Prairie Rivers Network seeks right to enforce District’s promise to protect aquatic life
By unanimous vote, the Board of Trustees for the Urbana Champaign Sanitary District approved the sale of more than 6 million gallons per day of water to Cronus Chemical at a special meeting held Thursday, June 20th. The District is now free to negotiate a contract with Cronus, should the company choose to build a fertilizer plant in Illinois.
The Sanitary District plans to divert 3 million gallons per day of water from its northeast sewage treatment plant and 3.3 million gallons per day from the southwest plant to Tuscola, IL via pipeline. The northeast plant discharges to the Saline Branch and the southwest to Copper Slough. A primary concern of Prairie Rivers Network, and of numerous members of the community, is the impact of the water diversion on the health of the Saline Branch and the Copper Slough.
Though highly altered, both of these streams have grown accustomed to the water that is discharged into them from the District’s plants. In response to our concerns, the District has promised to maintain a specified minimum flow of water into both streams. Prairie Rivers Network has asked the District to grant us the power to enforce this commitment. Though we respect and trust District staff and trustees to honor their promise, we seek the ability to hold future staff and trustees accountable as well. How much water these streams need to protect fish and other species is still an unanswered question. Prairie Rivers Network has asked the District to consult with local biologists for an expert opinion.
We will continue to engage the District on these important issues. We encourage you to do so as well.
Read Prairie Rivers Network’s June 20th statement to the board. Click here for the non-binding terms sheet between the District and Cronus Chemical. Read some of the Letters to the Editor from concerned citizens that were published in the News-Gazette.
In the News: News-Gazette story on June 20, 2013 (PDF) WCIA (Illinoishomepage.net) story on June 20, 2013 (PDF)
