August 28, 2009

DVED

CLERKS

OFRCE

John Therriault, Assistant

Clerk

Illinois

Pollution

Control Board

D

1

2009

100 West

Randolph

Street,

Suite 11-500

Chicago,

Illinois 60601

Pollutkn

Contrd

Board

RE:

Rule Making R08-009

‘j\

5’

Dear Illinois Pollution

Control Board:

We are

writing

to

express our 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 concerned citizens,

residents and river

users, we think it is critical

that:

o

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

disinfect sewage treatment

plant effluent to

kill

bacteria and protect public health and

•

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

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.

We

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,

Jonah

and Sara

Smith

655 W.

Irving Park RD,

Suite 5206

Chicago, IL 60613

773-404-0271