(
LOWER
DES PLAIrES
Ecosvsmti PARThERSHEP
Pa Box 1015 C La Grange Park. IL 00520
December 15, 2008
Mr. John Therriault
Assistant Clerk
Illinois
Pollution Control Board
DEC
18
2008
100 West Randolph Street Suite 11-500
Chicago, Illinois 60601
COfltCOj
Board
Re: Rule Making R08-009
Water
Quality Standard Improvement
Lower
Des Plaines River
Dear Mr. Therriault:
On behalf
of the Lower Des
Plaines
Ecosystem Partnership (LDPEP), I am
writing
to
express our support for the recommended water quality standard improvements proposed
by
the
Illinois EPA for
the
Lower Des Plaines River and Chicago Area Waterways
System in rulemaking R08-09.
LDPEP is an
ecosystem
partnership made
up
of
a
diverse group of non-profit
organizations, businesses, agencies and governments within the Lower Des Plaines
River
Watershed.
We
work
to
promote, preserve, protect and enhance the natural, cultural,
economic and recreational resources of the Lower Des Plaines River and its watershed.
Our
watershed extends from north central Cook County, down through eastern DuPage
County and western Cook County into northern Will County and includes over
64
communities. The Basin has been the scene of nationally significant and recognized
nature preservation
projects including prairie and savanna restoration in
Palos
and the
country’s first National Heritage
Corridor.
Improvement of water quality
in
the
Lower Des Plaines River
and
Chicago Area
Waterways
would support
greater protections for aquatic habitat and biodiversity of
species within our watershed. An
increase in
water quality
would also
support
the
recreational,
economic and social needs of our local communities. These are major goals
of LDPEP.
We
ask that you approve stronger water standards for the Lower Des
Plaines River and
Chicago Area Waterways.
Sincerely,
Marcia
DeVivo
Chair
Lower Des Plaines Ecosystem Partnership
630-674-5900