Blackberry Creek Watershed
Blackberry Creek Watershed
The Blackberry Creek watershed is located in southwest Kane and northwest Kendall counties and has a drainage area of approximately 75 square miles. The watershed covers portions of the Cities of Aurora, Batavia and Yorkville, and the Villages of Campton Hills, Elburn, Montgomery, North Aurora, Oswego and Sugar Grove. The watershed is located on the urban fringe of the Chicago metropolitan area. Approximately 56% of the watershed land use is agricultural. Kane and Kendall counties are two of the fastest growing counties in Illinois (Kendall #1 and Kane #5). The total population in Blackberry Creek watershed is approximately 25,374.
The Blackberry Creek Watershed Action Plan was adopted in December 2011. The project was made possible by Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act, as amended, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Water, who distributed funds to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). CMAP, the regional planning agency for the seven counties of northeastern Illinois and the delegated authority for the region’s areawide water quality management plan, led the planning process.
Support was also provided by The Conservation Foundation and Fox River Ecosystem Partnership. The plan was prepared for the Blackberry Creek Watershed Coalition that formed during the course of the planning process. The many contributors to this planning process include the Cities of Aurora, Batavia, and Yorkville; Villages of Elburn, Montgomery, North Aurora, and Sugar Grove; Kane County Development, Environment, Water Resources, Transportation, and Health Departments/Divisions and Forest Preserve District; Kendall County Planning and Transportation Departments and Forest Preserve District; Blackberry, Campton, and Sugar Grove Townships; Sugar Grove Water Authority; Kane-DuPage and Kendall County Soil & Water Conservation Districts; Waubonsee Community College; Cannonball Trail Civic League; Prestbury Citizens Association; Batavia, Fox Valley, Geneva, and Sugar Grove Park Districts; Fox River Study Group; Illinois Department of Natural Resources and State Water Survey; Sierra Club; Yorkville-Bristol Sanitary District; and local engineering and ecological restoration consultants.
The Blackberry Creek Watershed Action Plan was adopted in December 2011. The project was made possible by Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act, as amended, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Water, who distributed funds to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). CMAP, the regional planning agency for the seven counties of northeastern Illinois and the delegated authority for the region’s areawide water quality management plan, led the planning process.
Support was also provided by The Conservation Foundation and Fox River Ecosystem Partnership. The plan was prepared for the Blackberry Creek Watershed Coalition that formed during the course of the planning process. The many contributors to this planning process include the Cities of Aurora, Batavia, and Yorkville; Villages of Elburn, Montgomery, North Aurora, and Sugar Grove; Kane County Development, Environment, Water Resources, Transportation, and Health Departments/Divisions and Forest Preserve District; Kendall County Planning and Transportation Departments and Forest Preserve District; Blackberry, Campton, and Sugar Grove Townships; Sugar Grove Water Authority; Kane-DuPage and Kendall County Soil & Water Conservation Districts; Waubonsee Community College; Cannonball Trail Civic League; Prestbury Citizens Association; Batavia, Fox Valley, Geneva, and Sugar Grove Park Districts; Fox River Study Group; Illinois Department of Natural Resources and State Water Survey; Sierra Club; Yorkville-Bristol Sanitary District; and local engineering and ecological restoration consultants.