Upper Des Plaines River Watershed Plan

A watershed is the area of land drained by a river, stream, or other body of water.  If rain or snowmelt does not have areas of vegetation to infiltrate into the soil, it may flow overland to lower areas in the landscape to a body of water or wetland. The land surrounding that wetland or body of water is considered the watershed.

The figure below depicts the Lake County Watersheds.

Open Image

The primary purpose of the project is to reduce riverine flood damages to homes, businesses, and other infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, along the Upper Des Plaines River in Lake County, Illinois. The secondary purposes of the project are to create, restore, and/or enhance fish and wildlife habitats and provide recreation opportunities.

The Upper Des Plaines River has experienced multiple, severe flood events within the past 50 years. In September of 1986, significant rainfall resulted in the flooding of numerous dwellings, businesses, and industrial sites. Many residents were evacuated. Based on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) stream gage at Gurnee (Monitoring Location No. 05528000), the event corresponded to approximately a 10-year recurrence-interval flood (3,530 cfs).

Other recorded flood events include May 2004 (3,890 cfs) and July 2017 (3,440 cfs), these were similar in magnitude in terms of peak discharge and triggered emergency response, evacuations, and impacts to approximately 600 structures along the Upper Des Plaines River.

In 2005, the Illinois Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan was published to guide regulatory agencies toward habitat management and land protection for ecosystems throughout Illinois. The proposed planning area is within the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division (NMND) which had priority management guidelines of wetland restoration specifically with a focus on cattail marsh and sedge meadow wetlands. These habitats are needed to increase populations of several species of birds and one reptile species. The species identified in greatest need of conservation in NMND include the American bittern, least bittern, black-crowned night heron, northern harrier, yellow rail, black rail, common moorhen (syn. common gallinule), sandhill crane, Forster’s tern, common tern, greater yellowlegs, and Blanding’s turtle.

Lake County, Illinois is a rapidly developing area with an increased demand for open space and natural areas.  Per the 2009 Landuse Inventory and Regional Framework Plan Implementation Report, Lake County’s population has experienced significant growth between 2000 and 2005, increasing 9%, from 648,866 to 704,086 resulting in increased demand for recreation, such as wildlife viewing.

This growth has resulted in a decrease in wetlands, forest and grassland, and agricultural land by –5.7%, -17.4%, and –19.5% respectively, resulting in a loss of permeable open space.

The Upper Des Plaines River Watershed within Lake County, Illinois is being analyzed as part of the Watershed Plan.

The Lake County Forest Preserve District (LCFPD) is a key partner in the development of the Plan/EA.  There are five LCFPD sites that are being considered in this Watershed Plan.  They are Pine Dunes, Duck Farm, Independence Grove, Mill Creek, and Wilmot Woods.

There are five Lake County Forest Preserve District sites under consideration in this Plan/EA: Pine Dunes, Duck Farm, Independence Grove, Mill Creek, and Wilmot Woods. The IL-NRCS and SMC are committed to working with property owners adjacent to the boundaries of these sites. To learn how your property might be impacted by the Upper Des Plaines River Watershed Plan, contact Aaron Pryer, Acting Illinois Watershed Program Manager, at 217-353-6633.

The formal scoping period begins November 7, 2024 and closes January 2026, during which time the public has a chance to submit comments to be considered in the drafting of the Plan/EA. All public comments will be recorded in the Draft Plan/EA. There will also be an Initial Public Meeting on December 10, 2024 and Final Public Meeting on October 2, 2025. When the Draft Plan/EA is published, the public can review it on this Project Website and provide comments.

There will be representatives from the IL-NRCS, SMC, and the Architectural – Engineering firm working on the Watershed Plan / EA. The scope of the project will be explained and the areas under consideration will be discussed. The representatives will discuss conceptual  costs of the project and disclose any known potential effects. Comment cards will be available for the public to provide comments and concerns.

The Project website will be updated regularly with information as it is obtained to track the progress of the Plan/EA. If you are unable to attend the Public Meeting, it will be recorded and be available to view within 7 days on the Project Website.

Submitting comments is the most effective way to make your voice heard in the process.  Please feel free to send comments prior to January 2026, and they will be responded to within three business days.

Comments may be:

• Emailed to: UDPRWatershedPlan@stantec.com

• Submitted online at: https://www.udpr-nrcs-watershedplan.com via a comment form (linked here)

The Illinois-NRCS Office is funding the development of the Plan/EA for the Upper Des Plaines River Watershed Plan. NRCS is authorized to assist local municipalities with watershed and flood reduction planning projects. The local sponsor of the Project is the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC). The SMC is specifically interested in working on public lands and incorporating wetland restoration, creation, and enhancement as a means of reducing runoff to the Des Plaines River.

The PR&G govern how federal agencies evaluate proposed water resource projects. They provide direction to federal agencies when evaluating and selecting major water projects. As it relates to the Upper Des Plaines River Watershed Plan, in addition to complying with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Plan/EA must also meet PR&G requirements.  More information on how the PR&G will be incorporated into the Plan/EA can be found in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Guidance for Conducting Analyses Under the Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources Implementation Studies and Federal Water Resource Investments DM 9500-0013.

NEPA was the first major environmental law in the United States, signed by President Nixon on January 1, 1970. NEPA requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. The goal of the NEPA process is to foster action that protects, restores, and enhances our environment. This is achieved through using Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) to provide public officials with relevant information and allow a detailed look at the potential environmental consequences of each proposed project. Read more about the NEPA process from the Council of Environmental Quality.

A Plan/EA is an official environmental review document required by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for planning and carrying out projects under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program (also known as Public Law 83-566) and to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A Plan/EA is required for any project that applies for federal financial assistance through the NRCS Watershed Program and anticipates that the proposed project could significantly affect the quality of the human and natural environment.