(

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