31
August, 2009
John
Theffiault,
Assistant
Clerk
E
D
:3
V ED
Illinois
Pollution
Control
Board
CLE\’ OFFGE
100 West
Randolph
Street,
Suite
11-500
Chicago,
Illinois 60601
‘N
STATE
OF
1LLINOS
RE:
Rule
Making
R08-009
PoNution
Control
Board
Dear
Illinois Pollution
Control
Board:
On
behalf
of The
Cedro Family, 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
rule making
R08-009.
These changes are
long
overdue and
recommended only after
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 kayaker
and citizen
deeply concerned
about our share public
resourses , 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
full
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
wuter pollution
but
we
know that if
we want the Chicago River to continue to improve
and
serve
ou:
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,
Cedro
18
1North Larrabee
Chicago IL 60614
312.286.6143