Recent Task Force Meeting Details

STATE WATER PLAN TASK FORCE MEETING

October 20, 2025

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Web-Ex Meeting Minutes

Task Force Members Present:

IDNR – OWR:  Wes Cattoor, Rick Pohlman, Terra McParland, Steve Altman, Wei Han, Meg Kelly, Kiel Harms,

ISWS: Jason Zhang, Jenna Shelton, Dan Hadley, Glenn Heidsted, Erin Bauer, Trent Ford, David Kristovich

IEPA: Christine Davis, Jeff Edstrom, Walter Rhodes

IDOT: Brian McCoy,  

IWRC: Yu-Feng Forrest Lin

IDNR – ORC: Brian Metzke, Mike McClelland

IEMA: William Shipley, Zack Krug

IDPA- Aaron Entmon

IDOA: Brian Rennecker

IDPH:  Brian Cox, Gerrin Cheek

Agencies not in attendance:

IPCB:

Non-Members Present:

Devin McCallister- SureFire

Jeff Axelrod- Unfense Gillson

Welcome

Rick opened the meeting at 1:32. Wes began the meeting to with a roll call to establish a quorum.  He drew everyone’s attention to the agenda that was currently on the screen. 

OWR- Rick Pohlman

ORC- Mike McClelland

IDPH- Brian Cox

EPA- Jeff Edstrom

IDOT- Brian McCoy

IDOAg- Brian Rennecker

IEMA- Zack Krug

IPCB- none

DCEO- none

ISWS- Trent Ford

IWRC- Yu-Feng Forrest

Wes Cattoor stated that the minutes needed to be approved from the last meeting. Jason Zhang pointed out that Brian Cox was listed twice.  Brian McCoy motioned first, and Brian Rennecker seconded, none opposed, all pass. Minutes from previous meeting have been updated as of 10/21/2025.

Last year we officially became a legislative organization.  We have to meet the open meetings act and we need an official member from each Agency to take the training for the Open Meeting act.  We also recommend that person be the primary voting entity, but they can designate a person to speak or vote on their behalf.  Wes Cattoor showed a list of people who have been most involved or a topic lead from each Agency who might be the best person to take the open meetings act training.  Wes Cattoor asked was there any changes that anyone would like to change?  These are not set in stone.  ISWS delegated Jenna Shelton, even though she is not here.  No other changes or edits were mentioned.  Rick Pohlman has to take the training annually as Chair.  Wes Cattoor also has to take it as the designee, annually.  Rick Pohlman asked if it’s possible to find that training link again and send it out?  Wes Cattoor says he’s sent a link to the training in the past, but he can send it again, it was about 9 months ago that it went out.  Terra McParland asked do these people listed have to be the voters or present to vote?  Wes Cattoor says no they can designate others. Erin Bauer motions to accept the list as presented, Brian McCoy seconded.  No one opposed, all accepted. The approved list is as follows:

The Office of Water Resources of the Department of Natural Resources (Chair).  -  Rick Pohlman

The Office of Resource Conservation of the Department of Natural Resources.  –  Brian Metzke

The Department of Public Health.  -  Brian Cox

The Environmental Protection Agency.  –  Jeff Edstrom

The Department of Transportation.  -  Brian McCoy

The Department of Agriculture.   -  Brian Rennecker

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security.  -  Zach Krug

The Pollution Control Board.  -  Anand Rao

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.  -  David Wortman

The State Water Survey of the University of Illinois.  -  Jenna Shelton

The Water Resource Center of the University of Illinois.  -  Yu-Feng Lin

The Open Meetings Act Delegate – Wes Cattoor

There has been discussion of the sub task force framework.  Rick Pohlman says as we began to develop a need for these task force subgroups, we need to discuss how those framework will help determine the reporting in and reporting out.  Wes Cattoor says the background there is currently there are only 2 subtask force groups, Lake Michigan Beach Access, and the Drought Subtask Force, but people wanted to know how they’re formed and how they’re different from the topic committees.  The SWP was published in 2022, and they had a committee to help them develop what to include and not include in that document.  The committee could also help implement some of these tasks.  But some of these required more of a deep dive, thus the subcommittee was created.  That subtask committee helps focus the connection of the topic leads.  If that subcommittee proposed a report, it could make it happen thru that lead.  One of the things we didn’t have was a separate framework that needs a connection to the SWPTF.  How often do updates get brought to the SWPTF or do they bring them at their own will?  Do they reach out and say hey, we’d like to make a statement?  Does it come in under the public feedback?  Where do people want to see/hear those updates?  Wei Han says he will update at each quarterly meeting, so he doesn’t have a strong preference.  Meg Kelly is more ok with as needed during the topic lead sections.  But she does think at least annually to keep people on task. 

Is the task force responsible for making sure these tasks are moving, or do we make the committee do it?  Helps keep accountability to the task force.  Terra McParland is more in favor of annually.  These taskforces serve a purpose, so they should report to the task force.  Unless a subgroup has specifically said “we’ve stopped because of this reason”.  Rick Pohlman agrees with Terra McParland, they are named and identified and should be accountable to that regard.  The term on these could be short, or they could be a longer term, but minimally annually.  Erin Bauer says if the task force was put together for a winter problem, have that section report in the summer and all that information can be presented and submitted.  The reporting can be modified.  Wei Han says we have regional requirements but not statewide.  Erin Bauer asked was there a mechanism that these subcommittees are dissolved?  Wes Cattoor said that is in the bylaws and the task force lead can dissolve the subcommittee if its objective has been achieved.  Wes Cattoor summarized that at least a yearly update should be given.  Rick Pohlman asked what happens now?  Wes Cattoor says we don’t need to vote on it, we’re just making sure the group was in agreement on how to proceed and Wes Cattoor will share that document with the group.  Brian Cox asked are these determinations going to be bylaws and be documented and voted on by the SWPTF?  Wes Cattoor said the rules aren’t really specific in the bylaws.  Do we need something more specific?  Brian Cox recommends an annual quarterly update isn’t much of a stretch and even if it’s simple as “there is no update at this time.” Wes Cattoor asked should we change the bylaws to state that?  Brian Cox says it should be, and it should be stated in the bylaws so there is a known expectation in the bylaws.  Wes Cattoor suggested Brian Cox write up that language and submit it to the task force to be voted on next meeting.  Expectation vs mandate. 

SWP Recommendations Status:

Wes Cattoor asked everyone to please continue to make updates. 

1.  Water Quality – Jeff Edstrom said they are working on creating a new section for providing technical assistance to public water systems.  That was also part of the long-term funding and water quality sections.  The EPA lab is authorized to handle 45 types of PFAS and test for that.  Rick Pohlman asked was there funding for this technical assistance?  Jeff Edstrom says there is within the agency itself.

2.  Climate Section- David Kristovich is online.  The topics range from completed to 10% awaiting funding.  One section is a topic on climate monitoring on sensitive areas heading by Jenny Adkins.  The water survey is partnering with the Department of Climate, Meteorology, and Atmospheric Science at the U of I. in developing a model and discussing data needs.  A pilot project is coming and is awaiting funding.  Other issues include the tool kits and building a section for the IWIC.  Glenn Heisted says they are still working on trying to get some funding and traction on getting that location built.  David Kristovich says a proposal was submitted to look at current winter hazards, but that proposal was turned down.  They are working on research and online tools including how they affect crops and budget.  A proposal for tool development has been sent.  They want to limit dicampa spray.  Trent Ford says updating the rainfall data is written and published.  For flash drought work, there has been some flash droughts studied within the Midwest.  The potential expansion of the Illinois Mesonet is the best opportunity to expand past the 20 stations they do have.  There is an online data portal that is acting as a portal for input.  Terra McParland asked about a Discovery Partners Institute presentation that she recently sat in on and is that is separate from U of I?  Trent Ford says they work with them some, but this Hub that was presented on is more of an experimental forecasting.  There are a lot of initiatives, but this is not directly related to U of I or IWIC. 

3.  Integrated Water Management- Wes Cattoor says there is a kickoff meeting for the IWIC team coming next week.  There was the development of priority of underserved communities.  That was completed previously.  Terra McParland says that it did get thru Congress but a lot require funding and so we pulled back the mandate that funding be required for this.  Does funding come from this for all 144 recommendations, or should each seek their own funding?  If there is a recommendation for funding, it is not up to the topic lead to find the funding for these.  We are here to garner support for initiatives but not necessarily have the task force to ask for money themselves.

4. Long-Term Funding- Jeff Edstrom has the update for this section.  Their Agency is seeking to replace paper for a more electronic method and improving data quality.  This will help with permitting, enforcement, and fines. 

5.  Water Sustainability- Wei Han says there are 5 committees doing planning work and they are working on reviewing climate change in the northwest region.  All the regions are covered and also starting this week, they are beginning bathymetry surveys of the city of Vandalia.  They created the drought subtask force from last meeting, and they plan to have a kickoff meeting in the next few months.   Wes Cattoor brought up the surveying capabilities of the Trio of OWR and if other agencies or groups are interested in that service and need some surveying done, they are encouraged to reach out to Wes Cattoor about the availability of the group.

6.  Lake Michigan-   Meg Kelly is here and she says they are continuing to represent Illinois with the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency study and coordinating with the Great Lakes Governors’ and Premieres’ and working on getting fact sheets together.  There is also a website that shows the Corps status and Meg Kelly will share that with Wes Cattoor.  There will be coordination with the Corps and Great Lakes Governors’ and Premier’s and the Coastal Management staff just finished a resource guide on coastal planning calling ISHORE and it will be disseminated by the end of the month.  It also has mapping and interactive stuff.  Starting talks with NW Chicago about engineering design on access of IL Beach and handicapped accessibility for the beaches. She says they also have previously applied for some grants, ad they did receive 2 grants for $6 million dollar for ravine and habitat restoration and stream stabilization in Lake Forest. They continue their outreach on Illinois Beach State Park and had a lot of people attend.  They had to pause on scoring proposals for their coastal grant opportunities due to the uncertainty on the federal funding.  The proposals can now be resumed and awarded.  The federal award was given. 

7.  Flood Damage Mitigation- Terra McParland says that Bulletin 76 is out there for climate projections and yearly rainfall.  The hydrologic model database is about a quarter of the way done and inputting meta data and all the data that has been put in.  Its going to be GIS based and see what models were done where and when and who to contact with areas or questions.  ISWS will add first, OWR second.  The inundation mapping is continuing and seeing which sections of the state have more damage than others and where funding should be initiated.  How do we serve underserved communities?  She also asked for clarification about the flooding subcommittee as OWR has something like that already.  Wes Cattoor says if there is interest in a task, is a subcommittee necessary to form to address it?  He doesn’t believe always.  It depends on the initiative. The purpose should be defined.  Terra McParland says she will look back and see what the goal of that flooding group subcommittee was and see if she can set that up or follow up.

8.  Aquatic and Riparian Habitat- Brian Metzke says he has no updates at this time.  Wes Cattoor asked about wetland legislation.  Brian Metzke says that there are some discussions happening but some of the details are still being worked out and his agency is working on the foundation for what regulation looks like based on the new act.

9.  Water Use Laws and Regulations- Steve Altman says they are looking at applicability of using allocated water for cooling for data centers.  Wei Han says they will talk about it.  Brian Rennecker said that there is a data center being proposed for the south side of IL by Black Diamond Solar Facility.  This will affect Lake Springfield watershed, which is a single point source.  That project is estimated at $6 hundred million dollars.  It will be close to Thayer.  There was a request for a special use zone permit change.  Yu-Feng Forrest Lin asked about the previous discussion and asked what county that was in? Steve Altman says Sangamon County.  Yu-Feng Forrest Lin says there is a new proposal that is going down in many places especially Logan County and they are going to use their solar electricity.    There is a gross competition with states such as Arizona, Virginia, Ohio as they have been facing significant growth.  

10.  Navigation-   Brian McCoy says he would like to highlight a couple updates with IDOT and creating a state funded program for local roads and that opened up a lot of language for projects.  It allowed some ports to apply for grants.  Received funding for $4.8 million dollars including some for ferry boats. They are trying to get more marine transportation projects and there are still efforts for funneling more state funds such as a few projects that are needs based. Especially economic needs. They’ve seen some federal funding trends.  Brian McCoy says they are looking at all the elements of navigation including updating the marine infrastructure.  He will clarify some of the language on the task itself as some of it isn’t clear. 

11.  Erosion and Sedimentation- Brian Rennecker says there are serval updates, there is a federal allowance for dicampa.  It exceeds what the federal guidelines are.  They are also working on a new nutrient loss dashboard.  They are about 75% complete. STAR is Saving Tomorrows Agriculture Resources and helping farmers determine where they are on sediment and erosion.  They partnered with NRCS planning for conservation for about $12 million dollars.  It will help build an employee pipeline to develop this initiative.  The last 4 years there was a lot of money sent in and there was no employees to help with it. They’re putting thru some employees.  They are switching to satellite survey.  In March, they will do a test day.  They have done a batch and build for a field and Iowa had a successful build.  The next 5 years the Dept of Ag is going to move $100 million dollars through conservation.  Mostly thru greenhouse gas dollars.  They are currently holding a strip till, no till signup.  Strip till, no till, you have to enroll your fields for 3 years.  New technology requires drone or robotics.  $10 million to corn growers.  They are 90% filled on HR staff with AG.  Rick Pohlman asked about some examples of robotic seeding. 

12.   Data Management-   Jason Zhang says they have submitted a scope of work for stream gaging and Jenna Shelton has agreed to a partial funding and for full scale analysis, they want OWR to fund it, but ISWS will fund the initial scope.  This scope of work has not been completed in several years.

13.   Recreation- Michael McClelland is here.  He reports that in 2024 there were 24 cooperative fisheries management agreement.  They are normally with a county or municipality.  They provide the fishery population with monitoring and site-specific rules for and they also provide the stocking.  They did not enter into any new agreements for 2025 as it takes up staff time to monitor the fish and they are currently understaffed. Perhaps in FY27.  They are working on the mobile app for the fisheries website and then setting up a database for the fisheries info.  They were slated to go live in May, then October and now November 1.  The database is instrumental in developing outreach for waterway access and public access.   Especially for foot anglers.

New Business & Public Comments

Brian McCoy asked about the federal shut down and are there any significant delays in regard to the Brandon Road project?  Rick Pohlman says there are several here who participate in these daily meetings of Brandon Road and the $11 billion dollars being withheld. Rick Pohlman has not heard Brandon Road mentioned specifically being withheld.  That may be circulating and there has not been any mention as of the date of this meeting. Rick Pohlman says the next big step was the right descending bank property and that has been achieved, and construction is continuing. 

Devin McCallister with the Surefire Foundation is a nonprofit which is determined for protecting the beaches and waterways.  Surefire has been involved in beach access in all the coasts and making sure that coastlines allows all people the ability to access and enjoy the beach.  He would like nonprofits to be included in the subcommittees. 

The meeting dates for 2026 were shared.  No concerns were expressed with the membership.  Therefore, the future meetings will be set as follows:

                                    January 12, 2026- 1:30 pm- virtual

April 13^th, 2026- 1:30 pm- virtual

July 20^th, 2026- 1:30 pm- virtual

October 19^th, 2026- hybrid in person/virtual

Closing: Wes Cattoor will be meeting with Senator Elmin and some climate people about the SWP on November 5.  Any new agenda topics for next time?  Rick Pohlman says that the opportunity with Senator Elmin is a specific opportunity for asking her to champion for funding.  Terra McParland says she could see a slideshow to show her, that for instance, 70% of these items can’t move without funding.  Brian Rennecker says a lot of his are subject to appropriation, we can point that out to her that several are pending due to appropriations that we don’t have.  Rick Pohlman says he will motion to adjourn, Trent Ford motions, Brian McCoy seconds.  Meeting closed at 3:29 pm.

Previous meeting minutes and documents can be requested via email to wes.cattoor@illinois.gov