TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 2, 2016
COMMITTEE ON ENGINEERING
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authority to negotiate an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with DuPage County Stormwater (DSW) for the purpose of modifying the Fawell Dam on the West Branch of the DuPage River to provide fish passage
Body
Dear Sir:
This project is located along the West Branch of the DuPage River, (WBDPR) which is the receiving stream for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s (MWRD) Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant (WRP).
This project was identified by the DuPage River Salt Creek Work Group (DRSCW) by assessing its value towards achieving the stream health and use goals of the Clean Water Act using statistical and ranking tools applied to data collected during basin surveys. The DSW is the lead agency for the design and construction of this project.
Basin surveys on the WBDPR found a major decrease in fish biodiversity upstream of the Fawell Dam with 12 less species in the reported fish community. This reduction in biodiversity is attributed to the inability of the fish to propagate upstream of the Fawell Dam to establish fish communities. Restoring fish passage would allow access to all 27 miles of the upstream main stem of the river. Basin surveys show that the area downstream of the dam is in, or is close to, full attainment of IEPA thresholds for fish index of biotic integrity (fiBi), demonstrating full support for the current aquatic life use designation. Given that all known upstream main stem barriers that have been removed have resulted in markedly improved habitat, it is likely that the modification of the dam will move the upstream reaches substantially towards full attainment also.
Since the Hanover Park WRP’s effluent discharges to the WBDPR, the DRSCW has requested MWRD to financially support this project by sharing the construction costs with DSW. As presented at the Study Session on November 19, 2015, the cost of the project is estimated to be $850,000 with MWRD's contribution not to exceed $425,000.00. MWRD is a founding member of DRSCW and continues as an active board member. As such, the MWRD has participated in the development of the goals, strategies, and tools that have led to the identification of this project as one of those that will lead to improved water quality in the WBDPR. Participation in this project may also appear as a condition of one or more of the NPDES permits.
Financial participation in this project would take the form of an IGA between the MWRD and DSW.
Based on the foregoing, it is recommended that the MWRD be authorized to negotiate an IGA with DSW. Authority to enter into an IGA and to make payments to DSW will be sought from the Board of Commissioners at a future date.
Requested, John P. Murray, Acting Director of Maintenance and Operations, Catherine O’Connor, Director of Engineering, AQ:SO’C
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, Frank Avila, Chairman Committee on Engineering
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for June 2, 2016