November 14, 2008

John Therriault,

Assistant Clerk

Illinois Pollution Control Board

Chicago

100 WestIllinois

Randolph

60601

Street, Suite

11-500

\“

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NOV

-

2

0

20O

SIAfl..

OF

ILLINOIS

RE:

Rule

Making R08-009

4

c’

tlOn

Board

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 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.

I share with friends a great deal of recreational time in

the

parks

and along the trails that lie alongside

the

Chicago River, and enjoy frequent canoe trips on the North Branch,

the South Branch, and the main

stem

of the

river. For the health of

future recreational users on the river, I think it is critical that:

•

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.

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,

Gerry J Bakker

1415 W

Oakdale Avenue, #1

Chicago,

Illinois 60657-4118

773-935-9435

/ 312-351-2073

gerrbakk@hotmail.com