
SPECIAL STUDIES
Assessing Urban Stream Restoration
Practices
For several years many organizations have been stabilizing stream
banks and restoring stream channels in the Chicago region by using
"bio-engineering" techniques. These techniques use
plants (and their roots) along with structural components (e.g.,
a-jacks, lunkers, coconut fiber rolls). As many of these projects
have been exposed to the erosive forces of stream flows over time, their
successes have been mixed, causing speculation on which practices were
more appropriate for use in this area. To assess techniques that
have worked versus those that have not, and to determine reasons why,
the Chicago Field Office partnered with the
Northeast Illinois Planning
Commission, U.S. Geological Survey, Chicago Wilderness, the Illinois
EPA, and others to study these stream projects. The first phase of
the study gathered basic information on stream projects throughout the
region using surveys sent to consultants, contractors, funding and
permitting agencies, and project managers. A database was
compiled, and during the Phase II study, many of these projects were
field checked to confirm site conditions, location, and whether the
project had been completed. The Phase III study involved a more
in-depth analysis of 10 stream projects that deployed a variety of
practices in a variety of watershed settings. The final product to
be published in 2004 will include a DVD with footage of the streams and
relevant information. Workshops will be given to present our
recommendations and findings on when and where to use various techniques
and practices. Preliminary findings suggest that follow-up
maintenance and management was often lacking and lead to failures.
In addition, project designers must consider
anticipated flows and velocities when planning projects.
ADID Studies
ADID or "Advanced Identification" wetland studies have been completed
for Lake and McHenry counties, and will be published in 2004 for Kane
County, Illinois. ADID studies are authorized by the USEPA, and
involve working with a local sponsor and sister resource agencies to
identify in advance of a specific project, which wetlands are of the
highest quality or value within a given area. The Chicago Field
Office provided leadership and technical assistance for the assessment
of biological functions (habitat and plants) for the wetlands in McHenry
and Kane counties. That included field investigation of any
wetlands that passed an initial aerial photograph review as being likely
to contain high-quality habitat. The results of these studies
enable landowners, developers, community planners, and others to use
information identifying the most important wetlands in their respective
counties when making land use decisions.
Invasive Species in Illinois
Invasive species are a pervasive threat to natural areas and wildlife
habitat throughout the nation. To reflect this national priority,
the Chicago Field Office is providing leadership and technical
assistance to start a comprehensive Illinois Invasive Species Council
that will help coordinate early detection (of new invaders), control and
eradication techniques and efforts, and other critical information
throughout the state. Invasive species degrade natural areas and
wildlife habitat, besides their more well-known affects on
agriculture. |
