Community Meeting May 18, 2019 10 a.m. Felters Association - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Community Meeting

May 18, 2019 10 a.m. Felter’s Association Clubhouse Antioch, Illinois

Agenda

Introduction Current Challenges and Plan of Action Actions to Date 2019 Goals Volunteer Opportunities

Introduction

Friends of Catherine and Channel Lakes’ mission is to maintain the sanctity of Lake Catherine and Channel Lakes, to continuously improve and maintain the lakes’ ecosystem, and to establish and implement value-enriched programs to enhance the

• verall quality of lake life.

Our goal is to return Lake Catherine and Channel Lake to pristine condition by eradicating invasive plant species, reducing pollution and increasing awareness about how to care for the lakes. We are doing this through the implementation of a detailed Lake Management Plan. Please join the cause by getting involved. Many hands make light work.

Current Situation

Both lakes are impaired due to excessive phosphorus. Internal loading is the dominant source of phosphorus (40%) Other watershed surface water sources are the second highest contributor (31%) Storm drains account for 13% of the total phosphorous load Both lakes experience intense algal blooms. Bluegreen algae dominate these blooms. The rooted plant community is dominated by the invasive species Eurasian watermilfoil (63-79% occurrence; Cochran & Wilken 2000). Coontail was the second most abundant species. The invasive species curly leaf pondweed is also found in these lakes.

Fox River Watershed TMDL Stage I Report: http://www.epa.state.il.us/water/tmdl/report/upper-fox-chain/stage-one-draft.pdf

Current Situation

20 2014 14 Sum Summary Rep eport – Cha hannel Lak Lake Prepared by the Lake County Health Department http://www.lakecountyil.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/14187 20 2014 14 Sum Summary Rep eport – Lak Lake Catherine Prepared by the Lake County Health Department http://www.lakecountyil.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/14191 20 2019 19 St Stag age 3 3 Tot

• tal Maxi

ximum Dail Daily Loa Load (T (TMDL) Rep eport https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/public- notices/Documents/Upper%20Fox%20River%20- %20Chain%20O%20Lakes%20TMDL%20Public%20Draft%20030519_wi th%20Apps.pdf

Current Situation

The water clarity has significantly decreased in Channel Lake since 2002. The 2014 average Secchi depth was 2.8 feet, this is a decrease of 140% from the average Secchi depth in 2002 of 6.75 feet. Water clarity has decreased significantly in Lake Catherine since 2002; the average Secchi depth in 2002 was 6.58 mg/L compared to the 2014 average Secchi depth of 2.90 mg/L. This is a 127% decrease in water clarity within 12 years. Total suspended solids impact water clarity and sources are storm water, plant and algal blooms, wastewater treatment plants, failing septic, recreational boating and invasive species.

Upper Fox River/Chain TMDL 03/2019: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/public-notices/Documents/Upper%20Fox%20River%20- %20Chain%20O%20Lakes%20TMDL%20Public%20Draft%20030519_with%20Apps.pdf

Current Situation

Tot

• tal Susp

Suspended Soli Solids s Concentrations s in in Cha hannel Lak Lake Tot

• tal Sus

Suspended Soli Solids Co Concentrations in in Lak Lake Ca Catherine

Phosphorus Load

The total phosphorus load from runoff into the Lake Catherine and Channel Lake system is estimated to be approximately 5,290 lbs/year based on flow and land use characteristics. The total annual internal phosphorus loads are estimated to be approximately 484 and 1,023 lbs/year for Lake Catherine and Channel Lake, respectively.

Phosphorus Load

TMDLs were developed for the 26 phosphorus-impaired lakes within the Upper Fox River/Chain O’ Lakes watershed to estimate the pounds of total phosphorus that can be allowed as input to each lake per day and still meet the applicable water quality standard. The lowest applicable water quality standard and TMDL target for total phosphorus is 0.05 mg/L. T

Upper Fox River/Chain TMDL 03/2019: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/public-notices/Documents/Upper%20Fox%20River%20- %20Chain%20O%20Lakes%20TMDL%20Public%20Draft%20030519_with%20Apps.pdf

Primary Goals

Overarching objective: Im Improve water qualit lity in in bot

• th lak

lakes Reduce poll

• llutants

Goal: Filter water entering lakes Goal: Reduce nutrients from internal loading Goal: Increase awareness Reduce in invasive plan lant sp specie ies Goal: Reduce use of chemicals, implement harvesting program Goal: Populate native plant species In Increase oxygen Goal: Implement aeration system

Actions to Date

Coordinated with IDNR, EPA, Fox Waterway Agency, Lake County, etc. Created Lake Management Plan Explored Harvesting Program Permitting: Incidental Take Assessment Explored Filtration System Engineering Study

Actions to Date

Explored Bio-enzyme Pilot Program (helpful bacteria) Handled seasonal water testing in conjunction with the EPA (Secchi, DO) Fundraised Grants from Sherman Fairchild Foundation Personal donations Created Awareness Program Website – www.catherineandchannellakes.org Facebook – www.facebook.com/catherineandchannel Email database 4th of July Parade

2019 Goals: Harvesting

Working to secure permit approval Protected minnows Define restrictions Required conservation plan Replanting natives Implement harvesting program

2019 Goals: Filtration

Complete filtration study Utilize study to secure grant funding

2019 Goals: Bio-augmentation Pilot

Worked with IL DNR & IL EPA to implement pilot program at SW corner of Channel Lake Eco-Cat review completed and 2-yr. LOP issued April 2019 Samples take 5/6/2019 for sediment depth & % TVS

• Avg. Depth ≈ 24” (18”- 48”)

% TVS= 26% – 34%

Goals: 2019 Beyond

Raise money to continue this great work Increase the number of volunteers involved Build awareness Increase grant applications Explore corporate donations Implement conservation plan / ITA

Volunteer Opportunities

Fu Fundrais ise Donate Secure corporate funding Write grants Vol

• lunteer

Operate harvesting program Implement conservation plan Help with communications (social media, email) Host events, lake clean up days

Thank you.