Water Supply Planning
Why plan for water supply?
Water flows in the region in ways that we often do not see every day, though it is crucial to our everyday lives. It affects residents, businesses, industries, navigation, aquatic ecosystems, and recreation. Tri-County manages the Middle Illinois Basin Committee (MIBC) water supply planning initiative. The MIBC includes members from seven counties: Peoria, Woodford, Livingston, LaSalle, Putnam, Marshall, and Stark.
Middle Illinois Recommendations Report available now
We conducted a series of stakeholder interviews in early 2021, coupled with 2019-2020 in-person meetings, to create a list of recommendations to sustain the region’s water supply. Read through the final draft document here!
Who is involved?
Working alongside state agencies including the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS), Tri-County has completed the first two phases of a three-pronged planning process. Beginning in 2025, Tri-County began Phase III Implementation, which will advance the strategies identified in the MIWSPR Phase II Recommendations report. This plan aims to improve water management practices and planning for people, industry, and the environment.
Need More Information?
Staff Contact
Debbi La Rue, AICP
dlarue@tricountyrpc.org
Else Hayes
ehayes@tricountyrpc.org
The ISWS developed two reports regarding the Middle Illinois Basin: one focusing on water supply and the other on water demand. You can access the final versions here:
(1993) Peoria-Pekin Regional Groundwater Quality Assessment. Illinois State Water Survey.
(2006) The Water Cycle and Water Budgets in Illinois: A Framework for Drought and Water-Supply Planning. Illinois State Water Survey.
(2013) The Drought of 2012: A Report of the Governor’s Drought Response Task Force. Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
(2018) Middle Illinois Basin Water Supply Planning: Public Outreach and Collaboration Report. Tri-County Regional Planning Commission.
(2018) Water Supply Planning: Middle Illinois Assessment of Water Resources for Water Supply. Illinois State Water Survey.
(2018) Water Demand in the Middle Illinois Water Supply Planning Region, 2010-2060. Illinois State Water Survey.
(2021) Middle Illinois Water Supply Planning: Phase II Recommendations for a Sustainable Water Future. Tri-County Regional Planning Commission.
