Case Study

Watershed Planning for Lake Protection

Since 1999, LWC has provided Watershed Planning & Construction Engineering Services were provided for a 32-acre reservoir known as Timberlake in Lake County. Problems experienced included sedimentation, algae blooms, water quality degradation, nuisance aquatic plants, shoreline erosion, and other impacts. In addition to a detailed Watershed Management Plan, LWC also prepared a Water Quality Report. The WQ Report evaluated over 18 years of past collected water quality data to identify important trends in lake quality. LWC provided site-specific recommendations to enhance lake conditions. These included environmentally sound weeds control, water quality improvement for primary contact recreation, sediment control, fish management recommendations, and increased wildlife habitat diversity. A County-sponsored Watershed Summit attended by agencies and residents served to educate and inform the watershed stakeholders regarding reducing water quality impacts. LWC has since provided assistance for multiple phases of design and construction implementation for sediment control to stabilize highly eroding inlet channels. Grant funding has been received for construction implementation in two phases of work to reduce the discharge of large volumes of sediment into the lake. Related engineering services included Bathymetric Mapping and Sediment Thickness Surveys to guide weed control recommendations. Community implementation related to watershed planning has included the installation of rain gardens and bioswales for water quality improvement. Timberlake is also an active participant in the CMAP and Illinois EPA 9 Lakes Watershed Plan, some of which is excerpted below.