December
21,
2008
EUVED
John
Thernault,
Assistant
Clerk
CLERK’S
OFFICE
Illinois
Pollution
Control
Board
IJEC
292008
100
West
Randolph
Street,
Suite
11-500
-
Chicago
Illinois
60601
FE
OF
ILLINOIS
Cofltro
Board
RE: Rule
Making
R08-009
Dear
Illinois
Pollution
Control
Board:
I am writing
to
express
my
support
for
the
recommended
water
quality standard
improvements
proposed
by the
Illinois
EPA
for the
Chicago
Area Waterways
(CAWS)
and
Lower
Des
Plaines
River
as mie
making
R08-009.
These
changes
are
long
overdue
and
recommended
only
afier five
years
of
study
on
the
CAWS
and seven
on
the Lower
Des
Plaines.
We should
all
support
the
Illinois
EPA’s
effort
and
approve
the
changes.
As
a person
who
lives
just
2 blocks
away
from the
river
and who
paddles
the Chicago
River
2-3
times
a
week
in
the
spring
and
summer,
I
think
it is
critical
that:
The Metropolitan Water
Reclamation
District
disinfect
sewage
treatment
plant effluent
to kill
bacteria
and
protect
public
health
and
o
Temperature
and
dissolved
oxygen
standards
be
implemented
to
protect
fish and
help
them
flourish.
Over the
years,
the
entire
CAWS
system
has changed
dramatically.
The
water,
once flu
of
raw sewage
and
industrial
filth,
has
vastly
improved
through
the
leadership
of agencies
like the
Metropolitan
Water
Reclamation
District
and
its
Tunnel
and
Reservoir
Plan. Public
access
has
increased
considerably
as
local
governments
incorporated
these
rivers
into
their master
planning.
The
City
of Chicago,
the
Chicago
Park
District,
and
suburbs
like Blue
Island
and Skokie
have
poured
millions
into river
access
for paddling,
fishing,
and
crew.
And
so
much
work
has
been
done
to
improve
habitat
and
control
pollution
that in
the
Chicago
River
system,
species
of fish
have climbed
from
under
10
to nearly
70, including
game
fish
favorites
like large-mouth
bass
and
bluegill
and
yellow
perch.
Because
a
review
like this
only
comes
along every
20
years,
right
now
we
have
a once-in-a-generation
opportunity
to
continue
our
momentum
by
supporting
the
Illinois
EPA recommendations
so
we can
make
the next
quantum
leap forward
in water
quality.
There
is
no
magic
bullet
and
or all-in-one
measure
that
can eliminate
water
pollution
but we
know
that
if
we
want
the Chicago
River
to
continue
to
improve
and
serve
our
communities
as a recreational, natural
and economic
resource,
disinfection
and
the
rest
of the
Illinois
EPA’s
recommendations
are
essential.
I
believe
that
as
a
society it
is our
moral obligation
to ensure
that
we work
to achieve
the
highest
potential
for
shared
resources,
including
and
especially
water.
And
as
stewards
of these
natural
resources,
we
should
not
be seeking
the
minimum
in
improvement,
but
the maximum.
Thank
you,
Dani
Nichols
4211
N Francisco
Ave
Chicago,
IL 60618
773-279-0167