Agencies
Services
STATE WATER PLAN TASK FORCE
January 12, 2026
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
IDNR – ORC: Brian Metzke
ISWS: Jason Zhang, Jenna Shelton, David Kristovich
IEPA: Jeff Edstrom,
IDOT: Brian McCoy
IWRC: Yu-Feng Forrest Lin
IEMA: Zack Krug
IDOA: Brian Rennecker
IDPH: Brian Cox, Gerrin Cheek
PCB: Essence Brown
Agencies not in attendance:
IDOA
DCEO
Non-Members Present:
Pete Mulvaney
Welcome
Rick opened the meeting at 1:33 pm. Wes began the meeting with a roll call to establish a quorum. He drew everyone’s attention to the agenda that was currently on the screen.
IDNR-OWR- Rick Pohlman is present
IDNR-ORC- Brian Metke present
IDPH-Brian Cox present
IEPA- Jeff Edstrom present
IDOT-Brian McCoy absent (he did join later)
IDOA-Brian Rennecker-absent
IEMA- Zach Krug present
PCB- Essence Brown is present
DCEO- none
ISWS- Jenna Shelton present
IWRC- Yu Feng Forrest Lin is present
Wes Cattoor asked for any other changes to the minutes, Wes asked for a motion to approve the minutes. Jeff Edstrom motioned; David Kristovich seconded. All approved, none opposed.
Legislative updates: The group is preparing for emerging legislative activity on microplastics, reflecting growing regional and federal attention. Senator Simmons office has expressed interest in advancing proactive strategies addressing microplastics in Lake Michigan, potentially forming a subcommittee within the State Water Plan Task Force to explore this further. This also reflects increasing concern with major polluters and aligns with efforts by the Great Lakes Commission and EPA. Rick Pohlman highlighted microplastics as an emerging priority identified in Chapter Five of the State Water Plan on water quality. Agencies are encouraged to monitor and report any related legislation or interest from their sections in preparation for a coordinated response. The absence of a bill number shows this is still in early discussion stages.
The annual State Water Plan update draft shows steady progress with 11 recommendations completed and 85 started out of 146 total. The update includes progress highlights such as the creation and passing of bylaws and new subcommittees for Lake Michigan Beach Access and Drought Response. The draft is aiming for official approval in April 2026.
Peter Mulvaney suggested adding a metric to capture interagency collaboration intensity, which Wes Cattoor was open to exploring if practical methods are proposed. David Kristovich recommended including progress on the State Climate Web Mesonet 3D which is underway with new staff and partnerships.
SWP Recommendations Status:
1. Water Quality- Jeff Edstrom is online. He reported that EPA had its final year of the $1 million per year grant infrastructure grant program, with proposals received in November and projects expected to span 2 years. The Section 319 program approved 10 success stories showing measurable water quality improvements, with plans to expand storytelling to other programs. EPA is also analyzing recent water quality data for an upcoming integrated report within months. No confirmed future funding rounds for green infrastructure grants were noted, signaling uncertainty ahead. The State Revolving Loan Fund issued over $1 billion in low interest loans for water infrastructure projects for the first time, highlighting a major funding milestone.
2. Climate Change- David Kristovich is online. He has two updates. He outlined progress on expanding the state climate monitoring network, including hiring a Mesonet executive director and operations director and forming an advisory committee with partners. A state climate dashboard funded by NOAA is expected online in the spring of 2026.
3. Integrated Water Management- Wes Cattoor is online. They are currently working on advancing the creation of the Integrated Water Information Center (IWIC), with collaboration between Prairie Research Institute and Internet of Water to shape infrastructure and data sharing.
4. Long Term Funding- Nidhan Singh- Nidhan is not online.
5. Water Sustainability- Wei Han is online. Part of this work was done by State Water Survey, so Wei yielded to Jason Zhang with ISWS. Jason says the project is moving smoothly and they are calculating the baseline of operations. It should be completed by Summer 2027. Wei says they are working on improving water use report thru outreach and metering. At IDNR, they continue to work with stakeholders and contractors to support this program. OWR has completed the bathymetry survey at Vandalia Lake. A drought water committee was developed last summer and the first meeting was last month. They believe they could update the drought response plan and a final determination has not been reached yet. Jason Zhang said the community of Sullivan is still having groundwater issues and the Kaskaskia River is widening.
6. Lake Michigan- Meg Kelly is on. They recently issued a guidebook of coastal resiliency. They are also participating in the great lakes’ coastal resiliency study. Meg added that a bi state community of practice for coastal resiliency with Indiana, which is modeled after Wisconsin and Michigan’s program, should help target local peer learning and support. This initiative will start in the first quarter of 2026. The Lake Forest open lands received almost $6 million dollars for a restoration project. Proposals have been submitted to USEPA about endangered species and coastal resiliency studies. Their funding is secure, they just don’t know when it’s coming.
7. Flood Damage Mitigation- Terra McParland is online. Terra says flood damage mitigation is moving forward just slowly. Her contact at IEPA retired and she just needs a new name to contact.
8. Aquatic and Riparian habitat- Brian Metzke is online. They did get an update on the wetlands remapping project and it is being performed by PRI. One of the goals is to update the current understanding of wetlands. He hopes to have a bigger update in the summer.
9. Water Use Laws and Regulation- Steve Altman is online. Emerging challenges around water use, especially related to new industries, are being closely monitored and may influence future regulation. The Water Reuse Association is developing a roadmap for rulemaking which could impact the Lake Michigan water diversion policies by enabling reuse without counting again the allocation limits. Discussion highlighted concerns over data centers’ water use, particularly cooling needs, which are under scrutiny due to high water demand and sustainability concerns. Steve Altman noted that current infrastructure and Chicago waterways limit Lake Michigan water use for those facilities, with some information discouragement but no formal prohibition yet. Closed loop cooling systems are becoming more common, reducing water footprint, but power generation water use remains a concern nationally and locally.
10. Navigation- Brian McCoy is online. Navigation projects continue with local road grants supporting infrastructure, though federal grant announcements face delays due to the federal shutdown. IDOT is working with the Corps to update public information about beneficial use sites for dredged material, targeting public release in 2026.
11. Erosion and Sedimentation- Brian Rennecker is not online.
12. Data Management- Jason Zhang is online. Jason says that the stream gauge network assessment is ongoing, with an internal review aiming to deliver a decision framework by early spring 2026. Discussions are underway to explore data sharing partnership with USGS to support network sustainability.
13. Recreation- Mike McClelland is not online. Brian Metzke says he has no updates.
New business: Jenna Shelton said there is a PFAS workshop hosted by the Illinois State Water Survey and NGREC and is scheduled for 2/11/26, aiming to produce a state report similar to Indiana. IEPA will send approximately 15 participants, and agencies are encouraged to nominate interested staff. It will be held at IMBREC on Feb 11 in Alton.
The next SWPTF meetings are as follows:
April 13th at 1:30- virtual
July 20th at 1:30- virtual
Oct 19th at 1:30- hybrid, virtual and in person.
Closing:
Wes Cattoor reminded participants that the Open Meetings Act does require training for the official members. It has to be taken once. He has the link again if anyone has misplaced it.
The meeting ended at 2:35 pm.
Previous meeting minutes and documents can be requested via email to wes.cattoor@illinois.gov
