|
|
|
|
Agricultural Pollution Number One Threat to Illinois StreamsSpringfield, April 5, 2000: Prairie Rivers Network today released Pollution Paralysis, a report compiled by the National Wildlife Federation which documents the slow progress of states in dealing with polluted runoff from urban and agricultural lands. In Illinois, agriculture is responsible for 29% of the state‚s impaired waterbodies."Illinois has a long way to go in restoring our rivers and streams," said Robert Moore, Executive Director of Prairie Rivers Network. The two main problems facing Illinois‚ rivers are nutrient-based pollution and siltation problems associated with the agricultural industry. Under the Clean Water Act, states were supposed to periodically review the condition of their waters and create restoration plans for those that did not meet clean water goals. The restoration plans, also known as Total Maximum Daily Loads or TMDLs, require the state to examine all sources of pollution in its impaired waters and create a plan for reducing the "total load" of pollution. However, as Pollution Paralysis points out, no state has adequately fulfilled this obligation. No restoration plans have been completed in Illinois since passage of the Clean Water Act twenty-seven years ago. But Illinois is hardly alone. Very few states have taken these responsibilities seriously. Illinois has done a very good job of identifying waters in need of restoration. The most recent 303(d) report, which identifies the state's impaired waters, listed 738 rivers, lakes, and streams in 336 different watersheds that require the development of restoration plans. The largest source of impairment is the agricultural industry. Currently, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is developing restoration plans for six watersheds. The Agency is expected to announce the next set of waters scheduled for restoration plan development in the coming weeks. | |