The
    Board
    of
    Commissioners
    WILLIAM BEAVERS
    JERRY
    BUTLER
    FORREST
    CLAYPOOL
    EARLEAN
    COLLINS
    JOHN
    R
    DALEY
    ELIZABETH
    ANN DOODY
    GORMAN
    GREGG
    GOSLIN
    ROBERTO
    MALDONADO
    APR
    2
    4
    2009
    The
    Forest Preserve District
    of Cook
    County
    supports
    the Illinois Environmental
    Protection
    Agency’s
    proposed amendments
    to improve
    water
    quality
    standards in
    the
    Chicago Area
    Waterway System
    (CAWS). Improved
    water
    quality
    would help protect
    biological diversity
    and improve
    outdoor recreational
    opportunities.
    The
    Forest Preserve District
    of Cook
    County is the largest
    and oldest
    forest preserve
    district in Illinois with
    over 68,000 acres
    held in the public
    trust. Nowhere
    in the United
    States
    is there such
    a
    large
    area of
    publicly owned native
    landscape
    as
    fine
    and readily
    accessible to so many
    people. The Board
    of Forest
    Preserve
    Commissioners
    is
    authorized by
    law:
    To acquire and
    hold lands
    containing
    natural
    forests for
    the purpose
    of protecting
    and
    preserving
    the flora, fauna
    and
    scenic
    beauties, and
    to restore, restock,
    protect
    and preserve
    said
    lands as nearly
    as may be in their
    natural
    state and
    condition,
    for the education,
    pleasure
    and
    recreation
    of the public.
    Much of
    the Forest
    Preserve holdings
    encompass
    the major waters
    ways of the
    Chicago-land
    area. These waters
    are important
    sanctuaries for native
    flora and
    fauna,
    and important
    recreational areas
    for the general
    public;
    activities
    such
    as
    boating,
    canoeing,
    kayaking, fishing and
    nature
    studies
    are enjoyed
    by
    millions
    on a weekly
    basis.
    In a study conducted
    by the USDA Forest
    Service one
    of our preserves
    was monitored
    for
    public attendance;
    the results
    found
    that more
    people enjoyed this
    preserve
    that
    year
    than
    any national
    park site
    but
    one; that site being Yosemite
    National
    Park.
    JOSEPH
    MARIO
    MORENO
    JOAN P.
    MURPHY
    ANTHONY
    J.
    PERAICA
    MIKE
    QUIGLEY
    TIMOTHY
    0. SCHNEIDER
    PETER
    N.
    SILVESTRI
    DEBORAH
    SIMS
    ROBERT
    STEELE
    LARRY
    SUFFREDIN
    FOREST
    PRESERVE
    DISTRICT
    of
    Cook
    County,
    Illinois
    GENERAL
    HEADQUARTERS
    April
    21, 2009
    Marie
    Tipsord, Hearing
    Officer
    Illinois
    Pollution Control
    Board
    100W. Randolph
    St., Suite 11-500
    Chicago,
    IL 60601
    Re: Comment
    on Rule Making
    R08-09
    TODD
    H.
    STROGER,
    PRESIDENT
    536 NORTH HARLEM
    AVENUE,
    RIVER FOREST,
    ILUNOIS
    60305
    773-261-8400/708-366-9420/800-870-3666
    TDD
    708-771-1190
    Steven
    M. Bylina,
    Jr., GENERAL
    SUPERINTENDENT
    ED
    ST4j-E.
    Pollution
    Primed on Recycled
    Paper
    In addition to being an important refuge, providing rare habitat for local flora and fauna,
    the
    preserves provide first rate outdoor recreational opportunities for the public.
    Improvements in water quality have shown
    an increase
    in biodiversity, and an overall
    improvement in the health of the native landscape. The District is currently studying
    river otters that are returning to waterways throughout Cook County. River otters are
    one among
    many
    species
    that could benefit from water
    quality improvements.
    The Forest
    Preserve
    District of Cook County has been and
    will continue
    to be a
    leader
    in
    the protection and management of open lands in the Chicago-land
    area.
    Sincerely,
    General Superintende t
    C.c. John Therriault, Clerk

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