Adams County Soil & Water Conservation District 338 South 36th Street Quincy, IL 62301
Phone: 217/224-9305, Ext. 3 E-mail: janet.beckman@il.nacdnet.net Fax: 217/224-4969

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Greater Bear Creek Area Watershed

Mission Statement

The planning committee of the GBCAW will implement a plan to foster active cooperation from landowners/stakeholders to improve and protect natural resources in the Bear Creek Watershed through education and financial incentives.

What is a Watershed?

A watershed is the area of land that catches rain and snow and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake or groundwater. Rain water or snow melt flows across cropland fields and livestock facilities, sometimes taking soil particles, livestock waste, fertilizers and pesticides with it, AND water flows off roofs, parking lots and streets in urban areas carrying potential pollutants with it. All of this water ends up in lakes and streams. Overall, a healthy watershed is vital for a healthy community.

Work on the Greater Bear Creek Area Watershed plan began in 2005. Local residents approached the Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) in Adams and Hancock Counties asking for assistance. A local planning committee was formed, and work began on identifying and inventorying natural resource concerns. The purpose of an overall plan is to be able to access technical and financial assistance to address those natural resource concerns.

About the Watershed

The Greater Bear Creek Area Watershed drains approximately 570 square miles in portions of northern Adams and southern Hancock counties in west central Illinois. Bear Creek itself is 43.0 miles long with approximately 854 total stream miles in the Bear Creek watershed itself. There are several additional streams included in this plan, that drain directly into the Mississippi River. According to the 2006 census, the population of Adams and Hancock counties combined was 86,312.

Land use in the watershed is predominately cropland, with areas of woodland and pasture found on sloping areas along drainage ways. The major crop rotations consist of corn-soybeans, corn-soybeans-wheat, and corn-soybeans-wheat-meadow for virtually all land slope classes where erosion is occurring above tolerable levels. Almost 94% of the land is in farms. Livestock is prevalent in the GBCAW. Hancock County ranks 2^nd in the state for the number of beef cows and Adams ranks 3^rd. In numbers of hogs and pigs, Hancock County ranks 8^th and Adams County ranks 13^th.

Watershed Land Use	Acres
Agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat, other small grains & hay, other agriculture	229,275
Grassland (rural grassland)	63,014
Forest (upland, coniferous, and partial canopy/savannah upland	34,541
Urban	14,623
Wetland (shallow & deep marsh, seasonal, floodplain forest, swamp, and shallow water)	15,078
Other (surface water, barren land, clouds and cloud shadows)	8,468
Totals	364,999

Water quality monitoring has shown that some stream segments in the GBCAW are impaired. The chart below shows the stream segments, the impairments, causes, sources and related impacts.

Impaired Stream Segment	Causes	Sources	Related Impacts
KI 02 (Main Bear Creek below the convergence of the North Fork and the South Fork) Primary Contact (swimming) Not Supported	Fecal Coliform	Source Unknown, but could be Improperly functioning septic systems; livestock facilities	The main concern regarding fecal coliform is public health. Waterborne diseases may be transmitted to humans through drinking or contact with pathogen-laden waters.
	Manganese	Agriculture Sediment & soils Hydromodification; removal of riparian vegetation; physical habitat alteration	Since manganese is a naturally occurring element, it is difficult to determine what is natural & what can be contributed to sediment entering the stream.
KI 03 (Main Bear Creek from the convergence of the South Fork upstream to the Adams/Hancock County Line) Aquatic Life – not supported Overall Use – partially supported	Manganese	See above	See above
	Physical Habitat Alteration	Hydromodification; removal of riparian vegetation; physical habitat alteration; stream bank modification	Removal of riparian vegetation can destabilize stream banks and contribute to erosion. Stream-side vegetation is needed to provide shade and lower water temperatures. Modifying the stream flow can increase flow and flooding and erosion.
KI – 06 (Upper reach of Bear Creek in Hancock County) Aquatic Life – partially supported Overall Use – Partially Supported	Habitat Alteration	Agriculture Channelization Habitat Modification Removal of stream-side vegetation	See above

Special Thanks to our Resource Planning Committee

Dick Altgilbers – Sportsmen’s Coalition
Linda Asher – retired Jan 2007
Brent Clair – Adams County SWCD
Larry Donley – Adams County Farm Service Agency County Committee
Dave Doyle – Adams County Beef Producer
Terry Knorr – Hancock County Farm Bureau
Chuck Lucie (Replaced Linda Asher) Hancock County SWCD
Don Roskamp – Hancock County watershed resident
Gary Shupe – John Wood Community College Agriculture Instructor- Committee Chair
Mark Turner – National Wildlife Turkey Federation, Hancock Jake & Longbeards Chapter
Shawn Valter – Adams County Farm Bureau, Manager
Leon Webster – Hancock County Farm Bureau and Farm Service Agency County Committee
Dennis Willard – Hancock County SWCD chairman
Bernie Woodworth – Adams County SWCD

Members of the Resource Planning Committee

Resource concerns identified by the local planning committee, listed in order of priority, are:

Soil Erosion
Nutrients and Pesticides
Stream Bank Erosion
Livestock Waste
Invasive Species
Human Waste
Timber Management
Urban Sprawl
Pasture Management
Information/Education and Landowner Involvement
Wildlife Management
Wetland Management

More Information on the Resource Concerns:

Soil Erosion: Sheet, rill and gully erosion on agricultural lands is responsible for increased sediment, nutrients and pesticides in streams as well as decreased soil quality and productivity. Causes are agricultural production practices. One-third of all cropland fields (approximately 75,000 acres) in the watershed have rill or gully erosion occurring.

Nutrients and Pesticides: Over-application and the misuse of fertilizers and pesticides on both agricultural lands and on lawns can cause increased nitrogen, phosphorus and pesticide levels in streams, lakes and groundwater supplies.

Stream Bank Erosion: Eroding stream banks along Bear Creek, its tributaries and streams draining directly into the Mississippi River (854 total stream miles) are responsible for increased sediment in streams, decreased water quality and impaired aquatic habitat. The causes are stream modifications (including channelization), increased runoff and stream flow velocities (due to agricultural production practices and removal of natural stream-side buffers) and natural causes, like fallen trees.

Livestock Waste: Confined livestock waste and the improper land application of the waste has the potential to run off into streams, increasing nutrients and E. coli bacteria content, and decreasing the oxygen supply. A decreased oxygen supply has a negative effect on fish and other aquatic life. Unlimited grazing animal access to streams can also contribute to loss of aquatic habitat. More data is needed on acres receiving livestock waste application and the number of grazing animals with access to streams.

Invasive Species: Invasive species degrade natural areas by shading and crowding out native species, poison the soil with allelopathic chemicals, and increase soil erosion by eliminating the herbaceous under story growth with its fibrous root systems. This increased soil erosion lowers the quality of the water and aquatic habitat in streams.

Human Waste: Improperly functioning septic systems can contribute to E. coli bacteria above acceptable limits, decreased oxygen supply, and an increase in viruses and parasites in water bodies. Illegal dumping can restrict stream flow, pollute water, and is aesthetically unpleasant.

Timber Management: Grazing by livestock in timber increases soil erosion potential and decreases timber production and wildlife habitat. Invasive species in wooded areas shade out native herbaceous plants therefore decreasing biodiversity and increasing the potential for erosion. Increased erosion lowers water quality and has a negative effect on aquatic habitat.

Urban Sprawl: Urban development often means more impervious surfaces and increased runoff and sediment from construction sites. Both the increased runoff and sedimentation result in a loss of aquatic habitat. Urban residents and businesses often misapply or over apply lawn fertilizers and chemicals, which in turn decreases water quality. The disposal of leaves and grass clippings in urban streams can kill existing vegetation, and increase bank erosion. Yard waste in streams can cause water quality problems related to high nutrient levels and organic loadings, reducing the dissolved oxygen content of the water.

Pasture Management: Overgrazing and unlimited livestock access to streams can be responsible for increased soil erosion, sediment, E. coli bacteria and turbidity in streams, and decreasing aquatic habitat. Lower forage quality, low or poor soil fertility and invasive species decrease profit. Keeping pasture land profitable is important. If it is not profitable, this marginal land could be converted to cropland and increase soil erosion rates.

Information/Education and Landowner Involvement

Lack of good information on the conservation and wise use of natural resources is often the reason for many of the problems listed above. Providing sources of information, along with available technical and financial resources, will allow watershed residents to make wise decisions on their actions that affect water quality and natural resource conservation.

Wildlife Management: The destruction of woodland edge habitat and agricultural production practices have caused a decline in upland game like quail and rabbit. These practices also increase soil erosion and decrease soil quality. The fluctuating duck population is a concern. Land clearing near streams and lakes is degrading the nesting habitat for wood ducks.

Wetland Management: Agricultural production practices have decreased natural wetland areas. Wetland areas help filter pollutants and recharge groundwater reservoirs. Urban developments often have a negative impact on wetland habitats, and the resulting increased water runoff causes flooding problems.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

GOAL 1	OBJECTIVES
Reduce sediment entering streams.	Reduce sheet and rill erosion on cropland. Reduce ephemeral erosion on cropland.
	Reduce soil erosion on pasture land caused by overgrazing or poor vegetative cover.
	Reduce soil erosion on timber land caused by grazing livestock. Reduce soil erosion on timber land caused by invasive species. Reduce gully erosion in timber land.
	Reduce soil erosion on urban land during new construction.
	Reduce stream bank erosion.
	Improve soil health by controlling soil erosion, reducing soil compaction and
GOAL 2	OBJECTIVE
Improve water quality in streams.	Work with farm owners and operators to apply only the nutrients needed for growing crops.
	Reduce nutrients entering streams due to improperly functioning septic systems.
	Address needs of Concentrated Livestock Feeding Operations with waste storage and proper land application.
	Proper use & application of pesticides by agricultural producers, businesses and homeowners.
	Reduce manure entering streams from small livestock operations by assisting with waste storage and proper land application.
	Reduce illegal dumping along roads and in ditches.
GOAL 3	OBJECTIVES
Improve the health of desirable vegetation.	Reduce invasive plant growth by controlling their growth in pasture and timber lands.
	Improve timber management for woodland production and wildlife habitat.
	Improve pasture management for feed value and environmental quality.
GOAL 4	OBJECTIVES
Improve conditions for game and non-game wildlife in the watershed.	Improve wildlife habitat by providing the needed habitat (food, water, shelter and space).
	Maintain existing wetland areas and restore areas to their original wetland status.
	Improve water quality for aquatic species. Includes controlling soil erosion, eliminating stream modifications and removal of stream-side vegetation.
GOAL 5	OBJECTIVES
Provide opportunities for education and landowner involvement.	Hold public meetings to gather input on local resource concerns and priorities.
	Increase public awareness of the watershed planning effort and benefits of a watershed plan.
	Identify ways to reduce negative impacts of urban development.

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AND ALTERNATIVES

Water Quality Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Healthy Vegetation Wildlife Habitat Information/Education
GOALS	IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES/ALTERNATIVES
	Promote No-Till Farming Practices. Sponsor an Annual No-Till Seminar with U of I Extension
	Identify erosion “hot spots” & target these areas for residue management & structural practices.
	Work with livestock producers to implement grazing systems. Utilize existing programs (EQIP) and other programs that may apply.
	Work with U of I Extension to provide information on rotational grazing and pasture management.
	Promote timber management through Field Days, newsletters, news articles, and seminars.
	Work with livestock producers to exclude livestock from wooded acres.
	Control gully erosion in timber by reducing runoff upstream (soil erosion control on cropland) and controlling down cutting in stream beds (stream stabilization).
	Implement structural practices to control soil erosion and water runoff in developing areas.
	Work with homeowners to implement cultural practices to reduce soil erosion and water runoff on their property.
	Work with landowners to control stream bank erosion.
	Increase buffer strips and filter strips along streams through use of continuous CRP and other programs.
	Encourage landowners to maintain brushy draws through intensive information/education program.
Water Quality Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Healthy Vegetation Wildlife Habitat Information/Education
GOALS	IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES/ALTERNATIVES
	Provide an educational campaign for urban residents on stream bank erosion control and water run-off. Utilize materials developed by Adams County SWCD through Protecting Water Quality in Urban Centers grants. Pursue additional funding through the same program and others that may apply.
	Promote removal of fallen trees thru education and incentives.
	Reduce livestock access to streams through the use of existing programs, pilot programs available and information/education in cooperation with U of I Extension. Practices: stream crossings and fencing
	Work with landowners and operators to develop Nutrient Management Plans for cropland and pasture. Also work with U of I Extension on information/education programs and agri-businesses on soil testing and recommendations.
	Ensure the proper application of livestock waste on cropland acres.
	Work with beef producers and agencies on the disposal of dead animals – specifically cattle and horses. Encourage the use of compost facilities for dead swine.
	Work with U of I Extension to encourage farm operators to store and apply pesticides according to label recommendations.
	Work with U of I Extension, Master Gardeners, and local businesses to encourage homeowners to soil test before applying lawn fertilizers and to follow label recommendations for pesticide use. Encourage and provide information on non-chemical home pest control.
Water Quality Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Healthy Vegetation Wildlife Habitat Information/Education
GOALS	IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES/ALTERNATIVES
	Implement an information/education program for homeowners with septic systems, focusing on maintenance. Seek sources of funding to restore and repair improperly functioning septic systems Encourage the adoption of ordinances and/or guidelines that set a minimum acreage (1/2) for home sites with septic systems. Provide information to lenders on the need for septic system inspections for home mortgages.
	Promote recycling programs by working with local officials to help reduce materials going to the landfill. Provide opportunities for watershed residents to properly dispose of hazardous household wastes, used tires and ag chemicals
	Encourage the development of shallow water areas and the maintenance and enhancement of wetlands
	Provide information on invasive species and their control. Work with U of I Extension.
	Offer incentives for landowners to develop Forest Management Plans and to implement those plans (including invasive species sontrol and livestock exclusion)
	Promote tree planting.
	Encourage the use of cover crops and alternative crops that enhance soil health.
	Improve wildlife habitat by the establishment of warm season grasses and filter and buffer strips, the restoration of native prairie remnants and native stream-side vegetation, and the protection of habitat for threatened and endangered species.
	Improve aquatic habitat by the installation of in-stream structures

For More information:

Adams County SWCD and NRCS Office
338 S. 36th Street
Quincy, IL 62301
Phone: 217-224-9307 Ext. 3
E-mail: acsw@adams.net Web Page: www.adamsswcd.org

Hancock County SWCD and NRCS Office
110 Buchanan St.
Carthage, IL 62321
Phone: 217-357-2180 Ext. 3

Prepared by the Greater Bear Creek Area Watershed Local Planning Committee and the Adams and Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation Districts with assistance from the Technical Advisory Committee. 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 through the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Technical Advisory Committee

Dick Burling – USDA – FSA – Hancock County
Amanda Daggs – USDA – FSA – Adams County
Mike Hines – Adams County Health Department, Chief Sanitarian
Dick Klusmeyer – Adams County Highway Department, County Engineer
Mike Roegge – University of Illinois Extension, Crops Specialist
Martha Sheppard – Two Rivers Resource Conservation & Development Area
Paul Sly – Hancock County Highway Department
Leonard Schnellbecker – Adams County Health Department
Jeff Boeckler – Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Anjelica Johnson, University of Illinois Extension-Adams/Brown Unit
Bob Church – Illinois Department of Natural Resources, District Forester
Tim Kelly – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency,
Angella Moorehouse – Illinois Nature Conservancy
Brad Poulter – Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Private Lands Wildlife Biologist
Shawn Valter – Adams County Farm Bureau, Manager
Gwen Kolb – United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Partners for Fish & Wildlife
Dean Corgiat – Illinois Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Biologist
Carla Mudd – Hancock County Farm Bureau, Manager
eff Bennett – Hancock County Health Department
Matt LaMaire – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service – Quincy Field Office
Lori Bollin – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service – Carthage Field Office

Additional Contributors

Sam Zumwalt – Hunt Drainage District
Rob Meats – Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Land and Water Resources Streams Specialist
Alan Gulso – Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Land and Water Resources
Janet Beckman – Administrative Coordinator, Adams County SWCD – Administrative Coordinator
Bobby Knight – Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District Resource Conservationist
Jim Nelson, Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Watershed Liaison
Pam Peter – Adams County Soil & Water Conservation District Resource Conservationist
Betty Buckert – Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District Administrative Coordinator
Crystal Clair

Did You Know

There are over 854 stream miles that cross the watershed?

From 2000 – 2007, soil losses were reduced by over 40,000 tons on 7,800 acres in the watershed through federal and state programs?