Spring Lake Watershed Plan Funding for this project provided, in part, by the Governor of Illinois and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency through section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

Spring Lake Watershed Committee Members: Lee Calvert, Chairman Jon Bowman, Vice-Chairman Alice Henry, Secretary Jim Bessler Walter Burnett Chuck Ehlschlaeger Scott McConnell Dana Walker Mike Ward Travis Weaver Plan Writer / Watershed Coordinator: Daniel Moorehouse McDonough County SWCD Resource Conservationist: Duane Mansir McDonough County NRCS District Conservationist: Gregory Jackson Sr.

Mission Statement: Improve the water quality of Spring Lake while sustaining recreational, agricultural, municipal, and residential resources.

Spring Lake Watershed Technical Committee NameAffiliation Richard FergusonMcDonough County Farm Bureau Ray PetersonMacomb Park District Jim Nelson Assoc. of Soil & Water Conservation Dist. Barrie McVeyIDNR Forestry Lee CalvertFarmer Loretta Ortiz-RibbingU of I Extension Alice HenryMcDonough County Board Chuck EhlschlaegerWestern Illinois University Jonathan HeerboothWest Prairie School District Jim BesslerCity of Macomb Walter BurnettCity of Macomb Jeff BoecklerIDNR Beau ThomasNRCS Soil Conservationist Sue PhelpsNRCS Soil Conservation Technician Dana Walker La Moine River Ecosystem Partnership Roger WindhornNRCS Soil Scientist/Geologist Scott McConnellWestern Illinois University Ken RussellIDNR District Fisheries Biologist

IEPA Spring Lake Water Quality Impairments total phosphorus * total phosphorus * total suspended solids total suspended solids excess algal growth excess algal growth total nitrogen total nitrogen * has numeric standard

Problem statements identified by the planning committee on May 24th 2007  Gully erosion in forested areas  Construction of Rt. 336  Recreational impacts  Erosion in pasture areas  Construction runoff  Impacts  Phosphorus in lake bottom  Impervious surface  Sustainable uses  Status of mine area  Habitat resource degradation  Supporting current uses  Is it active?  Threatened and endangered species  Algal issues  Reclamation  Wetlands  Nutrient management  West Prairie High School  Land use (coordinate with Macomb’s Comprehensive Plan)  Awareness of programs  Is discharge monitored?  Erosion of cropland  Lake View Nature Center (cooperation)  Viability of drinking water.  Live stock  Cooperation w/ WIU and other groups  Water source  Pasture  Wildlife impacts  Capacity  Feedlot  Overpopulation of deer  Quality of H2O  Stream access  Watering / causing erosion in streams  Dam Conditions (safety)  Spring Lake Park  Subdivision storm water runoff  Will plan coordinate with Macomb’s comprehensive plan?  Educational  Lawn chemicals  Ground Water  Park programs  Flash storm water runoff  Septic systems  Other educational  Retention/detention  Where do they drain?  Cost share programs  Natural gas storage facility  How many?  VOC in lake from 2-cycle outboards  Impacts  Update inspections  Construction  Maintenance of existing roads/impacts

Watershed History PL 566 Plan acres of grassed waterways 54 acres of grassed waterways 75,000 feet of terraces 75,000 feet of terraces 25 grade stabilization structures 25 grade stabilization structures 73 water and sediment control basins 73 water and sediment control basins 52 diversions 52 diversions 62 acres of crop to pasture conversion 62 acres of crop to pasture conversion 3,600 acres of conservation tillage 3,600 acres of conservation tillage 174 acres of contouring 174 acres of contouring

Watershed Resource Inventory

Land cover map

Soil K Factor & Soil LS

Problem Statements High Priority: excessive amount of phosphorus excessive amount of phosphorus excessive amount of total suspended excessive amount of total suspended excessive amount of nitrogen excessive amount of nitrogen decline in water storage capacity of Spring Lake decline in water storage capacity of Spring Lake

Problem Statements Medium Priority: Poor management of forest resources Poor management of forest resources Possibility of excessive amounts of (VOC) volatile organic compounds Possibility of excessive amounts of (VOC) volatile organic compounds The quality and number of wetlands acres The quality and number of wetlands acres Possibility of excessive amount of pesticides Possibility of excessive amount of pesticides Excessive number of white-tailed deer Excessive number of white-tailed deer Protect the fish resources by improving fish habitat in Spring Lake Protect the fish resources by improving fish habitat in Spring Lake

Problem Statements Low Priority: Protection of threatened and endangered species in the watershed Protection of threatened and endangered species in the watershed Protection of ground water resources in the watershed Protection of ground water resources in the watershed Water quality of Spring Lake does not meet the standards for a swimming beach Water quality of Spring Lake does not meet the standards for a swimming beach

Implementation strategies Phosphorus

Phosphorus Current loads & wasteloads*7,564 TMDL (allowable load)3,082 Phosphorus reduction needed4,48259% * Documented by IEPA ( lb/per year )

Spring Lake Watershed phosphorus origin and cost mitigation studies Implement RAP-M study to quantify phosphorus entering the lake through stream bank erosion Implement RAP-M study to quantify phosphorus entering the lake through stream bank erosion Implement a detailed stream bank study to locate stream bank stabilization project sites Implement a detailed stream bank study to locate stream bank stabilization project sites Design and implement watershed soil phosphorus study to identify specific locations of soil types that contain high concentrations of phosphorus Design and implement watershed soil phosphorus study to identify specific locations of soil types that contain high concentrations of phosphorus

Recommended practices for Reducing Phosphorus Practice#of Estimated reduction of phosphorus lb/yr Estimated total reduction lb/yr WASCOB50structures8400Lb/Yr Stream bank stabilization5,000feet of bank Lb/Yr Grade stabilization20structures120Lb/Yr Brush checks25structures250Lb/Yr Diversions40structures140Lb/Yr Terrace - underground outlet20,000feet12240Lb/Yr Grassed waterway1,000feet0.0044Lb/Yr Conversion to not-till1,000acres22,000Lb/Yr Total reduction3,035Lb/Yr

Additional phosphorus reductions strategies Septic system education and replacement Septic system education and replacement Present an educational workshop to local residents about septic systems Present an educational workshop to local residents about septic systems Provide cost share for low income households to fix problem septic systems Provide cost share for low income households to fix problem septic systems Livestock waste management Livestock waste management Encourage producers to develop a waste management plan and provide technical assistance through the SWCD and RC&D Encourage producers to develop a waste management plan and provide technical assistance through the SWCD and RC&D

Estimated phosphorus pollution after implementation Current loads & wasteloads7,564 Total reduction from the plan - 3,035 Loads & wasteloads4,529 TMDL (allowable load)3,082 Phosphorus reduction still needed1,44732%

Watershed nutrient management Develop a nutrient management incentive program to encourage landowners by providing technical assistance and financial support to implement a nutrient management plan on 2,000 acres in the watershed over the next 5 years (2008–2012).

Additional implementation strategies

Spring Lake water storage capacity study Design and implement a study to better ascertain storage capacity and sedimentation rates of Spring Lake. Design and implement a study to better ascertain storage capacity and sedimentation rates of Spring Lake.

Wetland construction Construct 100 acres of new wetland Construct 100 acres of new wetland

Containment analysis of Spring Lake Study the impact VOC (volatile organic compounds) and pesticides Study the impact VOC (volatile organic compounds) and pesticides

Forest Management Hold forest management workshop Hold forest management workshop Assist landowners to develop and carry out forest management plans & control exotic and invasive species Assist landowners to develop and carry out forest management plans & control exotic and invasive species

White-tailed deer management Encourage landowners to open their land for hunting Encourage landowners to open their land for hunting Investigate the possibility of having a white-tailed deer hunt on city property surrounding the lake Investigate the possibility of having a white-tailed deer hunt on city property surrounding the lake

Cost Summary ProjectTotal Cost Spring Lake Watershed phosphorus origin and cost mitigation studies $ 34,000 Erosion control & stream bank stabilization $ 514,500 Septic system education and replacement $ 1,000 Watershed nutrient management $ 24,000 Spring Lake water storage capacity study $ 2,000 Wetland construction $ 50,000 Forest Management $ 500 Total $ 626,000

Measuring Progress/Success 1) Implementation of plan strategies by the timeline (Table 7) 1) Implementation of plan strategies by the timeline (Table 7) 2) Reduction 3,035 lb/yr of phosphorus entering the Spring Lake by ) Reduction 3,035 lb/yr of phosphorus entering the Spring Lake by ) Reduction in sedimentation rates monitored by the lake sedimentation study 3) Reduction in sedimentation rates monitored by the lake sedimentation study 4) Cooperation between the agencies and groups listed in this plan to meet our goals/objectives 4) Cooperation between the agencies and groups listed in this plan to meet our goals/objectives

Improve the water quality of Spring Lake while sustaining recreational, agricultural, municipal, and residential resources.