Amendments to the Illinois Water Quality Management Plan - During the Second Quarter FY 99, the Water Resources Committee considered 3 Level II requests for amendments to adopted state and areawide water quality management plans and staff, following Commission guidelines, processed 12 Level III National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) notices. Staff also began processing a Level I amendment request (requires final full Commission action) from the Village of Frankfort. (Washington)Review and Comment on Actions of Regional Impact - The Planning Committee formulated comments on the November 1998 Draft of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Statewide Outdoor Recreation Partnership Plan. The draft plan identifies statewide priorities for the local outdoor recreation grant programs administered by the DNR. (Washington)

Development of a Watershed Based Planning Approach - The Water Resources Committee continued its discussions regarding the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to eliminate facility planning area boundaries and their amendment. The Committee requested that staff research, using case studies, whether water quality and Commission land use concerns could be better achieved through watershed based planning than through the current facility planning area boundary process. (Washington)

Staff also reviewed the Executive Summary of Chicago Metropolis 2020: Preparing Metropolitan Chicago for the 21st Century. A project of The Commercial Club Chicago in association with The American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Staff is currently preparing a comparison with Commission policy for discussion by the Planning Committee at their December 11, 1998 meeting. The Executive Director hosted a meeting of the DesPlaines River Coordination Group to discuss the status of the DesPlaines River Feasibility Study, the proposed project completion schedule, and Phase II study options and directions. A draft proposal for Phase II activities proposed that NIPC act as a coordinator and assist a partnership of interested federal, state, and local agencies and organizations in a multi-objective Phase 2 feasibility study.

Monitoring and Land Use - Testing of new software supporting the development database project is underway. Final working version will be ready by end of December. A "municipal link" program is being implemented with objective of having 25-30 selected communities review our development database on routine basis. Draft copy of the 1995 employment bulletin being reviewed by staff. 1995 land use monitoring efforts proceed: Lake County staff is reviewing preliminary file with final file expected by end of December; interpretation in Will and Kane counties completed with automation task underway in Will; McHenry automation completed with local staff reviewing results. (Dieber)

Data Technical Assistance - During period, staff handled 357 data requests. Considerable effort spent on assistance to Metra through preparation of GIS maps supporting "new starts" grant application. Revised ArcView tutorial was used in several workshops.

Information Systems - By end of reporting period much of the new computer hardware and software had been installed. Installation should be complete before January. (Dieber)

Lake George Clean Lakes Program Phase 2 - NIPC continued to serve as technical coordinator to the Village of Richton Park for an Illinois Clean Lakes Program Phase 2 project at Lake George. Staff provided oversight of streambank stabilization practices that were installed in October and November. Site visits were made to a new residential development upstream of the lake and recommendations for improved erosion and sediment control were provided to the Village. Finally, a draft request for proposals for shoreline stabilization was finalized and transmitted to the Village. (Dreher)

Maple Lake Phase 1 Clean Lakes Program (Forest Preserve District of Cook County) - A Phase 1 Diagnostic/Feasibility Illinois Clean Lakes Program study is currently underway to assess Maple Lake (Forest Preserve District of Cook County), leading to the development of a plan to protect the lake's recreational uses and long-term ecological health. Water and sediment depth surveys were conducted during November 1998.Chicago Botanic Gardens Lagoons Phase 1 Clean Lakes Program - A Phase 1 Diagnostic/Feasibility Illinois Clean Lakes Program study is currently assessing the Chicago Botanic Garden Lagoons (Cook Co.). The study will lead to the development of a plan to improve the lake's water quality and aquatic plant habitat and provide for long-term ecological protection. Water and sediment depth surveys were conducted during November 1998 (Dreher).

Indian Lake Phase 2 Clean Lakes Program (Brookfield Zoo) - Commission staff have been retained by the Brookfield Zoo as Technical Advisor for implementation of lake restoration and protection measures at Indian Lake on the Zoo grounds. Installation of an aeration system and a nutrient precipitation program were both successfully conducted in fall 1998. Shoreline erosion control, aquatic habitat enhancement, and establishment of an interpretive lake/wetland exhibit are planned for 1999. (Dreher)

1999 National Lakes Conference - Staff continued program planning for the 12th Annual National Conference on Enhancing the State's Lake Management Programs to be held on April 21-23, 1999 in Chicago. The Commission co-sponsors this conference with the U.S. EPA each year for leaders of the states' lake management programs and statewide lake associations. The theme of the 1999 conference will be "Nutrient Management Strategies to Protect Lakes and Reservoirs." (Dreher)

Project staff continued their involvement in the Campaign for Sensible Growth and the Illinois House Smart Growth Task Force. Research continued on additional policy tools related to the Growth Strategy. (Dieber, Ford, Paige)

Water Trails Use Planning - In conjunction with the Open Lands Project, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Illinois Paddling Council, NIPC staff continued the process of developing a regional plan for use of water trails in northeastern Illinois. Staff have completed a first, rough draft of the regional water use trail plan. It was been transmitted to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for review. During the review process, it was discovered that a manageable number of land owners (approximately 60) were involved in the plans recommendations. A decision by IDNR was then made to extend and expand the plan process so as to include an outreach activity specifically for each of the land owners. The plan process has thus been extended until the end of FY99. (Paige)

Chicago Wilderness Project Management - Commission staff continues to work with the 60 member consortium of agencies who have combined their skills and resources to collectively work to protect and restore the precious natural resources in northeastern Illinois. In addition to NIPC, Chicago Wilderness includes forest preserve districts, the city of Chicago, the Chicago Zoos, the Field Museum, the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club, and U.S. environmental agencies. Current Planning Services Departmental activities include participation in the development of a biodiversity recovery plan for the northeastern Illinois area, biodiversity impact assessment of the NIPC regional growth forecasts, membership on the Chicago Wilderness coordinating committee, and chair of the Policy and Strategy Committee. NIPC staff updated a detailed work scope for the development of the regional biodiversity recovery plan. NIPC staff have now put together the first rough draft of the regional biodiversity recovery plan. The draft plan will begin internal (to Chicago Wilderness) review in December and then more public review after the first of the year. (Paige)

Administrative Services - Approximately 10 grants, contracts and subcontracts were reviewed, negotiated and executed during the past quarter. The $500,000 contract with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) was executed, and the initial reimbursement has been received.

Management Activities - The agency's new personnel handbook has been issued to all staff, and an informational meeting will be scheduled shortly to review the new manual. Staff prepared reports recommending that the Commission participate in the Regional Transportation Authority's transit check program and that the agency modify its Section 125 Salary Reduction Plan to allow for the pre-tax treatment of dependent care and miscellaneous health care costs. Both reports were acted upon favorably by the Executive Committee. A salary survey has been mailed out to larger regional planning agencies for their professional positions. The survey results will be compiled, analyzed and presented to the Executive Committee at its December meeting. (Swanson)

Kendall County Liaison - Discussions have continued with Kendall County officials regarding their interest in joining NIPC. A new county planning director has been appointed for Kendall County, and he will be participating in a NIPC orientation session early in December. (Swanson)

Kane County Comprehensive Stormwater Plan - Commission staff also has been assisting the Kane County Stormwater Management Committee in preparing a comprehensive countywide stormwater management plan. A draft plan has gone through a public review and meeting process. Staff assisted the county in addressing public comments and the final plan has been approved. (Dreher)Heather Ridge Demonstration Project - Through a Conservation 2000 grant, NIPC is working with a number of local consultants and the Heather Ridge Management Association in Lake County. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate landscape and drainage modifications to improve water quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and improve biodiversity in the Heather Ridge residential/golf course development. (Dreher)

Blackberry Creek Watershed Management Plan - With funding through the Illinois EPA, staff has been assisting the Blackberry Creek Watershed Committee in the development of a watershed management plan. Flowing through Kane and Kendall counties before discharging to the Fox River, Blackberry Creek is impacted by both flooding and water quality problems caused by a variety of agricultural and suburban impacts. A draft plan was completed and distributed for public review. Staff is currently assisting the Committee in addressing comments. (Dreher)

Technical Assistance - Staff with new funding from DCCA and continued funding from local government contributions, provided advice to local governments on a variety of stormwater management and water resource issues, including urban stormwater management, nonpoint source control, stream, lake and wetland protection, floodplain management, and groundwater protection. This assistance is provided via presentations at seminars and conferences; presentations to village boards, planning commissions, and advisory committees; participation on several task forces and technical advisory committees; and responses to numerous telephone inquiries from local governments and their consultants. (Dreher)

Watershed Planning Assistance - This project allows the Commission to provide limited planning assistance to local watershed management initiatives. Over fifteen such watershed initiatives have been identified in the region. Assistance ranges from informal advice, to serving on an advisory committee, to participating as a partnership member. Significant ongoing efforts are being directed to the Blackberry Creek, upper DuPage River, Fox River, and Chicago River watersheds.

Watershed Mapping for South Cook County - Staff developed a series of GIS-based watershed and land use maps for the South Suburban Mayors and Managers. These maps are being used in a recently initiated stormwater management planning effort conducted by the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA). Maps for a final plan are being developed.

Flint Creek Watershed Restoration Phase II - The Commission, with funding through IEPA, is assisting communities in the Flint Creek watershed with continued implementation of the Flint Creek Watershed Management Plan. Under Phase II, two streambank stabilization and restoration projects and one detention basin retrofit will be completed. Subcontracts have been signed with Barrington, Lake Zurich, and Good Shepherd Hospital.

Kishwaukee River Ecosystem Partnership - Through a Conservation 2000 grant, NIPC is providing technical assistance to the Partnership and assisting in preparing a watershed map. NIPC is a subcontractor to Openlands Project.