By Brian Dolinar
A plan by city officials in Springfield to develop Hunter Lake threatens to have a devastating environmental impact on local streams, forests, wetlands, prairie, agricultural land, and wildlife. Local residents will be on the hook for the $250 million price tag if the plan goes through.
Hunter Lake was first proposed after a severe 18-month drought in the mid-1950s. City planners projected future population growth and sought to find a way to survive another drought without implementing water conservation efforts. Such a drought has not since been repeated, and the population today in Springfield is, in fact, shrinking. Still, the city persists with the project which today involves damming up a tributary of the Sangamon River to create a 2,500-acre reservoir.
Reservoir or Recreation Area?
In order to build Hunter Lake, the city must be granted permits from the US Army Corps of Engineers and Illinois EPA. This has led to several environmental impact studies and public comment periods. Over the years, a movement to stop the proposed lake came together, with PRN providing scientific and technical support.
After three failed attempts at getting a permit, Springfield officials changed their argument claiming that Hunter Lake would serve a need for more recreational activities like boating, although most recognized nearby lakes such as the Sangchris Lake were underutilized. A survey conducted by the University of Illinois found that more than 60% of respondents were satisfied with recreational options, with many busy adults saying what kept them from participating in more outdoor activities was that they “do not have the time.”
Water Need Evaporates
Proponents of Hunter Lake say it would provide Springfield with an additional 12 million gallons of water per day. Yet the recent closure of three coal-fired power plants has put nine million gallons per day back into the existing water supply.
On September 25, 2023, PRN submitted its comments to the Army Corps of Engineers outlining the reasons why Hunter Lake is not in the public interest. It will likely take at least six months for a response.
“Every time they come up for an Army Corps permit, they say that water use is going to grow dramatically in the next 25 years,” says Clark Bullard, PRN board member, who helped author PRN’s public comments. “None of this has ever materialized. Use has been flat for 50 years. After those three power plants closed, their need for water totally evaporated, literally.”
The federal EPA weighed in by recommending the permit should be denied in a document that was obtained by the Springfield Sierra Club and leaked to the media in early November 2023.
An Issue of Equity
The projected $250 million cost of building the lake would likely be passed on to local Springfield residents whose rates could likely double if plans for Hunter Lake were to go through. Hunter Lake is an issue of equity that the people of Springfield cannot afford.
Proponents of Hunter Lake say a new recreational area would heighten Springfield’s appeal. A massive increase in water bills would likely do the opposite.
“Some Springfield officials,” Bullard surmised, “probably know that it’s a boondoggle, and they can’t afford it. They may just keep their mouths shut and wait for the Corps or EPA to kill it.”
The campaign to stop Hunter Lake is a story about perseverance. Victories can often take decades of work by advocacy groups like PRN and its members. There are hundreds of hours required to read documents, produce public comments, organize events, and educate the public. Your donations to PRN go directly to helping make a change!
