Embarras River Basin resource management plan

94 Pages·1996·6.5 MB·English

by  Embarras River Management Association

Historic, Archive Document
<
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

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A
EMBARRAS USD
I3E48 RIVER
.
1996
United States
Department of
Agriculture
Natural Resources
Conservation Service
MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION Champaign,
Illinois
Cmbcirio/ River Bo/in
Management
Re/ource Plan
October 1996
The UnitedStates Department ofAgriculture (USDA)prohibits discrimination in itsprograms on the basis
ofrace, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs andmarital orfamilialstatus.
(Notallprohibitedbases apply to allprograms). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means
for communication ofprogram information (Braille, largeprint, audiotape, etc.) shouldcontact the USDA
Office ofCommunications at [phone].
Tofile a complaint, write the Secretary ofAgriculture, U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Washington, D.C.
20250, or call [phone] (voice) or [phone] (TDD). USDA is an equal employment
opportunity employer.
111
Embarras River Basin Report
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
PlanningCommittee
Objective
Resource Concerns 6
Goals 7
RESOURCE CONDITIONS
8
Resources andTreatmentNeeds 8
BASIN DESCRIPTION 10
Physiography 10
Geology 10
Soils
1
Land Use 13
Climate 14
Hydrology
15
Transportation Network 17
Agriculture 18
Population 19
PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES 21
Priority Resource Concerns 2
Flooding. 21
LogJams/Obstructions 22
Water Quality 22
Erosion 24
Drainage 26
Beaver, Deer, & Turkey RelatedProblems 26
Lack ofAccountability/Communication 26
Loss ofNatural Character 26
Private Property Rights 27
;
Sedimentation 27
Bends in the Channel 28
Wetlands 29
Wildlife Habitat 30
Recreation 31
Economic Costs/FundingSolutions 3
Water Usage andSupply 31
Land Use Change 31
Small Bridge Outlets 32
Lack ofEducation 34
OTHER PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES 35
Technical Advisory Committee and Institutional Concerns 35
Animal Resources 35
ThreatenedandEndangeredSpecies 36
Cultural Resources 39
l
NaturalAreas 39
39
gt i*PrimeFarmland. 40
* ForestResources 40
CivilRights 41
FORMULATION PROCESS
42
SummaryofAlternatives Developed 42
ConsultationandPublic Participation 43
Future Public Participation 45
EMBARRAS RIVER BASIN RESOURCE PLAN 47
Description of Plan Components 47
Conservation Land Treatmentfor Erosion andSediment Reduction 47
Water Quality Improvement 47
Wetland, Wildlife, ThreatenedandEndangeredSpecies 47
FloodDamage Reduction Features 48
TechnicalSupport 49
Avoidance, Minimization, andMitigation 49
Permits andCompliance 50
Total Resource Needs 50
Costs 53
Description of Plan Effects 55
Flooding. 55
LogJams/Obstructions 55
Water Quality 55
Erosion 55
Drainage 56
Beaver, Deer, and Turkey RelatedProblems 56
Lack ofAccountability/Communication 56
Loss ofNatural Character 56
Private Property Rights 56
Sedimentation 56
Bends in the Channel 56
Wetlands 57
Wildlife Habitat 57
Recreation 57
Economic Costs/FundingSolutions 57
Water Usage andSupply 57
Land Use Change 57
Small Bridge Outlets 57
Lack ofEducation 58
Animal Resources 58
ThreatenedandEndangeredSpecies 58
Cultural Resources 58
NaturalAreas 58
Fisheries 58
Prime Farmland. 59
Forestry 59
Civil Rights 60
Resource Treatment Effects 60
LIST OF PREPARERS 68
ii
6571
APPENDIX A. WRITTEN COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC MEETINGS 69
APPENDIX B. NATURAL AREA LIST 72
APPENDIX MAPS
C. 76
LIST OF TABLES
Table Stream Flow Characteristics
1. 1
Table 2. Number ofFarms/Value ofAgricultural Production 18
Table 3. 1994 Average Crop Yields 18
Table 4. Unemployment Rates (%) By County 19
Table 5. Median Age, Population, and Density 19
Table 6. Population Diversity 20
Table 7. Estimated Annual Erosion and Sedimentation 28
Table 8. Illinois Threatened and Endangered Species - Wetland Dependent 29
Table 9. Tributary Bridges 33
Table 10. Livestock Census Data 35
Table 11. Federal and State Threatened and Endangered Species List 37
ERMA
Table 12. Alternatives Priority Summary 46
Table 13. Water Resources Council-Designated Environmental Statutes 50
Table 14. Embarras River Basin Total Resource Needs 51
&
Table 15. Quantities Cost by Practice 54
Table 16. Resource Treatment Effects Land Treatment Practices for Erosion and Sediment
Reduction Practices 61
Table 17. Resource Treatment Effects Water Quality Improvement Practices 63
Table 18. Resource Treatment Effects Wetland, Wildlife, Threatened
and Endangered Species 65
Table 19. Resource Treatment Effects Flood Damage Reduction Practices 67
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. 1992 Land Use 13
Figure 2. Average Monthly Temperature 14
Figure 3. Average Monthly Precipitation 1
Figure 4. USGS Peak Discharge Estimates 16
DWR
Figure 5. Peak Discharge Estimates 1
Figure 6. Estimated Flooding Damages 2
Figure 7. Cropland Soil Loss 25
Figure 8. Pastureland Soil Loss 25
Figure 9. Land Use Changes 32
Hi
LIST OF MAPS
Map 1. General Reference Map 76
Map 2. ReliefMap ofEmbarras River Basin 77
Map 3. Generalized Surficial Geology 78
Map 4. Embarras River Basin Soil Association Map 79
Map 5. Helicopter Flight Path 80
Map 6. Degree ofOverall Use Support for the Wabash River Basin 81
Map 6. Overall Use Support Legend 82
Map 7. Illinois Sediment Yield Rate Subareas 83
The UnitedStates Department ofAgriculture (USDA prohibitsdiscrimination in itsprograms on the basis ofrace, color, nationalorigin, sex.
religion, age. disability political beliefs and marita)l orfamilial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with
disabilities who require,alternative meansforcommunication ofprogram information (Braille, largeprint, audiotape, etc.) shouldcontact the
USDA Office ofCommunicationsat [phone]. Tofile a complaint, write the Secretary ofAgriculture. US. Department ofAgriculture.
Washington, DC. 20250, orcall(202) /20-7327(voice) or(202) 690-1538 (TDD). USDA isanequalemploymentopportunityemployer.
IV
SUMMARY
EMBARRAS RIVER BASIN
PROJECT: Embarras River Basin Resources Management Plan
STATE:
Illinois
PREPARED BY Embarras River Management Association (ERMA)
:
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
SWCD
Champaign County
SWCD
Clark County
SWCD
Coles County
SWCD
Crawford County
SWCD
Cumberland County
SWCD
Douglas County
SWCD
Edgar County
SWCD
Jasper County
SWCD
Lawrence County
SWCD
Richland County
Upper Embarras Planning Committee
North Fork Conservancy District
Illinois Department ofNatural Resources
Illinois Department ofAgriculture
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
US Fish and Wildlife Service
US
Forest Service
University ofIL, Cooperative Extension Service
Eastern IL University
DESCRIPTION OF RECOMMENDED PLAN
The recommended plan consists of a coordinated resource management plan for the Embarras
river basin. This resource plan will:
• Promote/maintain the Embarras River's natural integrity
• Implement natural resource conservation planning
• Improve woodland management
• Identify, stabilize and restore wetlands
• Identify and implement streambank stabilization
• Create incentives for new practices
Summary Page
l
RESOURCE INFORMATION
Watershed size: 1,566,450 acres
(2,440 sq. miles)
Land Use: Cropland 77%
Forestland 11%
4%
Grass land
3%
Rural transportation
Urban land 2%
Water 1%
2%
Miscellaneous
Land Ownership: 97% Private 3% Public
Number ofFarms: 4,140
Average Farm Size: 380 acres
Prime Farmland: 1,150,200 acres
Wetlands: 127,600 acres
Threatened and Endangered Species: 46 species identified in basin
Cultural Resources: Specific site reviews will determine ifany cultural resources are impacted.
Locally Identified Resource Concerns:
1. Flooding 9. Private Property Rights
2. Log Jams/Obstructions 10. Sediment (sand deposits)
3. Water Quality 11. Bends in the Channel
4. Erosion 12. Wetlands
5. Drainage 13. Wildlife/Recreation Opportunities
6. Beaver, Deer and Turkey 14. Economic Costs (funding solutions)
related problems
15. Water Usage and Supply
7. Lack ofAccountability- 16. Land Use Changes
Communication
17. Small Bridge Outlets
8. Loss ofNatural Character 18. Lack ofEducation
PLAN PURPOSES
Improve drinking water quality.
Improve drinking water supply.
Reduce soil erosion on cropland, woodland, streambanks.
Provide flood control for communities and agricultural land.
Provide better fish and wildlife habitat.
Upgrade recreational activities and facilities.
Page 2 Summary