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f . , , . <br /> Introduction <br /> This comprehensive natural resource plan documents resource concerns and provides recommendations <br /> for addressing the watershed-wide issues. It is the third sub-watershed plan of Lake Decatur to be <br /> completed. Sand Creek was the first plan to be finished in May 2000 and Finley Creek in 2003. The <br /> Upper Sangamon River Planning Committee decided that resource concerns could be addressed more <br /> effectively if the Lake Decatur watershed was broken up into two phases consisting of multiple sub- <br /> watersheds. Lake Decatur in its entirety has a drainage area of 925 square miles. Big and Long Creek, <br /> tributaries to the Lake, drains approximately 32,800 acres or about 51.2 square miles and is located in <br /> Phase I of watersheds being addressed. This Plan focuses on Big and Long Creek,however Lake Decatur <br /> will benefit from activities in the watershed. Implementation of this plan will achieve the goals to increase <br /> awareness, educate watershed residents, and improve resource conditions in Big and Long Geek <br /> watershed and Lake Decatur. <br /> Bacicground <br /> Lake Decatur is a public water supply for the City of Decatur and the Village of Mt. Zion. The Lake has <br /> had high concentrations of nitrates and suspended solids. The State of Illinois has a drinking water <br /> standard that IEPA regulates. Lake Decatur had exceeded this standard of 10 milligrams per liter of <br /> nitrates. The City of Decatur has been required to take action and reduce the amount of nitrates in the <br /> water supply. Illinois State Water Survey was contracted to study the Lake Decatur watershed to better <br /> understand the nitrate situation with hydrologic and water quality data collected from 1993 to 2006. This <br /> data can then be used to develop a management strategy. The City of Decatur has developed a dredging <br /> plan in several basins in order to restore the Lake's Capacity. For these reasons, soil erosion and water <br /> quality issues are of high concern in this plan and where identified by the Planning Committee. The City <br /> ' of Decatur itself does not individually sit on the planning committee. They wanted the stakeholders <br /> within Big and Long Creek Watershed to take complete ownership of the plan. However,the City fully <br /> . supports all the efforts of the Planning Committee. <br /> Committee Members <br /> This watershed planning effort would not have occurred without the participation of the planning <br /> committee members listed below. Their dedication to addressing the resource concerns of the Big and <br /> Long Creek Watershed has resulted in this planning document. <br /> Farmer Dennis Bork <br /> Farmer Mike Pflum <br /> Farmer Tom Hogan <br /> Farâ–ºner Ed Yoder <br /> Farmer Norman Ross <br /> Farmer Ralph Forest <br /> Farmer Tim Donovan <br /> Road Commissioner John Wheeler <br /> Road Commissioner R. Dean Rhodes <br /> Long Creek Water Tim Kite <br /> Mayor of Long Creek Kevin Greenfield <br /> Village of Mt. Zion Paul Ruff <br /> Illinois Drainage Asso. Cheryl Day <br /> Decatur Airport, Dir. Gene Marcinkowki <br /> Macon County Adm. Mark Smith <br /> AWI Steve John <br /> MCCD Paul Marion <br /> 2 <br />