Photo by Jeff Chemelewski
Our Mission
Our Mission is to educate citizens while building partnerships for projects to improve water quality, maintain water supply, preserve ecosystems, and restore wetlands, prairies, and other natural features for current and future generations.
Our History
The Flint Creek Watershed Partnership was founded in March 2005 to preserve, protect, and enhance the Flint Creek Watershed. The initiative was started by the Village of Barrington, Barrington Area Council of Governments, Citizens for Conservation, and the Barrington Area Development Council. Since that time, other townships, communities, and organizations
have joined (see Members and Partners below).
The partnership expanded in 2011 when it received a grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to develop a plan for the Spring Creek Watershed. The name of the partnership was then updated to the Flint Creek/Spring Creek Watersheds Partnership (FCSCWP).
Since then, FCSCWP has created and implemented watershed plans in compliance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's watershed planning requirements. The main objective of the plans is to increase awareness while fostering partnerships that help enhance water quality, reduce flooding, and preserve and restore natural habitats such as wetlands, prairies, and other natural features for future generations.
What We Do
The Flint Creek/Spring Creek Watersheds Partnership monitors water quality and stream life. Our network of streamgages continually logs data. They track stream behavior as water levels rise and fall. They also record water temperature, salinity, dissolved solids, and electrical conductivity. Accurate and detailed pollution and stream flow data enable us to assess critical issues and recommend corrective actions documented in watershed plans.
We currently monitor the following:
Pollution - including chloride, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), fecal coliform bacteria, suspended and dissolved solids, and biological oxygen demand. Our data can assist in identifying pollution “hotspots” and water quality trends.
Groundwater recharge. We collaborate with the Barrington Area Council of Governments groundwater program to determine the quantity, quality, vulnerability, and sustainability of our area's water supply.
Flooding and erosion. Tracking these becomes more critical as storms intensify as a result
of climate change.
Degradation of stream, lake, wetland, and upland habitats. Healthy ecosystems improve water quality, provide recreation, and improve property values.
Our Leadership
Management Committee
Karen Daulton Lange
Coordinator, Flint Creek/Spring Creek
Watersheds Partnership
Karen Daulton Lange recently retired as the Village Administrator for the Village of Lake Barrington. Prior to being named Village Administrator, Karen served on the Village’s Board of Trustees and as Chair of the Plan Commission. In total, she served the Village for 28 years. In November 2023, she was selected as the Flint Creek/ Spring Creek Watersheds Partnership Coordinator.
Her professional background includes extensive experience in civil engineering and public works. She has held engineering leadership roles in the Villages of Arlington Heights, Downers Grove, and Hanover Park, where she served as the Village Engineer and Assistant Director of Public Works. Her private sector experience includes work for various municipal engineering firms and for Kennedy Land Development. Karen has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and a Master of Science in Information Systems from Roosevelt University.
Members and Partners
The support of our members and partners allows us to continue our work to protect and restore the Flint Creek and Spring Creek watersheds. Partnership membership includes Agency, Associate, and Individual Members. Agency Members pay $1,500 annual dues, Associate Members pay $750, and Individual Members are free. Partners
are groups or companies that provide in-kind contributions. For more information about membership
categories, please see our by-laws.
Members
Associate Members
