Crystal Lake meeting last chance for watershed input

Submitted by Environmental Defenders of McHenry County

The final public input meeting of community members in the Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek watersheds to review the watershed plan will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, at the Crystal Lake Municipal Complex, P105/106 Training Room, 100 W. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake. RSVP to watershedinfo@mcdefenders.net or (815) 338-0393 by Dec. 19.

Community members in southeastern McHenry County can review a draft watershed action plan developed to help protect water quality and watershed health in the Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek watersheds. Community members are encouraged to attend and provide final comments and input on the draft plan. The plan is scheduled to be completed at the end of December.

A watershed is an area of land that drains water into a common place like a stream. Watershed planning is a voluntary, collaborative approach to protecting and improving water quality in lakes and streams, addressing groundwater protections, restoring healthy aquatic life, preventing community flooding, and other water resource concerns important to local communities.

A new community organization has formed to support implementation of the watershed action plan and continue watershed planning efforts beyond December. The organization, called the Silver and Sleepy Hollow Creeks Watershed Coalition, includes representatives of local government, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community residents. For more information, contact the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County at mcdef@owc.net or (815) 338-0393.

The Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek watersheds are located within Oakwood Hills, Prairie Grove and portions of Bull Valley, Cary, Crystal Lake, and McHenry. The watersheds also include portions of unincorporated McHenry County and are within Nunda and Algonquin townships.

This meeting is coordinated by The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. Community members not able to attend the meeting are encouraged to contact EDMC at watershedinfo@mcdefenders.net or (815) 338-0393 to learn more and provide input. More information on this planning initiative is also available at foxriverecosystem.org/planning.htm.

This planning project is funded by Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act by way of a grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Water, to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. Watershed planning oversight is the responsibility of CMAP. Planning Partners include the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, and the Fox River Study Group.

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a citizen-based, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to the preservation and improvement of our natural environment. For information about programs and membership, visit mcdef.org or email to mcdef@owc.net.