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.

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.

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.

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.

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

1.     Soil Erosion
2.     Nutrients and Pesticides
3.     Stream Bank Erosion
4.     Livestock Waste
5.     Invasive Species
6.     Human Waste
7.     Timber Management
8.     Urban Sprawl
9.     Pasture Management
10. Information/Education and Landowner Involvement
11. Wildlife Management
12. Wetland Management

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Strategies to Improve Resources in the Watershed

STRATEGIES AND COST SUMMARY

Water Quality Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Healthy Vegetation Wildlife Habitat Information/Education
GOALS	IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES & ALTERNATIVES	SITE OR TARGET AREA		COST ESTIMATE/SOURCE OF FUNDING
	1. Promote No-Till and Strip-Till Farming Practices. Sponsor an Annual No-Till Seminar with U of I Extension Look for additional incentives to encourage no-till and strip-till. Provide information on the benefits of no-till based on research data.	Farm operators with Highly Erodible cropland soils		$600.00 annually from IDOA and business co-sponsors
	2. Identify erosion “hot spots” & target these areas for residue management & structural practices.	Sub-watersheds identified as having high erosion rates.		Cost Estimate: $ 300.00 per acre benefitted, 85,000 cropland acres needing treatment. Total: $ 25.5 million Illinois Conservation 2000 program USDA-Environmental Quality Incentive Program USDA-Conservation Reserve Program EPA – 319 grant Landowners/operators
	3. Work with livestock producers to implement grazing systems. Utilize existing programs (EQIP) and other programs that may apply.	Highly erodible pasture soils. Prioritize by sub-watershed based on pasture proximity to streams.		Average $ 875.00/acre. ($ 1.33/ft. for interior fence, estimated 10 acres/paddock.) Acres needing grazing system not known at this time. Will need to inventory.
	4. Work with U of I Extension to provide information on rotational grazing and pasture management.			$250.00 per seminar/workshop
	5. Promote timber management through Field Days, newsletters, news articles, and seminars. Encourage & provide incentives for the development of forest management plans and timber stand improvement.	Entire Watershed Oak-hickory forests Bottomland hardwood forests		$ 1000.00 Cost - $ 10 per acre for plan and $ 60.00 per acre for implementing plan Acres needed:
	6. Work with livestock producers to exclude livestock from wooded acres.	Wooded acres with livestock present. It is estimated that 25% of the forest acres in the watershed are grazed.		$ 80.00 per acre on 8500 acres, or $678,000.
	7. Control gully erosion in timber by reducing runoff upstream (soil erosion control on cropland) and controlling down cutting in stream beds (stream stabilization).			Illinois Conservation 2000 program USDA-Environmental Quality Incentive Program USDA-Conservation Reserve Program EPA – 319 grant
	8. Implement structural practices to control soil erosion and water runoff in developing areas.	New construction sites Areas with high water runoff		Protecting Water Quality in Urban Areas Grant Adams County SWCD Road Protection Project City & County ordinances Cost: $3000 per year for 3 years for pilot and demonstration projects.
Water Quality Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Healthy Vegetation Wildlife Habitat Information/Education
GOALS	IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES & ALTERNATIVES	SITE OR TARGET AREA		COST ESTIMATE/SOURCE OF FUNDING
	9. Work with homeowners to implement cultural practices to reduce soil erosion and water runoff on their property.	New & existing areas with water runoff problems – primarily Quincy and the 3 surrounding townships		Protecting Water Quality in Urban Areas Grant - $3000 per year for 3 years Other programs yet to be identified
	10. Work with landowners to control stream bank erosion.	Target actively eroding streambanks in KI-02 and KI-03. Determine stream segments that would benefit from a watershed approach to bank erosion control. Target streams that drain into Quincy Bay to help reduce sediment delivered to the Bay.		$25 / lineal foot of bank protected plus technical assistance Estimated cost for structural erosion control measures is $500,000.00. Technical assistance 20% of cost, or $100,000.00
	11. Increase buffer strips and filter strips along streams through use of continuous CRP and other programs.	KI-02, KI-03		Cost $200.00 per acre Estimated acres: 200 Estimated cost: $ 40,000 for planting Annual Rental Payments: $ 25,000
	12. Encourage landowners to maintain brushy draws through intensive information/education program.	KI-02, KI-03,		Not yet identified
Water Quality Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Healthy Vegetation Wildlife Habitat Information/Education
GOALS	IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES & ALTERNATIVES		SITE OR TARGET AREA		COST ESTIMATE/SOURCE OF FUNDING
	13. 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.		Cedar Creek, Curtis Creek		$25/lineal foot of bank protected for structural measures plus technical assistance Estimated 5000 lineal feet of bank protection needed Total estimated cost: $ 150,000
	14. Promote removal of fallen trees thru education and incentives.		Landowners with property along streams, with the 1^st priority being main Bear Creek		Associated costs would be $1,000 per day. Programs not yet identified
	16. 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.		Subwatershed(s) with highest nutrient loading potential		$15 per acre C-2000 NMP/EQIP Workshops/seminars - $300 each
	15. 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		Subwatershed with the highest number of cow/calf operations with access to streams		$ 1.33 per foot for interior fencing