Why should we care about
the Flint Creek Watershed? What's special:
Flint Creek watershed has developed around its natural resources. The watershed’s two natural glacial lakes anchor the Lake Zurich and Honey Lake communities. Water as a resource is so valued that fifteen additional lakes were created by damming Flint Creek or excavating nearby wetlands. Most of its pre-settlement wetlands remain with high quality wetlands protected by forest preserves or a local conservation group. Land use is 62% developed and 38% open, but counting partially open parcels (development covering only a portion of parcels between 1 and 10 acres in size) reveals that 73% of the watershed is open or partially open. Threatened and endangered species frequent the area’s waterways, prairies and savannas; Baker’s Lake has one of the few heron rookeries in the Chicago region. Residents value the country-like atmosphere produced by open space.
- Land use 62% developed, 3% agriculture, 35% open space
- Country-like atmosphere with 73% open or partially open parcels
- 76% of pre-settlement wetlands remain
- 10 high-value Advance Identification (ADID) wetlands; 4 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI) sites at 4 forest preserves: Baker’s Lake Younghusband Prairie Preserve (also an Illinois Nature Preserve), Crabtree Nature Center, Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve, and Grassy Lake Forest Preserve; 4 Citizens for Conservation preserves: Flint Creek Savanna, Grigsby Prairie, Hawley Lake, and Steyermark; and 2 village preserves: Baker’s Lake Savanna and Freier Farm
- 25 threatened and endangered species
What's threatened:
However, the open space is in poor condition which affects water resources. The land is transected by impervious surfaces – rooftops and roads – and manicured lawns that rapidly transport pollutant-laden rainwater to the lakes and streams. Flint Creek floods, then dries up. Future development will replace 26% of the open space, mainly in the western half of the watershed, while redevelopment produces larger homes and buildings on existing lots. Groundwater recharge areas are not protected.
- Loss of open space
- Development in recharge areas
- Increased stormwater runoff and flooding
- Loss of infiltrating native vegetation
- Flashy hydrology causes Flint Creek to rise higher and faster, then rapidly fall below historic levels
- Increased pollution
- Fertilizers, septic systems, road salt, grease and oil
- Degradation of natural areas
- Invasive species, absence of burns
- Fragmentation of habitat and loss of greenways
- Shoreline and stream bank erosion
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