Here is a guest commentary by Dr. Stacy James, Water Resources Scientist with Prairie Rivers Network. The article was originally published on May 1, 2011, and is reproduced here by permission of The News-Gazette, Inc.
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Tales of eroding streambanks and increased flooding have become all too familiar across Illinois. People are literally losing their land and livelihoods to water. As the spring rains fall and streams surge, we should turn our attention to solutions that work with nature instead of fighting the same old losing battle.
Flooding and property damage are both an urban and a rural problem. Finger pointing does little good and indeed we are all to blame. But we can help each other by implementing affordable solutions on our own properties and supporting community initiatives.
In urban areas, impermeable surfaces such as roads and rooftops shed most of the snow and rain that falls. Because of this impaired ability to soak water into the ground, almost half of urban stormwater drains into storm drains which then discharge into local streams. As urban areas develop, streams become less able to handle all the water and widen with the increased flow.
Fortunately, it is possible to design urban areas so that more water soaks into the ground where it falls. Instead of traditional pavement, porous pavement can be used in many instances. And instead of directing gutter downspouts onto driveways or drains, roof water can be diverted into rain gardens and rain barrels. Just planting more trees can reduce flooding by intercepting rain before it hits the ground. Examples of these types of green infrastructure can be found dotted across the landscape and are becoming more and more popular.
In rural areas, there is far more exposed soil to absorb snow and rain. However, most agricultural fields contain a network of underground pipes that drain the land so that crops can grow. Like urban storm sewers, these pipes or tiles discharge into nearby ditches and streams, and the flow out of the pipes can be substantial after storms. Despite this engineering, some fields rarely produce a good crop because of flooding. Such fields are therefore better suited to serve as floodwater storage and infiltration areas.
A state program called Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) actually pays farmers to return flooded areas to nature along the Kaskaskia River and its tributaries. The program targets wetlands and sensitive land that is prone to erosion or located in the 100-year floodplain. CREP focuses on these areas because getting them out of agricultural production can produce disproportionate benefits for natural resources. Fields that frequently flood or require significant chemical inputs to be productive are ideal for CREP.
The Kaskaskia River originates in Champaign County and flows south until it joins the Mississippi River south of St. Louis. The Kaskaskia is Illinois’ second largest river system and drains approximately 10% of the state. Many people hope this program will reduce the flooding and streambank erosion problems that plague the river along its over 300-mile course.
Restoring the land to trees and grasses has a number of benefits. Land located along rivers can store floodwater and infiltrate it into the ground so that downstream flooding is less. Pesticides, fertilizers, oils, and other pollution that gets washed into rivers during storms can get filtered out by wetlands that receive floodwater. Wildlife and fish quickly respond to habitat restoration projects.
CREP is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, with the help of county Soil & Water Conservation Districts. CREP Coordinators have been hired to promote the program and work with applicants. Applications are being accepted now and should be submitted as soon as possible given the popularity of the program and limited budget.
Instead of prolonging our antiquated ethic that water is a nuisance that must be piped away, we should find innovative ways to use stormwater to our benefit. Water is a valuable resource that can be harvested for economic gain. Nature protection in strategic areas represents a smart investment that benefits ourselves and future generations. Such stewardship will not only reduce flooding but will also recharge drinking water supplies such as the Mahomet Aquifer. In these difficult times of limited resources and seemingly limitless needs, initiatives like CREP and green infrastructure provide a tremendous opportunity for positive change.
Imagine living in the path of a rain-swollen river, an aging manmade levee the only thing standing between your community and a devastating flood.
