Watershed-based planning continues for DeKalb County with the Central South Branch of the Kishwaukee River, a 67,000-acre watershed that includes Genoa, Kingston, Kirkland, and surrounding communities. The DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District recently received an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) 319 grant. This grant supports creating a watershed-based plan to help improve water quality in that area of the Kishwaukee River. A requirement to receive the IEPA grant was to secure matching dollars from a local partnering organization. The DeKalb County Community Foundation provided a $50,000 matching grant as a partner.

DeKalb County Watersheds.

A watershed is any area of land in which water drains into a standard body of water, such as a stream, river, or lake. Watershed planning is crucial for various environmental, social, and economic reasons. Some issues addressed by having a watershed-based plan are water quality protection, flood mitigation, ecosystem conservation, sustainable agriculture, recreation and tourism, urban planning, and long-term planning.

In addition to the matching grant, the Community Foundation funded watershed signage for the Central South Branch Watershed.

DeKalb County Watershed Coordinator Dean Johnson elaborates, “When we conduct watershed-based planning in our communities, we work together to create a plan for that community, including education and outreach opportunities. The new signs provide an educational component to bring public awareness to water drainage in neighborhoods and farm fields. Understanding your watershed is one of the first steps to inspiring stakeholders to protect the watershed they live in.”

“In DeKalb County, partnership and collaboration are key to informing the creation of a plan that reflects specific issues and opportunities within our communities related to water resources. The Community Foundation takes pride in offering resources to support this crucial endeavor,” said Foundation Community Engagement Director Teri Spartz. “We are grateful to our donors who supply us with the funding needed for this work.”

The overall goal is to improve water quality throughout the county by providing reliable tools and resources to inform decisions and maintain, manage, and protect water resources using best management practices.

Do you know what watershed you live in and how you can help?