Transcript 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
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION SERVICE
NORTHWEST WATER PLANNING ALLIANCE
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.
JUNE 2012
AUGUST 2012
DECEMBER 2012
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
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.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY ISSUES
•Decatur water supply problems reoccur during each drought
•Several communities with known water supplies which are not
adequate for an 18 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
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
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
POLICY ISSUES
•Limited management authority for governmental units to
respond to drought
1.No regulation of limited groundwater resources
2.No regulation of riparian water usage
3.Few identified alternative water supplies for
municipalities
4.Uncertainty about government programs available to
assist
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