69th SWCS International Annual Conference “Making Waves in Conservation: Our Life on Land and Its Impact on Water” July 27-30, 2014 Lombard, IL

1. www.friendsofthefoxriver.org
Gary Swick, President
Andrew Paxson, Vice President
gswick@ friendsofthefoxriver.org

2. Biggest Bang for the
Water Quality Protection Buck
. An Environmental Action initiative
that helps municipalities meet EPA
regulations while developing a
Watershed of Caretakers.

3. Water Quality Protection
Whose ResponsibilityPublic Opinion - 84%
60s - Izaak Walton League
70s - The Fox
Clean Water Act I - Point Sources
Mandated, Enforced, Funded
Clean Water Act II - Non-point Sources
NPDES - unfunded, mandated, regulated

4. Fox River Water Quality History:
Decline & Recovery
Decline
1820s – early 1970s
Recovery
“The Fox”
1972-Clean Water Act

5. USEPA / NPDES
Hypoxic Zone
Phosphorous
Dissolved Oxygen
Coming IEPA Permitting Pressure
Asking what are you doing?

6. National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System
Non-point sources of runoff
Agriculture
Stormwater
Mandated - Impaired Waters
Regulated ? - Self-reported
Funded ? - MS4

7. Biggest Bang for Your Buck ???
WWTP Upgrades
Phosphorous
Combined Sewers
Fox River Study Group
Implementation Plan
Green Infrastructure
Dam Removal
Watershed Education
Watershed Watchdogs

8. Fox River Study Group
Total Daily Maximum Load Alternative
Phosphorous
Dissolved Oxygen
Stake Holders -
Municipalities, WWTP, NPG, State agencies
4 Stage Plan
Implementation
Dam Removal, Green Infrastructure, BMPs,

9. Green Infrastructure
Components
• Two Basic Categories:
• Natural / restored green infrastructure
•Rivers, streams, wetlands, woodlands, etc.
• Man-made green infrastructure
•Stormwater detention basins, greenways, rain
gardens, etc.

10. Green Infrastructure Plan

11. Storm sewer conveyance
Open channel conveyance
Traditional detention facility with concrete
low flow channel

12. Recommended BMPs
for the Elgin Area
 Low Impact Development
 Retrofitting existing detention basins
 Structural WQ devices at storm outfalls
 Water Quality Inlets
 Pet Waste Management
 Street sweeping
 Streambank stabilization
 Rain Garden / Rain Barrel Programs
 Stream corridor restoration / management
Urban
Source: Tyler Creek Watershed Plan

13. Why remove
them?
• Dollar for dollar, dam
removal is the most cost
effective way to restore a
river.
Hofmann Dam on the Des Plaines River

14.  16 Dams on the Fox River
 13 in Illinois
 2 recently removed
 1 more planned for removal
 80+ Dams on
 Fox Tributaries
The Fox River Watershed
Dams
Data Source: ISWS & USEPA BASINS Data

15. Creating a Watershed of Caretakers
Advocacy
Education
Research
Restoration

16. Prairie landscape makes way for agriculture

17. Advocacy
Open Space
Watchdogging
IEPA Assistance
Legal Action
Education

18. The Fox River
Watershed Monitoring Network
Environmental Education for Action
Providing Data for Decisions

19. Creating a Watershed of
Caretakers
It’s fun!
It’s education
at its finest!
It’s necessary
action for an
endangered
river!

20. Schools
Citizens and Families
Scouts
Home Schools
Organizations
Wanted: Watershed Watchdogs

21. Become a Watershed Watchdog
Wagging
Identify whats not normal. Sniff, listen & look.
Bark
Attract attention. Investigate.
Snarl
Demand respect. IEPA.
Bite

22. Citizen Science
Water Quality Monitoring
350 Groups
1350 Efforts
Total in the US - 1750
Many other initiatives
Flora
Fauna

23. Why Watch a Stream?
Check its health
Identify changes in
conditions (trends)
Collect data for decision making
Prepare for action

24. Why Watch a River?
*The Frog Parable*
Drop into Boiling Water –
It will jump out!
Put in cool water and gradually heat it….
Boing!!
Boiled frog legs!!

25. What is River Monitoring?
SAMPLING INDICATORS
CHEMICAL - Temp., pH, DO
PHYSICAL - Habitat, Flow
BIOLOGICAL - BMI’s
Hey, is this a
healthy place?

26. The Fox River
Watershed Monitoring Network

27. Biological Monitoring
Or ……
What Stream Life
Tells Us About Water Quality

28. 40

29. Stonefly
Nymph:
• Two pair claws on each of
three jointed legs
• Two pair of developing wing
pads present on thorax
• Two distinct “tails” called
cerci, which are actually
sensory feelers
• Color: Tan, brown, gold, or
black

30. Very Intolerant
Moderately
Intolerant
Tolerant
Very Tolerant

31. Join Students and Professionals in the……
Fox Map
ProjectGPS Collecting & GIS Mapping Dat
Linking Land Use to Water Quality
To protect the
Fox River
Watershed

32. Educational Continuum
Awareness
Understanding
Appreciation
Action

33. Education -------> Action
Outreach Educator ---> Teachers
Teachers ------> Students
Peer Teachers ---------> Students
Students ------> Data ----> Trend Analysis------> Action
Students -----> Literacy -----> Educators
Students -----> Stewards ----> Engaged Citizenry

34. Measurable Success!
Effective Education
Stewardship Ethic
Water Quality Literacy
Community Service
Sense of Place
Education for
Environmental Action
Local Protection
Engaged Citizens

35. Biggest Bang for Your Buck ???
WWTP Upgrades
Phosphorous
Combined Sewers
Fox River Study Group
Implementation Plan
Green Infrastructure
Dam Removal
Watershed Education
Watershed Watchdogs

36. Water Quality Protection - Cost/ResidentRain gardens - $12-$40 / sq ft (typical range of 50-350 sq ft)
Example: $30 x 200 = $6000
Private drainage systems - $40-$60 /ft of pipe (typical
range of 200 ft) Example:
$50 x 200 = $10,000
Public storm sewer improvements - $200-$1000 / ft of
pipe
Example: $500 x 60 ft frontage = $3000
Watershed Education - $3 / Student.
$3 x 2 students = $6

37. Co$t to Community
10,000 population/2000 Households
Rain gardens - $12-$40 per square foot typical range of 50-350 sq ft
Example: $30 x 200 = $6000 x 2000 = $12,000,000
Private drainage systems - $40-$60 / foot of pipe typical range of
150 - 300 ft Ex: $50 x 200 = $10,000 x
2000 = $20,000,000
Public storm sewer improvements -$200 - $1000 / ft of
pipe Example:
$500 x 60 = $3000 x 2000 = $6,000,000
Watershed Education - $3/Student.
2 students/ household
$3 x 2000 students = $6000

38. Fox River Watershed
Monitoring Network
Train the Trainers
Outreach Educator
Free service @ $3/student
@ capacity
Utilizing MS4 funds
Council of Governments
Sustainable Initiative

39. Water Quality Education
BenefitsFriends of the Fox River Outreach Educators
Prep & In-Stream Support
Teachers & Students
Data & Trend Analysis
Curriculum Connections
Personal / Community Impacts
Water Quality Protection Literacy
Citizens, Advocacy, Education - BMPS, Biodiversity,
Connections
Water Quality Protection Action - Policy, Ordinances, Home Care,
Stewardship
Residential, Ordinances, Policy

40. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Meade

41. www.friendsofthefoxriver.org
Gary Swick, President
Andrew Paxson, Vice President
gswick@ friendsofthefoxriver.org