..
IEPA ATTACHMENT No.E
Memorandum
To:
From:
Date:
Toby Frevert, Illinois EPA
Rob Sulski, Illinois EPA
Ron French, COM
November
24,
2003
Subject: Safety and Navigational Constraints on Designated
Uses
in the
Chicago Area Waterway
System
Attendees:
Name
RobSulski
Ron French
John D'Aniello
Jeff WickenkalIlP
Colleen Hughes
Stephanie Brock
Jessica Harker
Joe Deal
Organization
Illinois EPA
CDM
CDM
CDM:~"",
~'~?:s5,
CDM
CDM
Primera
Chicago'sMayors Office
Name
Nelson Chueng
Michelle Woods
Cameron
Land
Bob Balamut
Sgt. Rick Erbacci
A. Ianello
Frank Kudrua
Organization
CDOP
CDOT
USCG
USACE
Police Marine Unit
IIPD
IIPD
On Wednesday, November 19,2003 the Illinois EPA and CDM held a meeting to discuss the
safety
and navigational issues applicable to the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). The
Illinois EPA, CDM
and the Stakeholders Advisory Committee (SAC) need to establish current
and anticipated uses of the CAWS for the next ten years. Therefore, safety and navigational
restrictions/constraints
need to be incorporated into the decision making to create
appropriate designations. The attendees discussed the following items
in detail:
• Navigational vs. Recreational Use
• Water Quality Safety Issues
•
Homeland Security
C:IOOCUME-llepauserlLOCALS-lITempIGWViewerlI11903 SAFETY MEETING NOTES.doc
• Water Level and Bank Disturbances
• Recreational Uses
Navigational vs. Recreational Use
Navigable Areas
Historically, the navigational and recreational users of the CAWS have peacefully shared the
river
without regulation. The entire CAWS is labeled as a navigable waterway. However, the
North Branch of the Chicago River is not actively maintained for navigation. The United
States
Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) considers the end of the navigable waterway to
occur
at Addison Street, and the City of Chicago at Fullerton Street.
Enforcement
Non-motorized boating in some sections along the CAWS is dangerous because of high barge
traffic
and laek of access points. The US Coast Guard has the authority to set rules and
regulations concerning non-motorized recreation along sections of the waterway. The City of
Chicago Police and US CoastGuard are responsible for enforcement of the laws. The Illinois
EPA is responsible to protect the
water quality standards applicable to the assigned use of the
waterway.
Currently,
the police can ticket non-motorized boaters along the CSSC for reckless behavior.
However,
the Coast Guard and the Police Marine Unit is not large enough to prohibit all non-
motorized boating along the CSSe. The Illinois EPA encouraged the
US Coast Guard to
explain
to SAC memebers the dangers of non-motorized boating along particular reaches of
the CAWS
during discussion at the December 16, 2003 SAC meeting.
Water Quality Safety Issues
Because of the diversity of wildlife that exists in and along the CAWS, the sediments must not
be at toxic levels. The water quality parameters of concern are salt, dissolved oxygen (DO),
ilnd bacteria. The Police Marine Unit has regular body contact with the CAWS on rescue
missions
and would like to know about health precautions that the Police Marine Unit should
take to protect themselves from
the CAWS. Rob Suski of the Illinois EPA offered to have a
separate meeting
with the Police Marine Unit to discuss heath issues and precautions
associated
with body contact with the CAWS and suggested contacting Dick Lanyon of the
MWRD for
water quality data on the CAWS.
.
Homeland Security
The Illinois International Port District is currently identifying all vulnerable spots in the port..
The study will be completed during the last week of December 2003.
The US Coast Guard implements homeland security controls during emergency situations.
There is
no blanket homeland security regulations applyed to the CAWS.
.
Water Level and Band Disturbances
The main branch of the Chicago River, several bridges, and areas near marinas are designated
as
no wake zones. However, up to seven foot elevation changes occur in the water during
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Chicago UAA Safety Meeting
November 24,2003
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wet weather events. Therefore, enforcing wake zones or creating more will create only
marginal protection.
,The City of Chicago encourages the creation of bio-engineered banks. However,
due to
dynamic flow
changed in the CAWS, such banks are frequently washed away. This issue
may increase in severity as the MWRD is considering dropping the CAWS three feet, instead
of only two feet, in anticipation of a storm event
" Sheet pile walls are desirable by developers because they maximize the square footage of the
land. However, such walls along
the waterway are discouraged by the Mayor and are
allowed only
where necessary.
.
Recreational Uses
Zoning
The Chicago Department of Planning wants to control waterway use by'zoning the
riverbanks
and controlling access points. The Chicago Park District is also working with the
CDOP
on the Chicago River zoning plan. CDOT announced the t the legislation for the
building of a river walk passed. Therefore, CDOT needs to know
what activities to promote
along the river walk.
Swimming
in the CAWS is not encouraged in any zone. Lake Michigan beaches and City
pools provide adequate sources for
swimming in the Chicago area.
Speeding is a possible issue
when zoning the waterway.
If
only motorized boats are allowed
in the area, they will be tempted to speed and be more likely to have an accident.
Bubbly Creek is currently labeled as
an Urban Waterfront Zone in the City'sdraft zoning
plan. The area plans to have a dock
and growth in residential development with in the next
five to
ten years. To achieve these goals, water quality needs to be improved possibly by
moving the
pump station to create more flow
in
the Creek.
Safety
Non-motorized boating along the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Channel is not appropriate
because of heavy barge traffic
and because of lack of access points.
The main branch of the Chicago River is
not an appropriate place for river bikes, gondolas, or
non-motorized boating because of heavy barge traffic and lack of access points. CDOT and
the Velope Center are currently studying the traffic on the main branch of the Chicago River.
The O'BrienLock is a gateway for
many barges. The recreational and commercial uses have a
good record of coexistence. However, people have died while waiting for the Locks to open
because barges cannot move
or turn quickly. Commercial uses have many rules and
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regulations
and are upset that the recreational users are not expected to uphold the same
standards.
CC:
Ron French
CDM
Michelle Woods
COOT
John D'Anielio
CDM
Cameron Land
USCG
Jeff Wickenkamp
CDM
Bob Balamut
USACE
Colleen
Hughes
COM
Sgt.
Rick Erbacci
Police Marine Unit
Stephanie Brock
CDM/
A. Ianello
IIPO
Nelson Chueng
COOP
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