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The Watershed-based Plan (WBP) for the Cal-Sag Channel Planning Area is a
comprehensive overview of the water quality conditions in the watershed and
measures that need to be implemented to restore and protect water quality.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency have identified nine key elements that need
to be addressed in watershed plans to achieve improvements in water
quality. The following nine elements are addressed in the WBP:
An identification of the causes and
sources or groups of similar sources that will need to be controlled to
achieve the load reductions estimated in this watershed-based plan (and to
achieve any other watershed goals identified in the watershed-based plan),
as discussed in item (2) immediately below. Sources that need to be
controlled should be identified at the significant subcategory level with
estimates of the extent to which they are present in the watershed.
An estimate of the load reductions
expected for the management measures described under paragraph (3) below
(recognizing the natural variability and the difficulty in precisely
predicting the performance of management measures over time). Estimates
should be provided at the same level as in item (1) above. A description of the NPS management
measures that will need to be implemented to achieve the load reductions
estimated under paragraph (2) above (as well as to achieve other watershed
goals identified in this watershed-based plan), and an identification (using
a map or a description) of the critical areas in which those measures will
be needed to implement this plan. An estimate of the amounts of
technical and financial assistance needed, associated costs, and/or the
sources and authorities that will be relied upon, to implement this plan.
Possible sources of funding, include Section 319 project grants, the State
Revolving Fund, USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program and
Conservation Reserve Program, and other relevant federal, state, local and
private funds that may be available to assist in implementing this plan.
An information/education component
that will be used to enhance public understanding of the project and
encourage their early and continued participation in selecting, designing,
and implementing the NPS management measures that will be implemented.
A schedule for implementing the NPS
management measures identified in this plan that is reasonably expeditious.
A description of interim, measurable
milestones for determining whether NPS management measures or other control
actions are being implemented. A set of criteria that can be used
to determine whether loading reductions are being achieved over time and
substantial progress is being made towards attaining water quality standards
and, if not, the criteria for determining whether this watershed-based plan
needs to be revised or, if a NPS TMDL has been established, whether the NPS
TMDL needs to be revised. A monitoring component to evaluate
the effectiveness of the implementation efforts over time, measured against
the criteria established under item (8) above.
The WBP is a supplement to the Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Detailed Watershed Plan (DWP) for
the Cal-Sag Channel. The
Cal-Sag Channel DWP focuses on flooding concerns in the watershed, and
the Cal-Sag Channel WBP focuses on water quality. Cal-Sag Channel WBP was
prepared by Metropolitan Planning Council.
Approval Letter Illinois Environmental Agency
Executive Summary
Cal-Sag Channel Watershed-based Plan*
*The tributary areas delineated for the Cal-Sag
Channel DWP included areas north and south of the Cal-Sag Channel (several
smaller streams) that discharge westward into the I&M Canal. As such, these
areas are not included in this current Cal-Sag Channel WBP. More
information on the delineated areas is provided in Section 3.1.
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