Illinois NLRS Program and Project Narratives

This site features NGO partner program and project narratives, searchable by title, date, and categories. These narratives have been reported in the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) annual reports and updates. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all nutrient loss-related initiatives across Illinois.

The NLRS is a statewide, collaborative effort aimed at reducing the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus entering Illinois waterways. This page specifically highlights NGO-led efforts that have contributed to the strategy since 2023.

  • The Des Plaines River Watershed Workgroup - 2019-20 Update

    Dec 1, 2021 12:00 pm by Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Team2021 Biennial ReportNon-point SourcesPoint SourcesResearchWatershed Groups

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    • Des Plaines River Watershed Group
    Des Plaines River Watershed Group

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    The Des Plaines River Watershed Workgroup was formed in 2015 to fulfill the regulatory requirements of its members. According to Illinois EPA, almost all of the waterways within the DRWW are impaired.

    To remove the watershed from the Illinois EPA’s list of impaired waterways, the Midwest Biodiversity Institute is developing a tool to identify water quality improvement. In anticipation of the Illinois EPA’s permit renewal process in 2021, the workgroup is addressing its constituents’ regulatory requirements. The DRWW also provides professional development opportunities to members, stakeholders, and constituents. The workgroup membership consists of 36 municipalities, organizations, and business entities.

    In 2019, the DRWW worked with Geosyntec to develop a multi-year workplan that will result in a completed NARP by 2023. The NARP will keep both MS4 and NPDES permits compliant; it also meets prerequisites for project funding in the watershed.

    Monitoring Projects:

    • The DRWW conducted water quality monitoring on the inlets and outlets of Lake Charles, Big Bear Lake, and Little Bear Lake to determine nutrient and pollutant sources. Field data was compared to lake models and to the 2018 study on glacial lakes to determine external and internal phosphorus contributions.
    • The DRWW continued water and sediment sampling analysis programs at 73 monitoring locations. Thirty-one monitoring locations were studied for the bioassessment monitoring program.
    • The DRWW, with the help of the North Shore Water Reclamation District, began a three-year continuous water quality monitoring program in June 2020. Multiprobe sondes were in-stalled in the Des Plaines River Mainstem at Russell Road, Highway 120, and Half Day Road. The sondes will record specific conductivity, pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, and turbidity every 30 minutes. This data will be used to support the development of an NARP for the Des Plaines River watershed, assess watershed impacts from winter road maintenance, and determine sediment transport impacts
    • The DRWW implemented the Hydrilla Rapid Response Plan after hydrilla was found in a stormwater pond in Libertyville in 2019. This will be a long-term treatment and monitoring strategy that will likely occur for the next five to seven years.

    Illinois EPA Section 319 Grant Projects:

    • The DRWW partnered with Lake County Health Department on the removal of carp to reduce internal nutrient cycling and increase the likelihood of successful aquatic plant establishment in impaired lakes in Lake County. Carp removal began in October 2020 after initial delays due to COVID-19. Carp removal will occur at Crooked, Hastings, McDonald 2, Slough, Des Plaines Lake, St. Mary’s Lake, Big Bear Lake, and Little Bear Lake in 2021 and 2022.
    • The DRWW partnered with Lake County Forest Preserve District on the Van Patten Woods Hydrologic Restoration and Enhancement Project. Invasive species clearing and drain tile disablement began in December 2019. Since then, LCFPD has retired 94.5 acres of farm field and removed or disabled approximately 11,150 linear feet of drain tile. LCFPD has installed seven check dams, one trail berm, 716 trees and shrubs, and a diverse native seed and cover crop mix to the remaining areas. In spring 2021, LCFPD will be installing native wetland plant plugs in the new wetland basins. The project is expected to be complete by June 2021.
    • The DRWW partnered with Village of Libertyville to complete the Charles Brown Park Wetland Detention Project in summer 2020. Two sediment forebays were installed at inlet points to capture sediments and particulate pollutants. A third sediment forebay was installed near the outlet of the basin to capture additional pollutants before discharge through a pump station. The project also included 7.45 acres of wetland enhancement. The wetland enhancement BMPs, in conjunction with the sediment forebay BMPs, have provided significant water quality benefits to down-stream waters.

    • In 2019, the DRWW sponsored and assisted in implementing the Lake County Deicing Workshop, which was attended by 177 people, 46 of whom were from DRWW member communities. DRWW also sponsored a plant identification workshop.

      The DRWW’s website can be found at drww.org.