Title
Joint resolution recommending Lake County’s membership in the Northwest Water Planning Area.
Staff Summary
• The Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group was created by Governor’s Executive Order in 2006 to study the state’s water needs and develop regional aquifer and watershed plans.
• Lake County was a member of the Planning Group; Member Bonnie Thomson Carter chaired the group as it concluded and released the Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply / Demand Plan, the purpose of which is to ensure the availability of clean water for the future.
• In April 2010 the Lake County Board endorsed the Water 2050 Plan, thereby expressing its interest to join with other governments and stakeholders to implement the Plan.
• Lake and four other counties, the Lake County Municipal League, Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG), and three other councils of government (COGs), have voluntarily joined together to form the Northwest Water Planning Area in order to implement the Water 2050 Plan.
• This resolution would authorize the execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement providing for Lake County’s membership in the Northwest Water Planning Area.
Body
WHEREAS, in 2004 the Lake County Board adopted the Lake County Regional Framework Plan which included the finding that an abundant, safe, clean, and economical supply of water is essential for prosperity and a desirable quality of life in Lake County; and
WHEREAS, plans and studies produced since the adoption of the Framework Plan; which include the State of Lake County’s Water Supply (2008), The Lake County Strategic Plan (2009), and The Strategy for a Sustainable lake County (2009); have continued to emphasize the critical importance of water; and water resources are prominently featured in Lake County’s vision for sustainability; and
WHEREAS, all Lake County’s adopted plans and studies addressing water recognize that the County’s water resources are not solely contained within the County, but are shared throughout a wide geographic area, thus making regional intergovernmental cooperation essential for the protection and sustainable use of the water resources, and
WHEREAS, Lake County actively participated in the process that resulted in the Governor’s Executive Order (EO 2006-1) to study the state’s water needs and develop regional aquifer and watershed plans for managing water supplies, and Lake County was a member of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group pursuant to the Executive Order; and
WHEREAS, in March 2010 the Regional Water Supply Planning Group completed its “Water 2050: Northeaster Illinois Regional Water Supply / Demand Plan” the purpose of which is “To consider the future water supply needs of northeastern Illinois and develop plans and programs to guide future use that provide adequate and affordable water for all users, including support for economic development, agriculture, and the protection of our natural ecosystems”; and
WHEREAS, in April 2010 the Lake County Board endorsed the “Water 2050 Plan” - formal recognition of the County’s commitment to join with other governments, businesses, environmental groups, and residents to implement the Plan; and
WHEREAS, the counties of Lake, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, and McHenry; the Lake County Municipal League; the Northwest Municipal Conference; the Barrington Area Council of Governments; the McHenry Council of Governments; and the Metro West Council of Governments have individually and collectively determined that it is in their best interests to jointly discuss and develop consistent standards and reporting programs for water supply planning, and to develop policies and plans that support a regional water plan; and to this end the Northwest Water Planning Area is being formed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that we do hereby endorse the formation of the Northwest Water Planning Area and except membership in this organization through the adoption of this Resolution and execution of the Intergovernmental Agreement attached hereto.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on this 13th day of July, A.D., 2010.