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Illinois Drought Response Task Force

Illinois Drought Response Task Force. Arlan Juhl , Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. THE DROUGHT OF 2012 THE GOVERNOR’S DROUGHT RESPONSE TASK FORCE PREPARED BY:. WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY:. EAST CENTRAL WATER CONSORTIUM KASKASKIA REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY COMMITTEE.

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Illinois Drought Response Task Force

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  1. Illinois Drought Response Task Force ArlanJuhl, Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

  2. THE DROUGHT OF 2012 THE GOVERNOR’S DROUGHT RESPONSE TASK FORCE PREPARED BY: WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY: EAST CENTRAL WATER CONSORTIUM KASKASKIA REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY COMMITTEE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION SERVICE NORTHWEST WATER PLANNING ALLIANCE

  3. The State of Illinois established a State Water Plan Task Force in 1980 to update the 1967 Illinois State Water Plan, and to bring state agencies together to focus on needed research and programs to address water issues. That State Water Plan Task Force wrote a Drought Preparedness and Response Plan and published it in 2011 which recommended the creation of a Drought Response Task Force to help with drought response. • http://www.isws.illinois.edu/hilites/drought/archive/2011/docs/St_Ill_Drought_Plan_2011.pdf The Governor’s Drought Response Task Force is activated with the Governor’s approval when drought conditions warrant a unified statewide approach. This task force was activated on June 19, 2012 by the State Water Plan Task Force with the approval of the Governor’s Office.

  4. JUNE 2012 AUGUST 2012 DECEMBER 2012

  5. DRTF Meetings The Drought Response Task Force met frequently during the July through September timeframe, and began to lessen the meeting frequency as the fall and winter months approached. Group meetings were mixed with teleconferences to ensure close monitoring of drought impacts. Governor Quinn spoke at the initial Drought Response Task Force Meeting on July 11, 2012 and encouraged all participants to work together and to think outside the box in solving problems which might occur as the drought intensified and spread across the State of Illinois. The following are the dates of the meetings. 7/11/12 7/19/12 – conference call 7/24/12 7/31/12 – conference call 8/9/12 8/24/12 9/13/12 10/17/12 1/8/13

  6. AGRICULTURAL ISSUES • Yields for corn, soybeans and hay were significantly reduced – These lower yields resulted in reduced exports and increased commodity prices. • Aflotoxin – The presence of aflotoxin cannot exceed 20 ppm. Approval to blend corn to reduce the concentration was authorized and extended. • Irrigation water usage - Agricultural irrigation increased in 2012 over previous years and will likely increase the future expansion of irrigation systems in Illinois. • Movement of agricultural products via navigation system – Corn, soybeans, fertilizers, and other agricultural commodities are very dependent upon the inland waterway systems. Middle Mississippi River (St. Louis to Cairo) river stages in December were dropping to levels of great concern to the navigation industry. • The economic conditions of farmers going into 2013 was expected to be good for those who had purchased crop insurance for 2012. Those without crop insurance are likely experiencing financial shortfalls.

  7. PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY ISSUES • Decatur water supply problems reoccur during each drought • Several communities with known water supplies which are not adequate for an18 month drought INDUSTRIAL WATER USAGE ISSUES • Public Water stream regulation of water withdrawals • Nuclear power plant dependence on limited water supply • Coal powered power plants dependence on limited water supplies • Coal mining industry dependent on limited water supplies

  8. NAVIGATION ISSUES • Navigation on the Mississippi River is dependent on flows from states in the Upper Mississippi River and the Missouri River. When drought affects the Midwest and western states, navigation can be threatened. • Many Illinois exports and imports are dependent upon navigation. Ensuring a reliable navigation system during drought is not always possible. PRIVATE WATER USAGE ISSUES • Competition for groundwater supplies • Inadequate supplemental sources NATURAL RESOURCE ISSUES: Fish kills. Mussel loss Low DO, high water temperatures Request from industry for water from State Parks

  9. ECONOMIC IMPACTS • Financial loss in agricultural community • Government program costs • Transportation of products • Reduction in Illinois exports TECHNICAL ISSUES • Use of Q 7,10 flow for initial regulation of water withdrawals • Variances during low flow conditions

  10. POLICY ISSUES • Limited management authority for governmental units to respond to drought • No regulation of limited groundwater resources • No regulation of riparian water usage • Few identified alternative water supplies for municipalities • Uncertainty about government programs available to assist

  11. THE DROUGHT OF 2012 A REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR’S DROUGHT RESPONSE TASK FORCE PREPARED BY: WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY: EAST CENTRAL WATER CONSORTIUM KASKASKIA REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY COMMITTEE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION SERVICE NORTHWEST WATER PLANNING ALLIANCE

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