NOTICE: Return or renew all Library Materialsl The Minimum Fee for each Lost Book is $50.00. The person charging this material is responsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for discipli- nary action and may result in dismissal from the University. To renew call Telephone Center, 333-6400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN MAY 9 7 ?00i APR 1 200V UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRAR' AT URBANA-CHAMP/ BOOKSTACKS LI61— O-I096 Conservation ^^IT^f ., -^^ .»jjfti"^'' it' '!^*QfS f^*-': \\-rCf^}W' M fef?S^ :s^=av 1^ ^^fK*-.- 'J^ r^: Nn\/ i i) 7001 CritiQal Trrads Assessments Illinois Natui^l Resources InformatioiT >1tecview of Illinois Water Law ILLINOIS Six-Year Report NATURAL RESOURCES Conservation 2000 1996-2001 Six-Year Report George H. Ryan, Governor ILLINOIS II - -J. IT MeH" or M*TURAL RISOURCES Brent Manning, Director Table of Contents Introduction C2000 Program Components Ecosystems Program 9 Ecosystem Partnerstiips 10 Ecosystem Project Grants 1 2 Ecosystem Planning/Organizational Grants . .22 Stream Restoration Program 24 Pilot Watershed Program 26 Critical Trends Assessment Program 28 Illinois EcoWotch Network 32 Illinois Natural Resources Information Network ... .35 Illinois Water Law 36 Conclusion 37 Publications 38 Contacts 40 Cover Photo: Shabbona Lake State Park Photographed by Adele Hodde c o N s E R V A T I O N 2 CONSERVATION 2000 SIX-YEAR REPORT Natural resource stewardship has achieved a new level of suc- cess through Conservation 2000 (C2000). The Ecosystems Program, Local Partnership Councils, the Critical Trends As- sessment Program, EcoWatch monitoring and the Illinois Natural Resource Information Network have made a power- ful impact. Our State rivers, streams, wetlands, forests, prai- ries, fish, wildlife, and the lives of Illinois citizens have received the benefits. The characteristics of a sound ecosystem include the extent and the quality of the natural communities present. To ad- dress the quality of all life for today and the future, the C2000 initiative has brought together the bold efforts of citi- zens, scientists, administrators, legislators and the Governor of Illinois. The C2000 network is improving the extent and the quality of human interaction on behalf of natural re- sources. To date, habitat restoration has been done on nearly 50,000 acres across Illinois and legal protection for over 1,500 acres has been acquired. We have over 2,000 Ecosystem Partner- ship members across the State. Currently 1,800 Citizen Sci- entists have been trained to monitor over 400 EcoWatch sites. 3 J 3. II / ^/x In addition, C2000 has made tremendous strides towards wa- tershed research, education and protection. Through the Eco- systems Program Project Grants, hundreds of thousands of pubHcations, from brochures to posters to videos, have been produced and distributed to educate the pubHc on best man- agement practices, habitat restoration, historical sites, natural areas and watersheds to name a few. A functional relationship within and between natural commu- nities is another characteristic of a sound ecosystem. We look to the future to continue to bring together more partners, pub- lic and private, to address the urgency of deteriorating ecosys- tems, lost species and degraded habitat. The value of all C2000 Ecosystem Projects totals $43,487,865.82. The C2000 pro- gram contribution was $16,583,457.67, with matching funds of $26,904,408.15. What a tremendous impact we hff\'e made in six short years! The C2000 Ecosystems Program is built upon the vision and tireless efforts of many. We have much to be proud of in our six-year history. We have taken action on a solid hope of pro- tecting and enhancing Illinois' natural resources for today and the future. MARVIN HUBBELL Manager, Division of Ecosystems, C2000 Coordinator nois River BlufTs 2 THREE FORCES CONVERGE . . . Critical trends — Citizen recommendations — Legislative response CRITICAL TRENDS — the scientific foundation In harmony with citizens' demands for a comprehensive approach to natural resource management the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) published The Changing Illinois Environment: Critical Trends report in 1994. The baseline ecological data in this state of the state report led to three conclusions: 1 . The condition of natural ecosystems in Illinois was rapidly declining as a result of fragmentation and continued environmental stress. 2 . Regulations of emissions and discharges for pollutants were working, and have caused a decline of point pollutants in the last 25 years, and most importantly . . . 3 . Existing data designed to monitor compliance with environmental regulations or the status of individual species were not sufficient to assess ecosystem health statewide. At the same time the Water Resources and Land Use Priorities Task Force of Gov- ernor Jim Edgar presented findings revealing the decline of Illinois' ecosystems. CITIZEN RECOMMENDATIONS — stewardship in action Historically efforts to preserve and enhance Illinois' natural resources have focused in nature preserves, parks, and fish and wildlife areas. The 1993 Illinois Conservation Congress understood that farmlands totaled 75% of the 90% privately-owned Illinois landscape. Solutions to our State's ecological problems would demand a comprehen- sive approach to natural resource management. These urgent circumstances required an entirely new approach to natural resource pro- tection and enhancement. The Conservation Congress proposed broad-based, multi- disciplinary solutions to the State. They asked for action to remedy our ecological challenges by: advocating natural resource analysis and services be organized on a regional scale, advocating voluntary, incentive-based participation. advocating comprehensive and comprehensible ecosystem-based scientific infontiation. advocating a grassroots program design rather than State government design. LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE — unprecedented and powerful Initiating Conservation 2000 {C2000), with a landmark 100% affirmative vote in 1996, the Illinois General Assembly responded to the constituents recommendations and support of Governor Jim Edgar. The authorizing legislature created a six-year $ 1 00 million initiative which integrates the interests and participation of local commu- nities and private, public and corporate landowners. Scientists, citizens and legisla- tors began working together through this comprehensive long-term program to enhance and protect Illinois natural resources. Continuing the history of enthusiastic support for the program. Governor George Ryan signed House Bill 1 746 into legislation in August of 1 999, extending the General Rev- enue funding portion of the C2000 Program to the year 2009. The legislation requires three agencies to work together to provide service to the pri- vate sector: the Department of Natural Resources Conservation 2000 program the Department of Agriculture, directing their efforts toward soil conservation in the agricultural sector the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, focusing on lakes management. I N T R O D U C T I O N Monaali HiiltLMny c o N s E R V A T I O N 2 The purpose of the Ecosystems Program is to integrate the in- terests and participa- tion of local communities and pri- vate, public and cor- porate landowners to enhance and protect watersheds through ecosystem-based management. The Ecosystems Program is funded through Conservation 2000 (C2000), a compre- hensive long-term ap- proach to protecting and managing Illi- nois ' natural re- sources. The Ecosystems Pro- gram is a voluntary, broad-based incen- tive program. Mission Statement To monitor, maintain, enhance and restore biological diversity and ecological conditions of the Illinois landscape through local partner ships. .1 TJR fhreatrnrd ipccirt oi havf high muH«l and fuh diveftity. ^^ _ BMofkallt\ ' y~Ue fox Riv« ii alio ihe only rivCT in lllinot* (^ihai include* i la/nc glacial lakt «y«em. Tht rivcf runt ihfough the CJhain 0'I.aka aica, a icfio of glacial lakc« and wrtlandt near (lie lllinoii-Wiicjnkin txjrdcr. P^^: tfw.y ^/i iWtiftrff/xt Public education and outreach goals were accom- plished through an attractive, informative 2-sided full color poster. What ii a watershed? Its the land that water flows across or under on its way to a stream, river, or lake. How do watersheds work? The landscape is made up of many intercon- nected basins, or watershed. Within fvirh watershed, all w^fr-r runs to the lowest point— a stream, river, or lake. Or\ its way, water travels over the surface and across farm fields, forest land, suburban lawns, and city streets, or It seeps into the soil and travels as ground water. Are all / watersheds the samel Not at all. Watersheds come in many differ- ent shapes and sizes i^n6 have many different features. Watersheds can have hills or mountains or \i(- r\''^r\y flat. They Cdo I'lave farmland, rangeland, small towns, and big cities. Parts of your water- shed can be so rough, rocky, or marshy that they're suited only for certain trees, plants, and wildlife. 2 C2000 capital grants are preserving remnants of the past along the Kankakee River . . . KANKAKEE RIVER PARTNERSHIP-Northeastem Illinois C2000 Grant #005-98A From The Kankakee River Valley, An Inventory of the Region 's Resources "The Kankakee River enters Illinois near Momence and runs for 62 miles. It is 200-800 feel wide and 15 feet deep at its deepest. The Kankakee valley, as the term is used here, takes in 2,169 square miles of the Kankakee River drainage. It encompasses nearly all of Kankakee and Iroquois counties plus parts of four adjacent counties in northeast Illinois. Two "mainstream " rivers dominate the valley - the Kankakee, which flows west across the valley until it joins the Des Plaines to form the Illinois River, and the Kankakee 's principal tributary, the Iroquois. Neither dammed nor dredged, the Iroquois runs across a bed of gravel, sand and silt, and is fed in part by artesian wells - upwellings of groundwater under pressure - near Gilman. In few Illinois places is the relative ecological integrity of such sizeable streams so little compromised by the close presence of humans. Biologists rank most of the Kankakee and Iroquois, along with nine of their tributaries as "highly valued aquatic resource. " Five branches of the Kankakee-Iroquois drainage have been designated as Biologically Signifi- cant Streams because of the diverse life they support Nearly 88% of the sampled stream miles in the Kankakee drainage "fully support" appropriate uses as determined by the Illi- nois Environmental Protectiqn Agency. No surprise, then, that the largest populations of many species of rare fish to be found anywhere in Illinois are found here. The dilemma is by now a familiar one: How does a place accommodate people who want to live there without destroying the things that make it good to live in, in the first place. These solutions transcend jurisdictions, from set- ting open space standards and protecting wet- lands, historic sites, and private farmland to set- ting aside greenways and trails and conserving habitat for plants and animals. Through the support of Kankakee River Ba- sin Partnership, the C2000 Project Grants provided the opportunity for Kankakee River Conservancy District to acquire a total of 267 acres in Momence Township. These acquisitions add to one of the larg- est parcels of flood plain forest in Illinois, the Momence Wetlands. There, 1,600 acres of sloughs and swamps remain largely as observers found them 70 years ago. Resource economics and outreach grants bring citizens into the wetlands . VERMILION RIVER PARTNERSHIP-- Eastern Illinois C2000 Grant #002-00 Boardwalk for Wetland Education Phase I Excerpt from Grant Application — "The Vermilion River Eco- system Partnership has within it a unique area of wetland. Informal commu- nity surveys and goals of our partnership for out- reach and environmental education reveal the need for education about wet- lands and their function. This particular wetland in- cludes a prairie and is in a prime area for community outreach. By building a boardwalk with informational signs into the wetland, individual visitors as well as school groups will be able to "step out" into the wetland and learn firsthand how wetlands function. " C2000 Grant #005-01 Boardwalk for Wetland Education Phase II "Phase I approval has been enthusiastically welcomed by the education community and indi- viduals alike. Phase II will consist of an additional 500 feet of boardwalk to complete a one-way loop, and additional observation deck, interpretive signage, and a connector trail to the main entrance trail. " __rjj^ : ' '■ This floating boardwalk is brought to you by the cooperative efforts of the; Consumers Illinois Water Company Illinois Department of Natural Resources - C2000 Program Illinois Native Plant Society Illinois Power Company Lake Vermilion Water Quality Coalition Pheasants Forever Vermilion County Conservation District Foundation Vermilion County Conservation District Volunteer Corps Vermilion County Highway Department Vermilion County Soil and Water Conservation District 2 An example of many groups working together to make way for the purchase of a large restoration project. . . SUGAR-PECATONICA RIVER PARTNERSHIP - Northern Illinois C2000 Project #004-00 Nygren Wetland trom tne introauction to tne final Keport: "In 1992, Carl and Myra Nygren selected the Natural Land InstitutefNLI) as re- cipient of their estate with the stipulation that the money be used to purchase and permanently protect land in Winnebago County, IL. In 1997, NLI learned that 688 acres at the confluence of the Rock and Pecatonica Rivers was for sale. It had been farmed for many years, although frequent flooding and high ground water made its value as farm ground less than optimal. After careful research, NLI decided to purchase the ground, previously drained wet- land and associated natural areas, including more than three miles of Rock and Pecatonica River frontage and Raccoon Creek stream corridor. It is called Carl and Myrna Nygren Preserve in honor of these generous benefactors. " Some of the visions presented for the Nygren Preserve were: A classical ecological restoration that recreates the matrix of flora and fauna present in pre-settlement times. A managed habitat for breeding birds that require wetlands. A site for continuing education and pas- sive recreation. Funding was accomplished through C2000 grant funds totaling $422,500. Match mon- ies from the Natural Land Institute, the Grand Victoria Foundation and the Natu- ral Resource Conservation Service s Wet- land Reserve Program totaling $1,427,500 were combined to complete the acquisi- tion. " •^"LANDPRESERV ■.. » *P«1«CII0l«l«RMtniliiuiiiniiinwere ■. , 'I |n«* Depjnfflnii of ^nnl IteortB- CwutwiM kk fi . N«iutAi i/ucwmim llSlH • "tUliral Htsoiirtfs Cooifrtjim <<:>,., ie'iv i . ■ NlI "The Nygren Wetland Preserve is an unique opportunity for ecosystem restoration because: -(I) few sites within the state of Illinois are large enough to effectively restore native flora and fauna that will be relatively self- sustaining, (2) threatened and/or endangered species throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin will be able to thrive within the large landscape that the Nygren Wetland offers, (3) the Nygren acquisition and restoration project will serve as an example partnership between non-governmental organizations, foundations, and local state and federal agencies to accomplish goals beyond the capacity of each organization. " ■.■ia^»\.-^ ILLINOIS RIVER BLUFFS PARTNERSHIP-Central Illinois C2000 Grant #009-99 Tri-County Watershed Planning From the Final Report "The goal was to build a library of presentation materials on watershed plan- ning and management. This was achieved through the research and production of "Watermarks, " a CD-ROM with almost 700 megabytes of relevant informa- tion. . . formatted as videos and movies, stills, photos and virtual reality envi- ronments, and sound clips. The library ultimately produced through the grant, differs significantly from the usual concept of the static, traditional library housing volumes of information on shelves. Easily transportable for broad dissemination and access by many, the CD-ROM allows considerable latitude in its use. Although built around lo- cal issues, the material is undated and sufficiently generic to guarantee a long usefulness to anyone seeking to foster community awareness of watershed plan- ning needs and to implement related policy. Trainers, students and decision- makers will find its content fresh and its technology interest-compelling. " 2 Intro Wat Water Use duction to srsheds History \A/ellands Ecology Pro ble ms ^"^1^^^^ re Quit Solutions ~^ GkJS sary s Our Watershed Video The at • Walcrmarks From the index to Watermarks To date, over 480 project grants have been awarded through the C2000 Ecosystems Program. The Illinois Watershed Academy The Illinois Watershed Academy was created in 1999 at the University of Illinois to support the efforts of leaders and volunteers of the state's Watershed and Ecosystem Partnerships to improve ecosystem quality. Recognizing that problems such as flooding, erosion, excessive sedi- mentation and water quality degradation are most effec- tively addressed at the level of the natural drainage unit, the watershed. The Academy brings together expertise from the University of Illinois and affiliated agencies to conduct workshops and develop companion curricula about important watershed and leadership topics. In cooperation with the University of Illinois Partnership Illinois Program, the Water Resources Center, the Uni- versity of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies and the Illinois Environmental Pro- tection Agency, the C2000 Program has helped support the Watershed Academy the past two years. The funds provide tuition waivers for participants (e.g volunteer partnership chairs who don't have budgets to support the fee) for the Watershed Academy. The Academy's first intensive workshop, "Watershed Sci- ence for Effective Partnerships" was held February 2000 in Champaign. The second 3-day workshop, "Organiz- ing for Success" was held in January 200 1 . Illinois Beach Nature Preserve l|*f-+. — U- J A„J-,- Curriculum developed at the Watershed Academy is designed for audiences state- wide, they include farmers, planners, land owners, government officials, teachers, students, an assortment of people who lack basic watershed science, who are interested in and care about what is going on in their watershed. Ecosystem Planning/Organizational Grants Establishing the vision and goals for local watersheds C2000 annually allocates funds for Ecosystem Planning/Organizational Grants, up to $10,000 each, to Local Partnerships to initiate ecosystem management efforts. Partnerships focus on Ecosystems Program goals of maintaining, enhancing, and restoring the biodiversity and ecological conditions of the watershed within their Local watersheds. Twenty-six Partnerships have received their planning/organiza- tional grants up to a maximum of $10,000.00. THORN CREEK ECOSYSTEM PARTNERSHIP - Northeastern Illinois C2000 Project #G00C0180 Planning/Organizational Grant 2 Excerpts from "A Watershed Plan for Thorn Creek in Southern Cook County and Eastern Will County. " "The Thorn Creek Ecosystem Partnership was formed in 1997 as part of the IDNR 's Con- servation 2000 program to protect the area s natural resources. It's mission is to coordinate and work cooperatively to improve ecosystem conditions and thus the services a healthy ecosystem affords to the watershed's communities and partner- ship members. The partnership is a public-private cooperative concerned with preserving, protecting and enhancing the local natural systems, and integrating these natural resources into the life and future of the community. In February 2000, volunteer stakeholders representing a broad cross-section of people liv- ing and working within the Thorn Creek watershed came together to participate in a two- day planning workshop. The purpose of developing this watershed plan was to identify ecosystem problems and concerns, determine causes, and to develop solutions and goals. The document itself is organized into four main parts. The first section is descriptive and includes information about the watershed and the stakeholders areas of concern. The pri- mary environmental concerns of the Thorn Creek Ecosystem Partnership are typical of any rapidly urbanizing area, fragmentation of remaining open space and degraded habitat. The partnership is also concerned with maintaining positive trends in water quality, hydrology, and hydraulics. In addition to this, there are concerns about the need for more recreational opportunities; interagency, intergovernmental and private sector cooperation; and the level of public engagement. The Thorn Creek Ecosystem Partnership was formed in order to address these areas of concern. The second portion of the plan outlines the mission and goals of the partnership, and the strategies that will be implemented to reach those goals. This represents the stakeholders ' collective vision for the future of Thorn Creek watershed and their plan to realize that vision. " Old Plank Road Trail "The third section outlines the process needed to carry the work forward. It includes the possible next steps and organizational struc- ture to be developed within the partnership. Those responsible for the implementation of the plan need to be engaged and empowered. The fourth and final section consists of supporting information and appendices. Here you will find information about the municipalities associated with the Thorn Creek watershed along with supporting documentation and a collection of maps. There is also a list of fi- nancial sources and resources available for implementation of the plan. The plan 's intent is to promote the development and use of sound management principles, guidelines, and techniques that will pro- vide ecological, recreational, scientific research improvements. It is also hoped that the plan will serve as a focus for increased private sector, government, community and state agency cooperation within the Thorn Creek watershed. It will ultimately serve to guide the partnership in its decision-making processes concerning the coordi- nation, support, and prioritization of watershed projects. This plan has been developed by and for everyone who lives, works, and plays in the Thorn Creek watershed. It is intended for use by landowners, educators, decision makers, and managers at all lev- els, public and private. It will be widely disseminated through the watershed and will be made available for use by individuals, orga- nizations, business, and governmental entities interested in protect- ing and enhancing natural resources within the region. " "Over the last several years, federal, state and local agencies and organizations have joined forces to address flooding and environmental issues in ways that were only dreamed of a decade ago..." Bill White, Science and Planning Planning/ Organizational grant status 1 996-200 1 1 4 planning grants completed 5 nearing completion 7 under construction stream Restoration Program Blue Heroo Creek Wauketu Rner ligRock Creek Edgar Piinlher Creek The Stream Restoration Program de signs stable instream habitat at specific watershed locations, where the stabil- ity of the entire watershed streams system is affected. The projects re- duce stream incision caused by channelization and increased wa- ''"ourt Crc< tershed runoff rates; Figure I illustrates the C2000 Ecosystems Program and Pilot Watershed Program stream restoration projects. They include significant financial support from privateji„, landowners, businesses, and other agencies such as lEPA'S 319 and the Illinois Department of Agriculture's SSRP program. The Hall Creek and Little Blue Heron Creek stream restoration projects illustrate the importance of private-public partnerships in the C2000 Ecosystems Program. C2000 staff were contacted by the landown- ers to design an ecosystem manage- ment program for the Tower Farm. Restoration of Hall Creek was part of the remedial steps recommended by DNR staff. In return the landowners gave a 300-acre natural resource easement for ten years to the Department. Ha rrfeaK Crack Figure I Jnhii Rods:itcr The adjacent picture shows one of the five Hall Creek (post construction) weirs and riffles instal- lations, with a side channel wetland. Rockford Blacktop Inc. donated all of the heavy equipment, trucks, personnel and stone to this 1500 foot project completed in 1996. The C2000 Ecosystems Fall Conference, toured the Tower Farm to see many conservation mea- sures done on the Tower farm including a 30-acre hill prairie restoration. KISHWAUKEE RIVER PARTNERSHIP — Northern Illinois Project #001-98 Little Blue Heron Creek instability resulted from agricultural stream channelizations and increased runoff rates from major developments. The pri- vate landowner was concerned about both flooding and increased stream erosion. Stream erosion in the channelized reach undercut ma- ture tees and created logjams to floodwater conveyance. In 1999, the stream program staff designed a meandering stream segment with pool and riffles adjacent to wooded wetlands to replace the straight channelized reach. The project increased instream habitat while increasing floodwater movement in the remeandered reach. The landowner paid all contractor fees and negotiated rock payments to the quarry so that , a portion of the C2000 funds were returned to the Program. Public Lands Projects ■ A portion of C2000 funding had been appropri- ated by the General Legislature for improvements to Jim Edgar-Panther Creek Fish and Wildlife Area (formally Site M). The-stream program surveyed 16,000 ft. of Cox Creek in the Jim Edgar-Panther Creek Fish and Wildlife Area for the C2000 pro- gram. The program staff designed six rock riffles and pools with a road crossing for equestrians and trail vehicles in the lower 2,000 ft. With C2000 funding, the stream program with ORC field staff and IDNR heavy equipment crew con- structed and installed "lunker" back stabilization on three eroding bank sites. The heavy equipment crew transported and installed the six rock riffles. The stream program and the heavy equipment crew also installed 12 rock riffles and one road crossing on 1800 ft. of Panther Creek upstream of the Cox Creek junction. Both sites have remained stable and well vegetated since con- struction. In 2000, the stream program surveyed 1 1,000 ft. of ravines in Lake Argyle to reduce sediment loadings. The project has designed 22 rock grade controls and a side channel wetland for this project. In the same year, the stream program sur- veyed 4,000 ft. of the Cache River near Heron Pond in order to design a series of 6 rock riffles and a road crossing near Heron Pond. The crew also surveyed 14,000 ft. of levees along the Cache River south of the Forman gage. Pilot Watershed Program Bringing together broad-based interagency participation and long-range monitoring Creek Hurricane Creek = -v- Sugar Creek •• / ^ 'i 'Big Creek V In 1997, four pilot watersheds; Court Creek, Hurricane Creek, Sugar Creek, and Big Creek were selected to study the broadest spectrum of natural resource stream management practices. The areas were chosen because of high levels \, of local interest and availability of participating agencies. '-. Their purposes include developing focused plans, ; implementing restoration practices, monitoring successes, and transferring experience gained to local partnerships. / Pilots are a learning experience, and an opportunity to try out new approaches. They are designed as a means to examine rela- tively discreet and small changes over a long period of time. As a way to measure best management practices (BMP), Pilot Watersheds bring together broad-based interagency participation. That means the Pilot Watershed Program is working with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the Farm Bureau, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the Nature Conservancy to name a few. By setting up models of stream stabilization, wetland and prairie restoration, water and sediment control basins and tree planting for example, the Pilot Watershed Program adds to the base of natural resource knowledge. The key is long-range monitoring, tracking the changes in these sample areas over a greater period of time. Finding out what works well and what doesn't work saves the local partnerships time and money when it comes to designing C2000 projects for their watershed. Developing new ways to coordinate funding benefits the local watershed partnerships. Cypress trees ringing an oxbow lake MliliacI R JtlKiriU Each Pilot Watershed is paired with a nearby, similar "reference" watershed. The reference watershed has similar geology, land use, hydrology, and physical stream characteristics. Before intensive IDNR-funded practices are implemented in the pilot watershed, data (e.g., water chemistry, flow, and species diversity) are collected in the pilot and its reference. These paired data are used for comparing changes in the pilot watershed (attributable to extensive management) with baseline changes in the reference. It is expected that extensive BMP implementation in the pilot watershed will result in improved water quality, reduced soil erosion, and enhanced wildlife habitat. WHY CONSERVE WETLANDS? Wetlands are among the most productive environments in the United States, and in the world. They provide economic benefits through fish and shellfish produc- tion (over two thirds of the worlds' fish harvest is linked to the health of wetland areas); the maintenance of water tables for agriculture; water storage and flood control; shoreline stabilization; hay and silage production; water purification; and recreational opportuni- ties. From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publica- tion July 1995 Critical Trends Assessment Program The scientific foundation "If we could first know where we are and whither we are tending, we could better judge what we do and how to do it..." Abraham Lincoln The first "Critical Trends" report — The Changing Illinois Environment: Critical Trends, 1 994 — stated that ecosystems in Illinois are deteriorating as fragmentation and stress disrupt their natural functions. The report recommended statewide collection of data. Making wise choices on the most effective and economical natural resource policies requires current and accurate data. Now the Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP) has developed the data collection tools and programs necessary to monitor trends in Illinois ecosystems. Over the past several years, the CTAP team has completed an atlas of Illinois land cover, an inventory of Resource Rich Areas, 28 regional assessments, and several years of ecosystem monitoring. The team consists of staff from IDNR's Office of Realty and Environmental Planning, the Illinois State Museum, Illinois Waste Management and Research Center, Illinois Natural History Survey, State Geological and State Water Surveys of IDNR's Office of Researcli and Scientific Analysis. Land Cover Mapping Using satellite imagery shot between 1991-1995 and spatial databases, CTAP delineated the extent of Illinois ecosystems and ^uhXishcd Illinois Land Cover: An Atlas in 1996. The resulting statewide land cover database reveals natural features and artificial structures at a level of detail appropriate for regional analyses. It will be updated periodically on the changing extent and condition of ecosystems Illinois Landscape Land Cover Acres Percent of State Crop Land 21,630,000 60.0 Grazing Land 6,310,000 17.5 Forested Land 4,070,000 11.3 Urban 1,440,000 4.0 Wetlands 1,150,000 3.2 Open Water 770,000 2.1 Grassland 613,000 1.7 Barren Land 16,200 0.1 From the Illinois Land Cover: An Atlas } Resource Rich Areas The most biologically abundant CTAP used the 816 Illinois Environmental Protection Agency "watersheds as the geographic unit for detailed evaluations. The land cover data and geo-referenced biological data — quantity of forests, wetlands, Illinois Natural Areas Inventory sites, and Biologically Significant Streams were used to determine the location of the most biologically rich areas of the state. Thirty such areas, illustrated to the right, were identified and highlighted in an Inventory of Resource Rich Areas In Illinois. The Resource Rich Areas cover almost one-fifth of the state encompassing seven million acres. They include 45% of the bottomland forest, 34% of the upland forest, and 43% of the nonforested wetland. The inventory helped to establish priorities for the C2000 Ecosystems Program — many of the Ecosystem Partnerships have Resource-Rich Areas within their boundaries. Regional Assessments Putting the date in watershed boundaries ^ As Ecosystem Partnerships were formed, CTAP prepared regional "Critical Trends" reports for their areas. Usually based on watershed boundaries, the reports describe an areas' natural and human resources. They are designed to provide the baseline information the partnerships need to set priorities and develop management plans. The 21-T()aigQ color Executive Summarys present the physical and historical setting of the region — providing a 'sense of place' for residents. The multi-volume technical report. Volumes 1 through 4, examine the Geology, Water Resources, Living Resources, Socio-economic Profile, Environmental Quality, and Archaeological Resources of the watersheds. A companion report. Volume 5, provides historical accounts of the early ecology of the area. Twenty-eight assessments have been completed thus far and assessments for the rest of the state should be completed over the next few years. Across the state CTAP has found • habitat fragmentation is a widespread problem that, in the long term, could limit attempts to maintain and enhance biodiversity, • habitat degradation is a widespread problem that could be slowed or minimized by simply removing the degradation factors, such as grazing, • if degradation is severe, restoration to pre-disturbance condition will likely require intensive vegetation management, • restoring native vegetation along streams would shade the streams, stabilize banks, and filter sediment and chemicals from runoff before they reached the streams, resulting in less siltation and degradation and lower water tdmpcratures, • setting prescribed fires in terrestrial ecosystems, such as prairies, that need regular burning, would maintain their characteristics and diversity. c R I T I C A L T R E- N D S Ecosystem Monitoring Expanding the scientific foundation To move the statistical base of collaborative natural resource management into the future, new methods of research were created. Historical assessments based on fragmented data has been replaced with a long-term monitoring network that will provide timely information on the condition of the major ecosystems. CTAP scientists from the Illinois Natural History Survey conduct detailed biological inventories of 150 randomly selected sites for each of four habitat types — forests, streams, wetlands and grasslands. Trained volunteers in the EcoWatch Network carry out less detailed biological surveys at several hundred sites. Together the two groups collect a representative set of biological indicators that measure environmental quality. The indicators include information on plants, birds, fishes and insects that will track changes in ecosystems. As data accumulate over the years, regional and statewide trends will become apparent. This information will support efforts to preserve, restore, and manage ecosystems across the state. Streams and Wetlands The streams data collected suggest that some watersheds are better off than others, although no watershed ranked high on all stream quality indicators. Wetlands in Illinois have declined to only 3.2% of the state and few remain in a high-quality condition. CTAP wetland monitoring sites contain an average of 1 5 plant species, with two of them introduced. The number of wetland-dependent bird species found at the typical site is low, 1.3 species on average. A healthy wetland should host 6-10 wetland- dependent species. II Wetland Restoration Prairie and Grasslands Grassland in Illinois is much less diverse today than the historic prairie. CTAP monitored plots containing an average of 20 plant species, 7.5 being introduced species, not native. A high quality prairie contains as many as 100-140 different plant species. Of the 20% of the state still characterized as grassland, only 0.01% is high-quality prairie. CTAP monitoring has shown an average of less than two grassland-dependent bird species nest at the sites, while a high quality prairie would contain 6- 1 2 species. Forest and Bird Censusing While forest cover is slowly increasing statewide, the plant species composition of our oak and hickory forests is changing. Fire suppression, habitat fragmentation, and the introduction of nonnative species are limiting the growth of forest diversity and forest- dwelling species. The average CTAP monitoring site contains 58 native plant species and three introduced species, but where they are found, nonnatives are tending to crowd out native species. More than 70% of shrub stems counted at ForestWatch sites are invasive, introduced species. Northern Illinois forests are the most degraded by invasive plants, while southern Illinois forests are the least affected. CTAP bird censusing clearly shows the importance of continuous forest habitat. An average of 6.4 bird species considered moderately to highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation were detected at forest sampling sites. But at isolated sites where there was little additional forest habitat within one kilometer, no area-sensitive birds were found. At sites with a high percentage of forest in the surrounding landscape, as many as 15 sensitive species were detected. Pileated Woodpecker Monitoring Framework IN HS Scientist Data C itizen Scientist Data O ther data : F isheries Forestry N atural H eritage lEPA IDOT Local / Regional rg a n iza tions D atabase Analysis and R e ports Other users: Ecosystem Partnerships Forest Preserves Districts Schools Citizens / Landowners S ite S upervisors Land Managers Forest S ervice lEPA Illinois EcoWatch Network Major accomplishments since 1995 • A six-year database containing statewide average trend information exists for three major habitats. • Data on ecological indicators and habitat conditions are available fgr more than 700 river, forest and prairie sites throughout the state. • More than 2,500 Citizen Scientists have been trained to monitor river, forest and prairie ecosystems. Most recently. Citizen Scientist data were integrated with profes- sional monitoring data in the most recent CTAP report, Critical Trends in Illinois Eco- systems. • Each year, approximately 1 ,800 Citizen Scientists and other volunteers monitor more than 400 sites, contributing an estimated 9,000 volunteer service hours to CTAP. Cumulatively, volunteers have logged well over 40,000 service hours through training, monitoring, habitat cleanups and other stewardship activities. • EcoWatch is recognized nationally for its commitment to high quality data and abil- ity to produce reliable scientific information. Annual data verification reviews have docu- mented consistently high data accuracy rates. • To expand the quantity and quality of information available for regional and state- wide planning, EcoWatch is in the process of identifying, evaluating and assigning 100 randomly selected sites for stream and forest monitoring. Sites are also being identified for prairie and wetland ecosystems. • Through the Illinois State Board of Education's PLAN-IT EARTH program, 350 teachers in 300 high schools were trained in EcoWatch Network monitoring protocols. Teachers were provided curriculum materials based on CTAP research findings and given sampling equipment. Over 16,000 students were introduced to field-based environmen- tal monitoring in the process. "■'i-' ' ' RiverWatch Monitoring on Sugar Creek in southern Illinois Prior to the Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP), existing state databases were insufficient to accurately as- sess trends in ecosystem health on a statewide basis. The Illinois EcoWatch Network is addressing this information gap by linking the efforts of CTAP research scientists and trained volunteers — referred to as Citizen Scientists — to collect the data necessary to track long-term trends in ecosystem health. This joint professional-volunteer monitoring program was created in 1994 to provide new tools for long-term, systematic monitoring. EcoWatch is coordinated through the Ecosystem Monitoring Section of the Ecosystems Division. Primary Goals for EcoWatch •to provide consistent high-quality data that can be used by scientists to measure how the condi- tion of our state's ecosystems is changing over time; •to educate and inform Illinois citizens about the ecology and importance of Illinois ecosystems; and •to provide an opportunity for Illinois citizens to become involved in the stewardship of the state's ecosystems EcoWatch Imagine wading through a shallow stream, survey- ing the aquatic life among its rocks and along its banks. Or wandering through a forest, docu- menting its biological diversity and carefully noting ecological indica- tors. Sound like the work of a professional scientist? It is. But it's also the work of thousands of Illinois citizens, trained as Citizen Scientists with the Illinois EcoWatch Network. The Illinois EcoWatch Network is a statewide network of Citizen Scien- tists coordinated through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Through EcoWatch Network's RiverWatch, ForestWatch, PrairieWatch, WetlandWatch,and UrbanWatch programs, volunteers are trained to monitor the biodiversity of Illinois ecosystems. Data collected by Citizen Scien- tists are used to track long-term trends in ecosys- tem health. Programs focus on high quality data collection, public aware- ness, and environmental stewardship. 2 The History The EcoWatch Network began with RiverWatch in 1995 and expanded rapidly to cover multiple ecosystems. ForestWatch was added in 1996. Approximately 2,500 volunteers have been trained in these prograrxis, with an average of 390 new Citizen Scientists being added each year. In 2001, EcoWatch completed UrbanWatch (in part- nership with The Field Museum) which is currently offered in northeastern Illinois through a cooperative arrangement between the Ecosystems Division, Museum of Natural His- tory and Division of Education's ENTICE teacher training institute. PrairieWatch was piloted in 1998. More than 200 Citizen Scientists have adopted 30 prairie sites since this highly popular program was launched. Tentative sampling methods for WetlandWatch and SoilWatch have also been developed and tested on a limited ba- sis; however, funding constraints hinder further implementation of these two programs. Recent Developments In October of 2000 the EcoWatch Network and C2000 programs were merged to become the Ecosystems Division within the Office of Realty and Environmental Plan- ning. This merger strengthens both programs by encouraging staff and volunteers to more fully integrate their efforts. Benefits include encouraging use of EcoWatch data by Ecosystem Partnerships in the formulation of ecosystem management plans and resto- ration projects. It will also provide additional tools for measuring the impact of these projects. One project that is currently being undertaken will dramatically improve the capabili- ties to store, retrieve and analyze EcoWatch data, making it more accessible to Eco- system Partnership members, landowners and others. A second project focuses on cre- ating monitoring plans specific to individual partnerships and watershed areas. This will assist local stakeholders to document results and refine management strategies to en- sure successful restoration and protection of their local natural resources. Key Partners ^ EcoWatch has established several key partnerships, both within DNR and with , outside organizations. These partnerships are designed to address goals of mu- tual interest to both EcoWatch and our partners. •Chicago Wilderness, a consortium of 124 public and private organizations work- ; ing together to study, restore, protect and manage roughly 200,000 acres of natu- • ral lands •Open Lands - Stream Leaders. A hands-on training course designed to encour- ' age and promote community participation in local stream habitat conservation •IDNR's Fisheries Division and John G. Shedd Aquarium •IDNR park system's Interpretive Program ; •Cache River Wetlands Joint Venture Program, which includes the US fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlirhited, The Nature Conservancy and IDNR •Motorola RiverWatch, a two year partnership between Motorola and EcoWatd^ linois Natural Resources Information Network INRIN was launched in 1995 under the banner of Illinois' Critical Trends Assessment Program ("CTAP") for the purpose of providing convenient public access to a wealth of natural resources information. The goal was to deliver, to a diverse group of users, environmentally relevant scientific information. Intended users would range from the public at large to volunteer Citizen Scientists, from natural resources professionals to public and private policy makers. INRIN is a convenient system for obtaining and shar- ing natural resources at various scales and time-frames, ranging from statewide to site- specific, from detailed time-series to onetime "snapshots." Initially, INRIN was delivered through a dial-in bulletin board system (BBS), providing text-only versions of CTAP documents and downloadable spreadsheet databases. In time, as the number and complexity of documents and datasets grew, INRIN evolved into a web-based system on IDNR's website. The site delivers graphics-rich, user- friendly documents and web pages and links to numerous natural resources related websites operated by state, federal and local governmental entities as well as not-for- profit organizations. The technology of web-based information systems is evolving rapidly, and INRIN is at the forefront of the technology. Ex- isting systems currently allow volunteers and field profession- als to submit and manage natu- ral resources data directly through the web. In the next few months, INRIN will bring on-line the ability to display those and other data through web-based map servers. The evolving sys- tem will allow users to superim- pose a variety of spatial datasets onto basemaps covering both geophysical and political places, such as watersheds. Ecosystem Partnership areas, cities, coun- ties, townships, and the state as a whole. ul . Mycena Mushroom I N R I N Illinois Water Law In 1 992, one of the many challenges the Water Resources and Land Use Priorities Task Force faced was to develop recommendations to address the increasing number of con- flicts in Illinois over the state's water resources. The Task Force determined that the existing water law in Illinois is inadequate to meet present and future needs. Water rights in Illinois are poorly defined. As apart of the C2000 legislation that was enacted in 1995, $125,000 was set aside for review of the existing water law. The first step in implementing this recommendation was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Illinois water law by an independent analyst. The purpose of the assessment was to: • review Illinois' system of water rights and water resources management define its strengths and weaknesses compare its system with the evolving systems being implemented in other states An Illinois Water Law analysis was conducted by Planning and Management Consultants, Carbondale, IL in 1996, concentrating on water quantity issues. The Task Force recog- nized that many water quality-related laws, rules, standards and programs can have sig- nificant impacts on the availability, control and distribution of the State's water resources. Despite these linkages, the Task Force chose to differentiate its analyses and recommen- dations by quantity and quality purposes. 2 The approach taken addressed the assessment from three fronts. 1. A literature review was conducted to identify water management issues in Illinois focusing on studies of water management issues, including reports of state agencies, interests groups, committees and task forces. 2. A legal review of Illinois water-quantity case law and statutory law was conducted. 3. Focus groups were held to gain more in-depth perspectives on the issues identified in the literature search. Additional issues and conflicts not found in the literature search were raised. The report further concluded that historical water law in Illinois is inadequate to meet present and future needs. It also recommended a total rewrite of Illinois Water law in order to develop to a single, comprehensive water resources act. A comprehensive review of the existing water law to determine inadequacies and con- flicts; investigation of other state systems; and clarification of options to address the problems are the next steps to be taken. A Final Thought The challenges of a statewide program with the goal of protecting, preserving and en- hancing our natural ecosystems unifies the Ecosystem Partnerships under one program, Conservation 2000. Although the individual Local Partnership Councils (LPC) may be working on different projects and issues within their respective watersheds, they are sharing knowledge, ideas and data and are working toward a common goal. Each partnership strengthens the entire program. A special appreciation is warranted to all the partnerships, affiliates and C2000 staff for the progress they have made in the past six years at dealing with these challenges. We have come a long way since the program began in 1996. The C2000 Ecosystem Partnerships now cover 77.1% of the State of Illinois. It is our hope that the entire state will be served by Ecosystem Partnerships within the next few years. Working with the local partnerships, the C2000 Program has been recognized as contributing to a variety of habitat, outreach, research, land acquisition, and economic development projects. The success of these projects demonstrates that this local/statewide partnership is work- ing. The C2000 program affords opportunity for the LPCs to actively evaluate and plan for the future of their watershed. The Program is providing tools to access existing data and to coordinate with data collection and monitoring programs of Eco Watch in order understand the trends of their watershed. This information network allows for better plans to be developed by partnerships. These plans facilitate the support for future funding. These plans provide a framework and vision to support future funding. The more we plan to reach specific goals, the more we can evaluate what we have achieved. The C2000 Program staff looks forward to the future to fill in gaps of watershed coverage, in- formation and resources. These actions are necessary to continue uniting our state in pro- tecting its natural resources for the benefit of everyone. The successes of the past and fu- ture will demonstrate the Program's value at promoting ecosystem stewardship in Illinois as well as provide the incentive for extending the program funding beyond 2009. Let's keep the wheels in motion! Director, Illinois Depar Resou of Natural c o N c L U s I o N Nygren Wetlands Publications One of the activities that the Ecosystems Program of Conservation 2000 has actively been involved in, is the development of geographic information. This public information is widely used by scientists at IDNR, by other State and local agencies,, and by not-for-profit organizations. C2000 recognizes that the accuracy of the data depicting the landscape characteristics of the state is an invaluable ingredient in the analysis of the state's ecological conditions. Some of the GIS initiatives that C2000 has supported include the following: The Digital Orthophoto Quarter-Quadrangles (DOQQ's) are 1998/1999 aerial photography of the state in the form of geo-referenced TIF files for use in GIS and other computer applications. The updated Land Cover of Illinois, created from LandSat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery is part of an ongoing protocol for maintaining an inventoiy of how the surface of the state is covered (e.g. Agriculutre, forest, wetlands, urban, etc.) The project is .scheduled to be completed in June, 2002. Historic Aerial Photography from the I930's will be converted to digital format for computer viewing and for use in land.scape analysis with GIS technology. CTAP REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS TECHNICAL REPORTS (Vol. 1-5) AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES Volume 1 : Geology , Volume 2: Water Resources Volume 3: Living Resources Volume 4: Socio-economic Resources Volume 5: History of Ecology Prairie Parklands Lower Des Plaines Calumet^Area Lower Sangamon Vermilion River Illinois River Basin Kin lea id Area 2 TECHNICAL REPORTS (Vol. 1-4) Rock- Cache Headwaters Em harass Mackinaw Kankakee Fo.x Big Rivers Kishwaukee Upper Des Plaines ^ Illinois River Bluffs Spoon River Drift I ess Area Lower Rock River Sinkhole Plain (includes American Bottoms) Sugar-Pecatonica Vermilion Upper Sangamon (Heart oj the Sangamon) Thorn Creek DuPage River Chicago River/Lake Shore TECHNICAL REPORTS (Vol. 5) Rock Cache Headwaters Embarras Mackinaw Kankakee Fox Big Rivers TECHNICAL REPORTS TO BE RELEASED IN 2002 Illinois River Bluffs (expanded) Upper Rock River basin Big Muddy AREAS UNDER ASSESSMENT La Moine River basin Little Wabash Mississippi Western Five Shawnee Watershed ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS The Changing Illinois Environment: Critical Trends Critical Trends in Illinois Ecosystems Building Illinois ' Biological Memory Inventory of Resource Rich Areas in Illinois The Watershed Adventures of Nate the Newt Illinois Land Cover Illinois Geographic Information System If you would like to order any of these publications, please contact IDNR Clearinghouse at 2 1 7/782-7498 or email: clearingfednnnail.state.il. us Primary IDNR Contacts for The Conservation 2000 Program Marvin Hubbell, C2000 Coordinator Office: 217/782-7940 Fax: 217/557-0727 email: mhubbell(a),dnnnail.state.il.us Ecosytems Program Vacant, Grants and Contracts Office:2 17/782-7940 Fax:217/557-0727 or 217/557-0728 Tammy Watson, Outreach and Coordination Office:2 17/782-7940 Fax:217/557-0727 email: twatsonfSjdnrmail. state.il. us Bill White, Science & Planning Office:2 17/782-7940 Fax:217/557-0727 email: bwhite(a),dnrmail. state. il.us Ren Moore, Land Acquisition & Conservation Easements Office:2 17/782-7940 Fax:217/557-0727 email: rmoore(g),dnrmail. state. il.us Phil Pittman, G.I.S. Coordinator Office:2 17/782-7940 Fax:217/557-0727 email: ppittmanfSjdmmail. state. il.us MaryJo Woodruff, C2000 C.E.R.P Coordinator Office:217/785-5500 Fax:217/557-0728 efnail: jwoodruff@-dnrmail.state.il. us CTAP Program John Marshall, EcoWatch Program Office:2 17/782-7940 Fax:217/557-0727 or 217/785-8575 email: jmarshalKSidnrmail.state.il. us David Baker, Assessment & Professional Monitoring, Office:217/785-5500 Fax:217/557-0728 email: dbaker(a).dnrmail. state.il. us Pilot Watershed Program Doug Austen, Watershed Unit Manager, Office: 217/557-5823 Fax: 217/557-5375 email: daustin(a),dnrmail.state.il.us c o N T A C T S sasf* ^BS^ Acknowledgments Editors: Liz Rickert & Amy Ent Layout and Design: Liz Rickert & Amy Ent Managing Editor: Tammy Watson Contributions were made by the following people: Tracy Adamski Jason Beverlin Matt Buffington Meg Bushnell Trudy Collins Dana Curtiss Tracy Evans Andy Hawkins Adele Hodde Randy Holbrook Marvin Hubbell John Laurik John Marshall Paula Mart el Ren Moore Dan North Phil Pittman Tammy Watson Chuck Wheeler Bill White Nancy Williamson ■ Mary Jo Woodruff IDNR Conservation 2000 Ecosystem Administrators Meg Bushnell 200 West Washington, tel; (815) 732-9071 fax megb@essex1,com Jison Beverlin Jubilee College State Park 13921 West Rte 150, Bnmfield, IL tel (309)446-9184 fax (309)445 jbeverlinl @dnrma 11 state il.us Randy Holbrook 4521 Alton Commerce Pkwy tel (618) 462-1181 fax (61 rho lbrook@ dnrmail. state . Ilus Tracy Evans Region 5 Office 11731 State Hig tel (618) 435 tevans2@dnrmai Nancy Williamson IDNR. Region 2 Office ames Rd, Spring Grove, IL 60081 15)675-2385 fax (315)675-2495 amson@dnrmall.state.il, us Andy Hawkins Box 992, Bourbonnais, IL 60914 (815)929-1507 fax; (815) 929-1 225 hawklns@dnrmail. state Il.us Paula Martel IDNR Region 3 Office 2005 Roundbarn Rd, Champaign, IL 61321 tel (217)278-5773 fax (217)278-5763 pmartel@dnrmail state il.us an North 1 Alton Commerce Pkwy Alton, IL 62002 (618)462-1181 fax (613)462-2424 rth@dnrmail state il us UNtVERtmr OF ILUNOIt-UHlAN* 3 0112 048653205 ^F^ dnr.state.il. us/orep/c2000 ^r ^1 Nate the Newt is the Ecosystems Program mascot Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source's civil rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, IDNR, 524 S. Second, Springfield, 111. 62701-1787; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175. This information may be provided in an alternative format if required. Contact the DNR Clearinghouse at 217/782-7498 for assistance. Printed by the authority of the State of Illinois PRT 3219183 - lOM - 9 01