Water Supply Planning
In 2006, Governor Rod Blagojevich issued Executive Order 2006-01 directing the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to conduct statewide and regional water supply planning. To carry out this directive, IDNR partnered with the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (Tri-County) and the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) in 2014 to begin water supply planning for the seven-county Middle Illinois Basin region, including LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, and Woodford Counties.
Water Supply Planning Phases
Since 2014, Tri-County, in partnership with IDNR and ISWS, has led regional water supply planning efforts throughout the Middle Illinois Basin.
Water supply planning helps ensure that communities have a reliable and sustainable water supply to support public health, environmental resources, and economic vitality. While water quality remains an important consideration, these efforts focus primarily on understanding and managing water quantity to meet current and future needs.
Planning for the Middle Illinois Basin was completed through three phases, with each phase building upon the findings and recommendations of the previous effort.
Phase I: Public Outreach and Collaboration
Phase I focused on building a foundation for regional water supply planning through extensive public outreach, education, and stakeholder engagement. Residents, businesses, agricultural interests, utilities, local governments, and resource professionals were invited to identify water-related concerns, opportunities, and priorities. This phase helped establish a shared understanding of regional water resources and identified topics requiring further study.
Phase II: Recommendations
Phase II evaluated existing and future water supply conditions across the Middle Illinois Basin. Technical analyses examined water availability, projected demand, infrastructure, conservation opportunities, drought preparedness, and other factors influencing long-term water sustainability. The phase culminated in a series of recommendations intended to support a reliable and sustainable water future for the region.
Phase II: Implementation
Phase III focused on advancing implementation of the recommendations developed during Phase II. Efforts included expanding public education and outreach, developing planning tools and technical resources, identifying funding and assistance opportunities, and strengthening regional coordination around water resource management. The phase also emphasized watershed and wetland planning, municipal water system information, and the creation of publicly accessible resources to support informed decision-making by communities, agencies, and stakeholders.
Looking Ahead
Together, the three phases established a comprehensive framework for understanding regional water resources, addressing future challenges and opportunities, and supporting ongoing collaboration throughout the Middle Illinois Basin. These efforts provide communities, decision-makers, and resource managers with the information and tools needed to help ensure a sustainable water future for the region.
