Sierra Club's water testing data shows
major pollution problems in Fox River
Recommendations For "Our River At Risk"

Sierra Club today released the results of water quality testing on the Fox River between Elgin and Yorkville that show levels of pollution that exceed federal standards for phosphorus 83% of the time. Based on their findings, Sierra Club leaders called for new controls on nutrient pollution and continued local efforts to improve water quality.
"Our tests clearly show that the Fox River is suffering from an overload of nutrient pollution," said Eugene McArdle, coordinator of the Sierra Club, Valley of the Fox Group's Water Sentinels Project. "If

The full report
Chart: Nitrate-N in the Fox River, Elgin to Yorkville, January 2001-January 2002.
Chart: Nitrate: Monthly Fox River Sampling, January 2001-January 2002
Chart: Phosphate: Monthly Fox River Sampling, January 2001-January 2002. 

Downloadable in Microsoft Excel format:

Nitrate and Phosphate levels and testing data.

the Fox River is to continue its recovery while population and development increase, pollution controls must be updated."
Sierra Club volunteers in Kane and Kendall counties have been monitoring the quality of the Fox River and its tributaries since 1996. Their latest study examined samples taken at 11 sites from Elgin to Yorkville from January 2001 to January 2002.
The tests indicate that levels of phosphorus in the river regularly exceed the amount considered healthy by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The average sample collected was nearly 5 times the healthy level, and 83% of all the samples collected exceeded this federal recommendation for phosphorus. Phosphorus is a major component of fertilizers and of sewage, and degrades water by fertilizing algae to the point where excessive algae growth sucks oxygen out of the water that fish need to breathe.
Sierra Club is calling for several actions to reduce pollution levels and restore healthy conditions to the Fox River. Among the recommendations in the report are:

Complete the Fox River Study, Prepare
and Implement Cleanup Plan
Sierra Club and Friends of the Fox River have teamed with wastewater treatment plant operators, local governments, and other key stakeholders to design and implement a monitoring study and to build a computer model to answer key questions about pollution levels in the Fox and their sources and best remedies. This is the first collaboration of its kind in Illinois, and will cost approximately $2 million over 6 years to complete. These funds are a wise investment in the Fox's future.

Move Toward Nutrient Standards for Illinois Rivers
There are no limits on nutrient discharges to the Fox, or other Illinois rivers. Other states, including some here in the Midwest, have moved to address these problems by determining and establishing a water quality standard for phosphorus, in particular, and requiring controls for nutrients where problems exist. Illinois should follow these examples as quickly as possible.

Plan For Improvements in Wastewater Treatment
The operators of wastewater treatment plants are primarily responsible for the progress we have seen in improving Fox River water quality to date. They provide an essential public service with limited budgets. However, because the volume of discharge to the Fox is steadily increasing, further investments in wastewater treatment may well be necessary if we are to protect the river. Alternative methods, such as land treatment of wastewater and land application of treated wastewater, should be considered where appropriate, and where proper safeguards are in place.

Manage Land to Reduce Runoff Pollution
Governments that own parks, golf courses, or other public properties along the Fox and its tributaries can help by reducing the application of fertilizers and pesticides near the water, and by using native vegetation to improve habitat, reduce maintenance costs and filter runoff. Businesses with property near the Fox River or other streams can also help by using native vegetation in streamside buffer strips and drainage areas, reducing fertilizer applications and maintenance costs. Public landowners should also explore projects to restore natural stream conditions, such as adding stream meanders and riparian wetlands and other beautification projects that will help the stream cleanse itself and will filter runoff before it enters the stream. Individuals living anywhere in the Fox watershed can consider native vegetation for a beautiful, low-maintenance garden that will attract wildlife, reduce runoff and keep pollution out of the water.

Plan for Smart, Managed Growth
Ultimately the major threat facing the Fox River watershed is poorly planned development. Efforts that promote development that is compact, safe and accessible for pedestrians and transit riders, and respectful of sensitive natural areas and prime farmland will have a major positive impact on water quality, in addition to other benefits. As development moves west in the watershed, the establishment of greenways that provide as wide a buffer of natural land as possible to Fox River tributaries will not only help protect each stream itself, it will also protect the water quality of the Fox River downstream.

"The problems facing the Fox River are very complex, and we all need to participate in crafting solutions that will clean the water and have widespread support," said Cynthia Skrukrud, Clean Water Advocate for the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. "We are excited to participate in the Fox River Study Group with local governments, water treatment plant operators, and other stakeholders to find solutions we can all support."

"Our data shows that our Fox River is indeed at risk due to the rapid pace of development in the Fox Valley," said Fran Caffee, Vice-Chair of the Sierra Club, Valley of the Fox Group. "We all need to do our part if we want its recovery to continue to the point where it is safe and healthy for people and wildlife."

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