Illinois EPA Awards over $212,000 in Priority Lake and Watershed Implementation Program Grants

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois EPA Director Lisa Bonnett has announced $212,350 in Priority Lake and Watershed Implementation Program grant awards. The funds will be used to support lake protection, restoration, and enhancement activities at “priority” lakes in Illinois.

The Priority Lake and Watershed Implementation Program (PLWIP) is an Illinois EPA program initiative that began in July 1997. The program is funded through Partners for Conservation, a comprehensive multi-year environmental protection program that was signed into law in 1995. This program supports improvements at lakes that have been identified as priority by the Agency, where causes and sources of problems are apparent.  Project sites must be accessible with a relatively small project size that can be implemented by local entities.

“Our Illinois waterways are treasures that should be preserved and saved for all time,” Governor Pat Quinn said. “These grants help ensure that our lakes can be used for recreational and commercial purposes, while protecting the many fish, animals and bird who rely on them.”

“This program is a great example of the Illinois EPA’s commitment to protect and improve Illinois waters,” said Director Bonnett. “Through our community partnerships, we are able to see significant improvements for Illinois lakes.”

The grant recipients and targeted lakes are listed below:

Village of Wauconda – Bangs Lake, Lake County
• Rehabilitate and stabilize the channel on the north side of Bangs Lake using a rock tow and vegetated buffer of native plant species. The project will restore riparian habitat along the channel.
IEPA Funding: $10,000, Recipient Match: $26,100
Total Project Cost: $36,100

College of Lake County – Willow Lake, Lake County
• Reengineer the outfall from the parking lots and roof drains to slow the outflow of stormwater entering the lake and to restore the shoreline vegetation.
IEPA Funding: $38,500, Recipient Match: $5,250
Total Project Cost: $43,750       

Village of Maryville – Drost Park Lake, Madison County
• Stabilize approximately 1,875 ft. of eroded shoreline on Drost Park Lake using filter fabric and stone riprap. Also repair areas of erosion occurring in the immediate watershed area of the lake.
IEPA Funding: $40,000, Recipient Match: $45,900
Total Project Cost: $85,900

University of Illinois Board of Trustees, Allerton Park 4H Memorial Camp – 4H Memorial Camp Lake, Piatt County
• Restore and enhance the aquatic habitat of a two-acre forebay in the upper end of the 4H Memorial Camp Lake and install an aeration system in the deep portion of the lake to improve dissolved oxygen levels.
IEPA Funding: $40,000, Recipient Match: $15,000
Total Project Cost: $55,000

Forest Preserve District of Cook County – Sulky Lake, Cook County
• Remove invasive vegetation in the existing outlet channel from Crabtree Lake to Sulky Pond, plant native grass and forbs, and stabilize the eroded banks of the outlet channel using stone riprap.
IEPA Funding: $31,250, Recipient Match: $26,103
Total Project Cost: $57,353

City of Pana – Lake Pana, Christian/Shelby County
• Stabilize approximately 1,500 to 1,900 of shoreline at Lake Pana using filter fabric and stone riprap.
IEPA Funding: $39,900, Recipient Match: $10,000
Total Project Cost: $49,900

Village of West Salem – West Salem Lake, Edwards County
• Stabilize 320 ft. of eroded shoreline at West Salem Lake using filter fabric and stone riprap.
IEPA Funding: $12,700, Recipient Match: $3,500
Total Project Cost: $16,200

For additional information and to obtain an application, visit the Illinois EPA website at www.wpa.state.il.us/water/conservation/plwip.