The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) received Clean Water Act funds from Illinois EPA to facilitate the development of a watershed-based plan for the “9 Lakes Planning Area” in southwestern Lake and southeastern McHenry Counties. The final Plan was approved by IEPA on June 11, 2014.

The planning process followed the completion of the Upper Fox River-Flint Creek Watershed TMDL Stage 1 Report. Through the assessment of physical, chemical, and biological data collected by Illinois EPA and the Lake County Health Department – Lakes Management Unit, nine of the lakes in the planning area (as well as the section of the Fox River to which the planning area drains) have been found to not support certain of their designated uses (e.g., aquatic life, primary contact recreation) due to various causes of impairment including total phosphorus, total suspended solids, and fecal coliform. (See the 9 Lakes Watershed-based Planning – Fact Sheet below)