A PROJECT OF THE CRITICAL TRENDS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ULUNGIS STATE WATER SURVEY LIBRARY COPY ROCK RIVER AREA ASSESSMENT VOLUME 2 PARTI: SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE PART II: EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE ECOLOGY OF THE ROCK RIVER HILL COUNTRY STEPHENSON Jim Edgar, Govemor Brent Manning, Director — November 1996 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IDNR ROCK RIVER AREA CTAP ASSESSMENT. v.2,c.2 00010622 ILLNGIS STATE WATER SURVEY LIBRARY COPY DEMCO ROCK RIVER AREA ASSESSMENT VOLUME 2 PART I: SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Realty and Environmental Planning Division of Energy and Environmental Assessment 524 South Second Springfield, Illinois 62701 PART II: EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE ECOLOGY OF THE ROCK RIVER HILL COUNTRY John White Ecological Services 904 South Anderson Urbana, Illinois 61801 November 1996 Jim Edgar, Governor State of Illinois Brent Manning, Director Illinois Department of Natural Resources 524 South Second Springfield, Illinois 62701 IDNR/EEA-96/10(2) 200/1996 Printed by the authority of the State of Illinois Other CTAP Publications The Changing Illinois Environment: Critical Trends Summary Report Volume 1: Air Resources Volume 2: Water Resources Volume 3: Ecological Resources Volume 4: Earth Resources Volume 5: Waste Generation and Management Volume 6: Sources of Environmental Stress Volume 7: Bibliography Annual Report 1995, Illinois RiverWatch Network Stream Monitoring Manual, Illinois RiverWatch Network PLAN-IT EARTH, Flowing Waters Module PLAN-IT EARTH, Forest Module Forest Monitoring Manual, Illinois ForestWatch Illinois Land Cover, An Atlas, plus CD-ROM Inventory of Ecologically Resource-Rich Areas in Illinois Illinois Geographic Information System, CD-ROM of digital geospatial data All CTAP and Ecosystems Program documents are available from the DNR Clearinghouse at (217) 782-7498 or TDD (217) 782-9175. They are also available on the World Wide Web at http://dnr.state.il.us/ctap/ctaphome.htm, or http://dnr.state.il.us/c2000/manage/partner.htm, as well as on the EcoForum Bulletin Board at 1 (800) 528-5486 or (217) 782-8447. For more information about CTAP, call (217) 524-0500 or e-mail at ctap2@dnrmail.state.il.us; for information on the Ecosystems Program call (217) 782-7940 or e-mail at ecoprog@dnrmail.state.il.us. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources receives federal financial assistance and therefore must comply with federal anti- discrimination laws. In compliance with the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Illinois Constitution, Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, and the U.S. Constitution, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age or disability. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility please contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Department of Natural Resources, 524 S. Second St, Springfield, IL 62701-1787, (217) 782-7616, or the Office of Human Rights, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. 20240. All public meetings conducted by the Department of Natural Resources will be accessible to handicapped individuals in compliance with Executive Order No. 5 and pertinent state and federal laws, upon notification of the anticipated attendance. Handicapped persons planning to attend and needing special accommodations should inform the Department of Natural Resources at least five days prior to the meeting by telephoning or writing the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Department of Natural Resources, 524 S. Second St, Springfield, IL 62701-1787, phone (217) 782-7616. Department of Natural Resources information is available to the hearing impaired by calling DNR’s Telecommunications Device for the Deaf: (217) 782-9175. The Ameritech Relay Number is (800) 526-0844. About This Report The Rock River Area Assessment examines an area situated along the Rock River in the northern part of Illinois. Because significant natural community and species diversity is found in the area, it has been designated a state Resource Rich Area. This is the first in a series of reports on Illinois Resource Rich Areas in which a public-private partnership has been formed. The Rock River and subsequent assessments will provide information on the natural and human resources of the areas as a basis for managing and improving their ecosystems. The determination of resource rich areas and development of ecosystem-based information and management programs in Illinois are the result of three processes -- the Critical Trends Assessment Program, the Conservation Congress, and the Water Resources and Land Use Priorities Task Force. Background The Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP) documents changes in ecological conditions. In 1994, using existing information, the program provided a baseline of ecological conditions.’ Three conclusions were drawn from the baseline investigation: 1. the emission and discharge of regulated pollutants over the past 20 years has declined, in some cases dramatically, 2. existing data suggest that the condition of natural ecosystems in Illinois is rapidly declining as a result of fragmentation and continued stress, and 3. data designed to monitor compliance with environmental regulations or the status of individual species are not sufficient to assess ecosystem health statewide. Based on these findings, CTAP has begun to develop methods to systematically monitor ecological conditions and provide information for ecosystem-based management. Five components make up this effort: 1. identify resource rich areas, 2. conduct regional assessments, 3. publish an atlas and inventory of Illinois landcover, 4. train volunteers to collect ecological indicator data, and 5. develop an educational science curriculum which incorporates data collection ' See The Changing Illinois Environment: Critical Trends, summary report and volumes 1-7. iii At the same time that CTAP was publishing its baseline findings, the Illinois Conservation Congress and the Water Resources and Land Use Priorities Task Force were presenting their respective findings. These groups agreed with the CTAP conclusion that the state's ecosystems were declining. Better stewardship was needed, and they determined that a voluntary, incentive-based, grassroots approach would be the most appropriate, one that recognized the inter-relatedness of economic development and natural resource protection and enhancement. From the three initiatives was born Conservation 2000, a six-year program to begin reversing ecosystem degradation, primarily through the Ecosystems Program, a cooperative process of public-private partnerships that are intended to merge natural resource stewardship with economic and recreational development. To achieve this goal, the program will provide financial incentives and technical assistance to private landowners. The Rock River and Cache River were designated as the first Ecosystem Partnership areas. At the same time, CTAP identified 30 resource rich areas (including the Rock and Cache River areas) throughout the state. The Rock River Area Assessment draws, as will subsequent area assessments, from ecological and socio-economic databases, providing an overview of the region's resources -- geologic, edaphic, hydrologic, biotic, and socio- economic. Although several of the analyses are somewhat restricted by spatial and/or temporal limitations of the data, they help to identify information gaps and additional opportunities and constraints to establishing long-term monitoring programs in the partnership areas. The Rock River Assessment The Rock River enters Illinois at Beloit, Wisconsin and South Beloit, Illinois, and runs southwest to meet the Mississippi River at Rock Island, Illinois. The assessment area is situated within the Illinois portion of the Rock River Basin along a roughly 70-mile section of the river (Figure 1) south of Rockford. It encompasses 18 of the 89 watersheds that IEPA has identified in the basin (Figure 2). The Rock River area was designated a Resource Rich Area because it contains significant natural community and species diversity. The region contains a core of high-quality natural resources as well as nearby ecologically tied natural and human resources. The 18 watersheds cover approximately 999 mi’ (639,479 acres). There are several hundred landowners within the area, with the majority of land (over 98%) being held in private ownership. Public land in the area totals 9,162 acres. The assessment is comprised of four major parts in two volumes. Volume | contains Earth Resources, which summarizes the physical setting of the area including its geology, soils, minerals, and surface and ground water, and Living Resources, which describes the terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna of the area. UPPER ILLINOIS . 8IG MUDDY QS SOUTH Figure 1. Location of the Rock River Assessment Watersheds he lB Figure 2. Rock River Basin and Assessment Watersheds A 1. Rock River North 10. Black Walnut Creek N 2. Middle Creek 11. Coon Creek 3. Mill Creek 12. Pine Creek 4. Mud Creek 13. Kyte River 5. Kishwaukee River South 14. Rock River South 6. Leaf River 15. Prairie Creek 7. Kilbuck Creek 16. Franklin Creek 8. Stillman Creek 17. Beach Creek 9. Rock River Middle 18. Three Mile Creek In Volume 2, the Socio-Economic Profile discusses the demographics, infrastructure, and economy of the area, focusing on the three counties with the greatest amount of land in the watershed area -- Lee, Ogle, and Winnebago counties. Also in this volume, Early Accounts of the Ecology of the Rock River Hill Country describes the ecology of the area as recorded by historical writings of explorers, pioneers, early visitors and early historians. veut : ¢ am BMNng, oy wel a Pe iy rad Ss a ee ig tee * . ie - « . Ai a. Figam, 2, Meck River Basin and Assesamem Watersheds t. Rack Giver North 10. Black Walnut Créek © 2 MidfieCrek -- HH, Coon Oreek-*) « 3. MAI Grew 32. Pine Creek 4. Mud “reek $3. Kyte River... ". Kactnwaukee River South. 14. Rock River South & iat River 15. Proirie Creek Tek Crek 16, Frankdis Cree. #. Stitlinan Creek 17. Beach Creek a" my ee . 9 Beck River Middl- 18. Shree Mile Cipake <=, | Af ra di th | Table of Contents Part I: Socio-Economic Profile CN INNINEN crs ocet Se aR pac Ure a ite ee AA eee Sh sc rh mth asia va vinnidudtin Stns ocndam A eenaOD 1-1 IPI META TAIT EN cee gsr wahoo ain oh icn a osea'va'souh saa wav ddavongeatenaaalienmeee 1-3 PE BS TE ieas ee e i y e the Dg ty SSeS yele «Ry ae i ea Reo: Rr mers 20k 1-17 ELE Sy 0 AUS a i aR oe oP a a Oe 7 1-29 CS ESE SG SON RSS ES Spee eee ky SNe ar nee Pa Nee Smear Oe 1-43 BE 02 RE NE, bale nn RP 1-51 PA PRISTON TRAM) COREA ae vag eu css ER eas generic tanning se ence stv wohe 1-61 Etec iay FRCMSOS See Fe... 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Lo YQOLGDS art! to etnuesdA YAS , ; } ‘ wile : ‘ A ) Jy u , , at F ng DG iatiiocine. apstevaivect EDS ote deed'n nan 4 1eMeathbASAKs 9 b-0bngth ce ecaky a 6erdeeh etedisadeiseébanaas vubbeanebebacin b v P fn f Lies), ay f 2 ay ~! ‘ i * > SS-350. - “a oom ; nois2 Pree ReGen ds PKU ed oN Git FeGh (ott tn ess pec ccgedéaysbodeye uN Absd ese gVeRhWh obedy sad sien ssenddbecerageese baseedonese 1s 7 . x . } ‘ 7 5 ‘ . ‘ ' F 1 | en De ae vscesah phd absoepGanhod rend culled uued bee cpcnk Ube bkdwabbe yes edeseseetosaccced betiD ~~ — ; . 4 sd . if i ’ i ; it a - i i i a 4 4 i 7 * \ : F ‘ 2 ar : ¥ i i "I * , fe y ‘s - PART I SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE ol Swe 4 er ' x 34 ee " ; 1 ’ a ; ' ly « “ue t 4 i , o } . * a jmt “antes SmMOv03-O1D0e. 7a [ae Contributors Uae T SINR NES NIRS ata laren ae cnet pod dsns emronicoirn vincee DtavingeegeD David Baker CLINGS GG cent me nena elon Ares ren eee, CMD Po og acs dc avenit David Baker, Karen Miller NNN she Ae ice Be ex 8s Sree RE ATT Bobi deweseksviniashienibe John Bishop, Will Hinsman Demographic Trends .......................:00++ de ks teen Nee Sel Rg mate beet: aed Anaad oe Shc! Karen Miller Teer IR IRE UR ook 2s dg assure ayia oy aboee duaabinddbigania tateocvuntegbed pais Wayne Hartel FI RRR a CRNA RR TINNY Sa cad fore avrg css one nme nn ten cedeemewanah apace cadexsnnraans Mark Bonardelli (TASS Te SERRE RO ESO BURT A sas ae a RO aE eed ou ee Mark Bonardelli RUST MRM aOR RIRLNNN 3 oo oni sess co stated OG oe ses dos siergandseaen tcvaet anees eseaain wanes John O’Conner TRAPS DG MSG H UNITE RITUGHINE ..5.2..2 2200.00 sedecerecen invent aereetm cies John O’Conner aia MARTEL TASRE Shot Ses 2 fs Secicans dsc asks tai ba otnas ato a A eNO Quasivi Sessi IAIN ANE 25 Ft aes CR Sai aria Se, al Ont ae Me ee aoe Wayne Hartel (Bs) itll 1015 ilo allied aac mn ei Anais YANO ein MERCER i SER Tom Heavisides 1-iii re i) ora i Peet T i 1 + ‘ i i i ‘ry ‘4 . a" iy ' ft : ; “ + . =F Le : wd om woisd asa errr a + \ ay nase WY edi at. * ees rag t neat ee onan ANG BOM rir si) ee ape ithaca “ i a) ae | i fi i beach seopbas hs sunytatr- ipsa ed ao Ah avail. sdacecdinrmtvaranitasonyraaciesaioods pve yh faye en We i < = rot ae yi’ Ps = ns : Blabraaodt ee ats mf feos Coheed: \6 veers edhe ieee Leet fat sige: i ‘ q af et 2 ‘ ieee ivieairt)............. snepehanee tvps tn Toyenecritafvs) unehanena pander catnedaeelins cSd¥s cumrquapesonsie , r i j . . 2 w enbaaes br OPE ORE DOr he bets Feb b ge Feb toy ORT Os ons Fe te dbe bh ews when ees Pa y Table of Contents SUIMTAIMIALY coxcndococnsencagenscnnssesseesnenenccnstnctscesccesesenteeneeseencceeeccecenerseeeraces cama: eetepanmmeeys 1-1 Demographic Trends ...........:-s::sscssscseersssssssssssssseencenecneceneenscnscessesscssennennannnannsennessessets 1-3 Poputlationy ............-cscescsecsecseccerscccecneeresssssecnerecenscescenccsssseescencensanadeenagtbenseupenaenaen esses 1-3 Population Characteristics ...........+.:ssscssessecsecsseseessessecenesssesscessesscencancanannncnnnnsg ste 1-8 Households and Housing ..............:::ccceccsceseseeeeersessesesseeesenecannerannersanerensasnanesnenannaes 1-14 ContchSiOM «.c.ccscenc.ovscstevctcesssececesccceccscecrsssncettecccbecesssrsesccsssseacensecsneequmenesecbacatgeabeess 1-16 Flealth Trends. ei hcceciesctliecnatececessenesessennetedanen ce des gepapnmaaanermenes 1-17 Mortality Rates.............--s:sccsssssssecsesseceesssssssssseneenecseenensasencessasenenseneanannanstapegsgness 1-17 Major Causes of Death ........::..sssssscessssseeeessssssssneeesseeeceonssnsnnnsseteeceannannessssscenensnenn 1-18 Infant Mortality and Premature Births. .............-..::c:cscsescesesesesrsrseesssenenensnenenneneness 1-22 Teenage and Single Mothers...............:-::s::ssessessesseeseeseeteesesssessensessessensennnansnnsansatss 1-24 Health Care ACCESS ...........0..:ccesccsccsscssesccsssssseesenesseceeeeascssesceneesssensencecsassrannensesscanes 1-25 Corel re, ea si ccscs tases cette etesastseasadeceeabaceceacasensaaaaaeee 1-27 The Regional Economy ............+s:sccsecsessssessessssseneensenenseneescessanencnncnecnennanseasensessesess2004 1-29 Employment Shifts .............:scccsessescssssesssessessneesessnsenseassssscssensansennantnnsensceesanesangzes 1-30 Bre aaa sc aah gs penne snub cnen een nceyan ened cada ovaren ec nearetenagnbecavdtemerntcnsseeneorentne 1-34 Opler Comune oan aceen acai ceva ssneenvnnesesnssneeenscbasssnesoneensnenegatrenberssenreess seat 1-37 Winnebago Coumtty.................csssccscsecessccsssesssscesnsenssnensnccncasessenesesenssaansensacescesesss ees 1-39 Comerica cieeew solve cede ioesscateewceeeeeteoscncccnscocsnstecconczesennensncncsenencccnseneensseneaass 1-40 PasaritenMOUT Foe cde eeeacgetnomgs osvastessssensennevnnvensnnennctennerosssdnecnasennenrnertovecrntncneetseesensy 1-43 Cush Receipts a. iio025ce ci lcscenccecsoclsciesneesoccoonsnnescnnesaueneeticstenensvcascnccsersenarentonseseasentes 1-44 RG Aaa an ae ean ITIL on csnannasor cane pdeannanarennemnrengeatnaessaareanleanees 1-46 ComchusiOn vccecesccccdacdccescsecessescoecsceccscreccotesssecsccecsccccscencnssencensenceacensansnsscessancnaaseess 1-49 Outdoor Peecremectbeerrect oi tasressycsairsre, SARK, CARRS) YG SHOOT ANGE tT OLS... Pe, 1-51 Illinois State Parks, Forests, and Natural Areas..................:::cseseeseseseeesseseeeeteeenens 1-51 Water Recreation: :::icc:ciiccccccsssdeeccenceeecesccocctsnsescsecceescsasnsnnecssseersneeunnsasensacsnasaneesass 1-55 Fishing and Hunting..............-::cscscsscsecssssssssseeseenensentenceseeseneencnnenesnennensnscessanensesgsss 1-55 Economic Impact of State Sites ..............::::csesecsesesseeeenereeseenenseneesenenenennnnnaneneasensesss 1-58 Conclinsions 00,0. 00.6 FL RS A tp ee cen eer en et 1-59 Transportation Infrastructure ............:s.ecseecsecssescseesnseseesnecencesseensnnncansnnnannasnnsenesst esse ee 1-61 Auto Traffic 22.000 0c LI cesses eageneececaneeneesenennnnnateannnagceneenesanerens 1-61 Air "Fraley 8.248% ERIS. LEELA LE ccssnsceneonennnnbbpemeetetennsenneastpeentonenegs 1-64 Water and Raill........:...-cc-s-c-0s.s-scscrocsnsecearocensscscsacenrsesnanensoanantpennende te snaoaanshaceacneanens 1-66 l-v Energy Facilities ........:... glans Mare Rite te aha esses cee ceca ecsm econ esol eaonaeces 1-67 PMS eta T ya sess ae peter Ra acess ch cubes depos because cares saea te ce ene Oe ee eee 1-67 MESS os ssnacste ica Sonia patente eects a op ee Dena see piel e Tce pe ae 1-71 Watunal' Gast sci210G. stern eu BON adn nls i oceah geen ene ne eee 1-73 CONCRIBION 35. .scsschestdeanocesenc ee eae a ae pee eee oh eee 1-73 Property Tastes :::2:::¢.2se020c22 caseet dacsecaziver deca nia ctaelateasvesaeitoceseenovedahetaviesnsdesdsvbe Oe 1-75 Tax Revertes s:s::ccs:csccsedtserrerctencceacassbedheccsssatenacesnanziecesseaceszcns BRO. AO 1-75 Property Tax Base s.ic):scsc:sccctiiwesdiestntsessctssecsssadacstasnedseasecaiestsvecadeey PO ose 1-78 Far Rates vsc2sesc.escdessecdaacsanentsseasscetacstaseitssasaateadeaderszaz Peet oe ee Det ae 1-80 Property Tax Distribution s::e::s.:cc:sscsczszeacetseetsastzzecsss: BO te es 1-81 Goooratc hansen sss e cs saiss ese sete te ease saranda cazaaenteeeeteastacasncescacsiaetectzsas MUU ewe 1-81 Environmental Quality .:.....:.s::cicc1ssieeeseeddiseanssnsitesizcarceeeatscteceedeenncizeee AO, DO 1-83 ar Quality: i -:csccxeszcsyesecve ce slesccaneacateg Sectarnccieacnectacteacreasteta cas seare ete a 1-83 Waste Generation and Disposal «.::::::::::::cs:cssces2:sse2:2s102: SOSA AR ed O... 1-86 Conchusteiin is vfcettesseh chess eee, ST DR, VIG Pc 1-92 References: iscc.cicccvsccesccscecianiest ssoatactesenaiis sa ssceeezecactte Sees a ONE OE oa 1-93 Figures Demographic Trends 1 Population Trends, Rock River Area........, .:..:-0:00++s:ses Estimated Mean Age by Census Tract........2........00ccles.-cascenopeuglenoaaeGe-phaatesene es 1-9 6 Education Trends, 1970-1990 |... <.5.0.cescsseacaiseseatdosccsasossssetsvareanegaadaea cea ceeeenee 1-10 7 1990 Educational Attainment by Census Tract ..................ccccesseeseneeeeseeenneeeeeees 1-11 8 1990 Per Capita Income by Census Tract ........<..0.0..00:3.:0-: nsdepomenees Bt sepcoeeecae 1-13 9 Trends in Per Capita Income ¢..... 4 -dooiccastet hesnin-ci gunna -apByron =-Mount Monis = Oregon Scale 1 : 480,000 oe ae SS 0 5 10 15 miles As of 1990, the Rock River area was home to approximately 3% of the state’s population (Table 1). The area is projected to grow slightly (less than one percent for each county) over the next 25 years: from 1992-2020, Winnebago County is projected to grow at an average annual rate of .40% for a population increase of 30,340; Lee County is projected to grow at an annual rate of .07%, for an additional 730 persons; and Ogle County growth is projected at .23% annually for a 3,120 person increase’. Table 1. Population 1990 % of State County % change, Population Population Rank 1970-1992 34,392 3% 41 Lee Ogle 45,957 4% 30 10.8% Winnebago 252,913 2.21% 7 5.2% Rock River Area 333,262 2.92% - 4.3% Statewide 11,430,602 100% - 4.5% Urban population In 1990, urban population (communities greater than 2,500 population) for the 3-county area was 76.3%, compared to 84.6% for the state. In Winnebago County, 87.4% of the population lives in urban areas, compared to 44% in Lee (down from 47.8% in 1970) and 39.4% in Ogle (down from 41.6% in 1970). Trends in population density are listed in Table 2. Overall, the population density of the Rock River area is 18% less than statewide. Table 2. Population density (persons per square mile) 1870 1910 Lee 37.46 38.25 50.25 47.41 Ogle 36.23 36.72 44.05 60.56 Winnebago 59.55 128.31 309.60 513.84 Rock River Area 42.48 60.09 112.45 168.61 Statewide 45.69 101.43 156.71 205.61 ? Projections were taken from the 1994 State Profile, Woods & Poole Economics, Inc. Other projections published in J/linois Population Trends 1980-2025 (Illinois Bureau of the Budget) show a declining population in the area. However, those projections were prepared before the release of the 1990 Census of Population. ' 1-5 Table 3. Incorporated Municipalities, Rock River Area City, town 1990 Population Lee County Amboy Cc 2517 Ashton V 1,042 Compton Vv 343 Dixon -- County Seat C 15,134 Franklin Grove Vv 968 Harmon Vv 186 Lee (also in DeKalb Co.) Vv 319 Nelson Vv 200 Paw Paw Vv 791 Steward Vv 282 Sublette Vv 394 West Brooklyn Vv 164 Ogle County Adeline Vv 141 Byron C 2,284 Creston Vv 535 Davis Junction Vv 246 Forreston Vv 1,361 Hillcrest Vv 828 Leaf River Vv 546 Mt. Morris V 2,919 Oregon -- County Seat C 3,891 Polo C 2,514 Rochelle C 8,769 Stillman Valley Vv 848 Winnebago County Cherry Valley Vv 1,615 Durand Vv 1,100 Loves Park C 15,457 Machesney Park Vv 19,033 New Millford Vv 463 Pecatonica V 1,760 Rockford -- County Seat Cc 140,003 Rockton Vv 2,928 Roscoe Vv 2,079 South Beloit C 4,072 Winnebago Vv 1,840 Source: Illinois Counties & Incorporated Municipalities, December 1, 1993, Illinois Secretary of State. . 1-6 Urban Land Use Although the majority of the population lives in urban areas, only a small percentage of land area is urban. Lee, Ogle and Winnebago counties have 35 incorporated municipalities which, according to satellite imagery’ taken between 1992 and 1994, cover 5.75% (74,049 acres) of the counties’ combined land area. By county their urban land use is: e Winnebago -- 17.4%, 57,813 acres (three cities and eight villages), e Lee -- 1.6%, 7,575 acres (two cities and 10 villages), and e Ogle -- 1.7%, 8,662 acres (four cities and eight villages) Recent trends in land use are available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service’s National Resources Inventory for 1982, 1987 and 1992 (Figure 3).* Between 1982 and 1992 urban land use grew 14.5% in the 3-county area (making the area 7.37% urban), compared to a 13.6% increase statewide (for a total 6.26% urban land use). Lee County had the largest increase at 38%, while Winnebago County urbanization grew at 12.5% and Ogle County at 8%. the gs Acres in Urban Land Rock River Area @ Lee Z Ogle O Winnebago 1982 1987 1992 Figure 3 > Landcover in Illinois Counties, IL Department of Natural Resources, draft report, January 1996. “ Because different methodologies are used and the data are collected from representative sample points in each state, the NRI data vary slightly from the satellite data. 1-7 Population Characteristics* Age From 1970 to 1990, the percentage of persons aged 0-17 dropped 26.6% in the three-county area, down from 36.5% of the population to 26.3%. The number of persons aged 65 and over, however, rose 46%, from 9% to 13% of the population. Projections to the year 2020 has the 65+ population at 21.6% in Ogle, 18.6% in Winnebago, and 20.8% in Lee County. 1990 Three-county Rock River area Age 0-17: 26.3% Age 65+: 13% Median Age: 33.6 Per Capita Income: $19,726 Persons in poverty (1989): 9. 5% ee ‘Minorities: 10% =. | ‘Pemales/males: 51%/49% -4 years high school or more: 76% 4 years college or more: 15% Projections for the younger population, aged 0-19 years, is 25.5% of the population in Ogle County, 25.8% in Winnebago County, and 24.2% in Lee County. (1994 State Profile) Age Distribution, Rock River Area 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 _ _ V 0 Za _ Age 18-64 Figure 4 Over the 20-year period, median age has risen in the three counties and statewide. Since 1970, the median age rose 5.3 years in Lee County, 5.7 years in Ogle County, and 6.7 years in Winnebago County. This compares to a statewide increase of 4.2 years (Table 4). > Data on population characteristics were taken from the 1987, 1990 and 1993 Illinois Statistical Abstract, and the 1970, 1980 and 1990 Census. Figure 5. Estimated Mean Age By Census Tract The data are generated from the 1990 US Census. Less Than 29 30 -33 34 -37 L iz Greater Than 38 Table 4. Median age Lee Ogle 28.3 30.5 34.0 Winnebago 26.7 29.6 33.4 Statewide 28.6 29.9 32.8 Race and Gender The area is 10% minority, with that portion of the population increasing 87% since 1970 (from 5.4%). This compares with a 21.7% minority population statewide. Lee and Ogle counties have small minority populations, 5.4% and 2.3% respectively, with Winnebago having the largest percentage, 12%. The greatest 20-year increase occurred in Ogle County, where the minority population grew from .3% (115 persons) to 2.3% (1,062) of the total population. The percentage of males to females averaged 49% to 51% for the area in 1970; in 1980 it shifted to 51% males and swung back to 51% female in 1990, similar to statewide trends. Education The 3-county population mirrors the statewide population in education trends, with the percentage of high school graduates growing from roughly 52% in 1970, to 68% in 1980, and 76% by 1990 (Figure 6). Education Trends, 1970-1990 High High College+ College+ School+ School+ Rock Statewide Rock Statewide River River Area Figure 6 ~ Figure 7. 1990 Educational Attainment By Census Tract: Percent High School Graduates or Higher Data are from the 1990 US Census and represents the percentage of persons age 25 and over. [+] 65-76.9% 77.0 -84.2% Greater than 84.3% eee ree The number of people age 25 and over with four or more years of college has continued to increase also, although the Rock River area has a smaller percentage of college graduates than the state as a whole. In 1990 about 15% were college graduates compared to a statewide percentage of 21%. Table 5. 1990 Educational Attainment (persons age 25 and over) Percent High School Percent with Four Years Graduates or Higher of College or Higher Lee 76% 12% Ogle 78% 12% Winnebago 76% 17% Rock River Area 77% 16% Statewide 76% 21% Per Capita Income Per capita income is somewhat lower in the Rock River area than it is statewide. The disparity has grown and then lessened again over the past few decades: in 1970 per capita income was 6% lower than statewide, in 1980 it was 20% lower, and in 1990, 13% lower. From 1970-1990, per capita income rose 72% in the three-county area, compared to an 85% increase statewide. By county it rose 99% in Lee, 70% in Ogle, and 69% in Winnebago County. In 1990, out of 102 counties, Winnebago County was ranked 12 in per capita income, Ogle County was ranked 34, and Lee County, 48. The number of persons living in poverty increased over the ten year period from 1979- 1989: e Lee County -- 7% to 8.8% © Ogle County -- 6.9% to 7.2% e Winnebago County -- 8.3% to 10.1% e Statewide -- 11% to 11.9% N GO Figure 8. é 1990 Per Capita Income By Census Tract For Winnebago, Ogle, and Lee Counties Data are from the 1990 US Census and are calculated for each census tract. pa Less than $10,361 $10,362 -12,638 $12,639 -15,182 Greater than $15,183 : ic srlee lrliete etl etees oe a see fel ete. _->—_2=> ——— Trends in Per Capita Income (1993 dollars) 1970 21980 01990 eS ie NN DRBFE?JKiK BRS \ Oe RE FSS) WOM $5,000 Yj L oo LZ Y, La l Lee Ogle Winnebago Rock River Statewide Area Figure 9 Households and Housing Households*® 1990 Three-county Rock River area Households: 126,334 Persons Per Household: 2.58 Median Household Income (1989): $36,069 From 1970 to 1990, the number of households in the three-county area increased 25% while the number of persons per household dropped from 3.16 persons to 2.58 persons. At the state level, the number of households increased 20% while the number of people living in them dropped from 3.09 to 2.65. Housing Units: 133;032 Vacancy Rate: 5% Median Value, Owner-occupied: $58,686 In Ogle and Winnebago counties, households grew 27% and 26% respectively during the twenty year period. The trend was slightly different in Lee County, where households grew 16% from 1970 to 1980, but dropped 1% from 1980 - 1990. © Data on households and housing were taken from the 1970, 1980 and 1990 Census, and the 1987 and 1993 Illinois Statistical Abstract. 1-14 Table 6. Number of Households 1970 1980 1990 Lee 10,949 12,649 12,475 Ogle 13,437 16,311 WA eye Winnebago 76,799 89,408 96,727 Rock River Area 101,185 118,368 126,334 Statewide 3,502,138 4,045,374 4,202,240 Unlike rising per capita income, household income is declining in the area (Table 7), down 5.2% compared to a statewide increase of 1.6%. Table 7. Median Household Income (in 1993 Dollars) 1979 1989 Percent change Lee County * $35,474 $32,943 -7.1% Ogle County $36,670 $36,057 -1.7% Winnebago County $38,665 $36,498 -5.6% Rock River Area $38,033 $36,069 -5.2% Statewide $36,962 $37,565 +1.6% Housing Housing units in the area increased 24.6% between 1970 to 1990, while vacancy rates increased 18%. Statewide, the number of units rose 21.7% and vacancies jumped 51.1%. Among the three counties, Ogle experienced the greatest increase in housing, up 16.6% and Lee County had the most change in vacancies, up 26.7%. The median value of owner-occupied housing units in the Rock River area increased 4% over the twenty-year period (Figure 10). During the first ten years of that period, Table 8. Housing Units 1970 1980 1990 Units Vacancy Units Vacancy Units Vacancy Lee 11,602 5.7% 13,358 5.3% 13,314 6.3% Ogle 14,254 5.6% 17,288 5.6% 18,052 5.1% Winnebago 80,931 5.2% 93,184 4.0% 101,666 4.9% Rock River Area 106,787 5.3% 123,830 4.4% 133,032 5.0% Statewide 3,703,367 5.4% 4,319,672 6.0% 4,506,275 6.7% Median Value of Owner-Occupled Housing (in 1993 dollars) @ 1970 21980 01990 XXX $20,000 YY $10,000 7 es LA Lee Ogle Winnebago Rock River Statewide Area Figure 10 however, values jumped 21% but then dropped 16% over the last ten years. Statewide, the median value rose 30% overall, with only a 2% drop between 1980 and 1990. Conclusion Over the past 100 years the counties in the Rock River Resource Rich Area have grown in population, urbanization, income, and education. Although more than 75% of the populace lives in urban areas, only about six percent of the land is urban. The remainder is primarily agricultural. As elsewhere in the state and the nation, the populace is aging, with the median age rising from the mid- to late-twenties to the early- to mid-thirties. It is also becoming more educated, with more than three of four persons having at least a high school diploma and close to one of six having a college degree or higher. Income in the area is slightly lower than the statewide per capita income, but it has risen almost three-fourths over twenty years. At the same time, the number of people living in poverty has also risen a least one percent, to about 10% of the population. Following state and national trends, the number of households have grown by one-fourth, while individual households have shrunk from 3.16 persons to 2.58 persons. The shrinking households accompany a smaller median household income, which was five percent less in 1989 than in 1979. Statewide, the median household income grew a little over one percent. 1-16 Health Trends The most commonly used measure of a population’s health is the mortality rate -- the number of deaths per 100,000 people. Mortality rates are provided for total deaths and by cause of death. Other measures of health are infant mortality rates and premature births, the number of teenage and single mothers, and access to health care, measured by the number of hospital beds and doctors per 100,000 people. Mortality Rates' The mortality rate in the 3-county Rock River area is 3% lower than the state average.” On a county basis, however, the rates vary considerably , ranging from 845 per 100,000 population in Winnebago County to 996 in Lee County. Winnebago County is well below the state average, while Lee County is considerably above it. Mortality in Ogle County is close to the state average. Although mortality in the area is lower than it is statewide, the rate of improvement has been greater at the state level, with the mortality rate 12.3 % lower in 1990 than in 1960. Total Mortality Rate in the Rock River Area and the State —e Lee -* Ogle -*— Winnebago —+ State deaths/100,000 people 1960-64 1965-69 1970-74 1975-79 1981-85 1986-90 Figure 11 ' Mortality rate data is from Illinois Department of Public Health: Division of Health Statistics, Vital Statistics Illinois, various years. 2 In the discussion of the mortality rates, references to a mortality rate for a particular year is actually a five year average rate. For example, when citing the 1960 mortality rate it is in fact the 1960-64 average mortality rate. Table 9. Mortality Rates (deaths per 100,000 people) 1960-64 1965-69 1970-74 1975-79 1981-85 1986-90 Lee 992.4 980.0 1046.3 1030.7 981.1 996.0 Ogle 977.5 994.6 9512 929.1 890.2 = 875.1 Winnebago 799.1 783.8 826.9 806.8 813.7 845.2 Region 849.0 834.7 868.6 847.6 842.4 865.1 State 1016.1 1019.9 982.6 915.0 882.2 891.6 Ogle County came close to the state rate -- mortality fell 11.5% since 1960. In Lee County, mortality rose in the 1970s and declined in the 1980s to just above the 1960 level. In Winnebago County the trend was opposite -- mortality increased 6% since 1960. The difference in mortality rates within the region and compared to the state reflects in part the demographic characteristics of the Rock River Area. For example, the age of the population is highly correlated to mortality rates. Winnebago County, with mortality rates below the state average, typically has had a lower median age and fewer elderly as a percentage of the population than has the state. At the other extreme, Lee County, with mortality rates much higher than the state average, has a higher median age and a higher percentage of elderly than the state. Major Causes of Death The three major causes of death, in descending order, are heart disease, cancer, and stroke. During the 1990 time period they accounted for approximately 65% of all deaths statewide and in the Rock River area. Deaths from both heart disease and stroke have declined in the state and in the Rock River area since 1960, while deaths from cancer have risen considerably. 1960-64 1986-90 Heart Disease 39% 23% Figure 12. The major causes of death in the Rock River area, 1960-64 and 1986-90 1-18 Heart Disease Mortality deaths/100,000 people 1960-64 1965-69 1970-74 1975-79 1981-85 1986-90 Figure 13 Heart Disease In 1980 the mortality rate from heart disease was 7.5% lower in the Rock River area than statewide, 304 per 100,000 compared to 328. Winnebago and Ogle counties have been below the state average for at least 30 years; in 1990 Winnebago was 11.5% lower and Ogle was 1% lower. Lee County, on the other hand, has been above the state average since 1970 (5.5% in 1990). Only Ogle County matches the state’s decline in heart disease mortality -- both down 26% since 1960. In Lee County, the rate increased in the late 1960s and in the 1970s, but has declined 32% since. The mortality rate in Winnebago County has remained steady over the last thirty years. Table 10. Heart Disease Mortality (deaths per 100,000 people) 1960-64 1965-69 1970-74 1975-79 1981-85 1986-90 Lee 415.5 359.9 424.1 458.7 376.0 346.6 Ogle 404.3 400.9 396.0 368.1 339.0 325.8 Winnebago 302.5 292.8 313.0 298.5 309.5 293.9 Region 3313 314.7 336.7 325.3 320.8 303.8 State 445.7 444.1 422.4 380.5 356.7 328.3 Cancer Mortality —e Lee -# Ogle -»— Winnebago —+ State deaths/100,000 people 1960-64 1965-69 1970-74 1975-79 1981-85 1986-90 Figure 14 Cancer The mortality rate from cancer has increased since 1960 -- in the Rock River area and statewide. However, the area has been below the state average during that time; in 1990 it was 199 per 100,000 population in the region compared to 205 statewide. Ogle and Winnebago counties have the lowest cancer rates; in 1990 Ogle County was 6.4% lower and Winnebago County was 5.1% lower. Lee County has been above the state average since the early 1980s (17% higher in 1990). Although the cancer mortality rate is lower in the Rock River Region than it is statewide, it is increasing there at a greater pace. Since 1960 cancer mortality has increased 51% in Lee County and 39% in Winnebago County, compared to 22% statewide. Ogle County more nearly matched the state rate at 19%. Table 11. Cancer Mortality (deaths per 100,000 people) 1960-64 1965-69 1970-74 1975-79 1981-85 1986-90 Lee 159.2 160.4 168.4 168.7 209.1 239.7 Ogle 161.6 150.8 163.7 179.8 175.6 191.7 Winnebago 136.9 134.7 152.7 167.7 186.1 194.3 Region 143.2 139.9 156.0 169.4 187.1 198.7 State 167.8 170.1 175.8 186.5 195.1 204.7 1-20 Stroke Mortality 100 +— i c 8 2 . 3 1960-64 1965-69 1970-74 1975-79 1981-85 1986-90 Figure 15 Stroke Stroke mortality has dropped dramatically in the Rock River area since 1960 -- 41% in Ogle County (despite a large increase in the mid- to late-1960’s), 30% in Winnebago County and 23% in Lee County. Statewide, mortality from stroke dropped 42% since 1960. In the 1960s and early 1970s, the rate of death from stroke was lower in the Rock River area than it was statewide. However, the state rate has been dropping at a faster pace and since the mid-1970s the area’s stroke mortality rate has been above the state average; in 1990, it was 10% higher. All three counties have stroke mortality above the state average -- the 1990 rate in Ogle and Winnebago counties was approximately 7.5% higher than the state average, and in Lee County it was 27.5% higher. Table 12. Stroke Mortality (deaths per 100,000 people) 1960-64 1965-69 1970-74 1975-79 1981-85 1986-90 Lee 99.6 103.4 105.9 91.1 85.7 76.4 Ogle 108.6 129.5 112.4 89.7 78.9 64.2 Winnebago 91.8 88.9 91.1 89.0 69.4 64.4 Region 95.1 95.8 95.6 89.3 72.5 65.6 State 103.0 103.1 98.4 83.1 65.8 59.9 1-21 Infant Mortality deaths/100,000 people 1960-64 1965-69 1970-74 | 1975-79 1981-85 1986-90 Figure 16 Infant Mortality and Premature Births® Another measure of community health is the infant mortality rate, which is lower in the Rock River area than statewide. In 1990, the Rock River area rate was 12% lower than the state rate, Lee County was 14% lower, Ogle was 38% lower and Winnebago County 8% lower. Infant mortality has been declining at a steady rate overall since 1960 (Figure 16). Statewide it is down 54% and in the Rock River area it is down 56% in Lee County, 66% in Ogle County, and 57% in Winnebago County. Table 13. Infant Mortality (deaths per 100,000 population) 1960-64 1965-69 1970-74 1975-79 1981-85 1986-90 Lee 22.1 18.2 18.9 16.1 9.8 9.8 Ogle 20.9 163 . 19.4 13.2 10.1 7A Winnebago 24.3 14.2 18.3 13.3 10.5 10.5 Region 23.5 14.9 18.5 13.6 10.4 10.0 State 24.8 17.4 20.5 16.3 12.7 11.4 ? This data is from Illinois Department of Public Health: Division of Health Statistics, Vital Statistics Illinois, various years. 1-22 Premature Births as a Percentage of Total Births -e Lee -*- Ogle -«- Winnebago -+- State 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 Figure 17 The Rock River area has also consistently had a lower percentage of premature births (Figure 17). In 1990, the area was 7% below the state average’, and in Lee, Ogle, and Winnebago Counties the rates were 33%, 5%, and 4% below the state average. Even though the Rock River area’s premature birth rate is lower than the statewide rate, it has increased while the state rate has remained fairly steady (Table 14). Since 1960, the percentage of premature births rose 20% in Ogle County (from 6 to 7.2% of births) and 14% in Winnebago County (from 6.4 to 7.3% of births). Over the same period, the rate declined 17% in the lesser populated Lee County. Table 14. Percentage of Premature Births 1960 1965 1970.._.1975 1980 1985 1990 LE 6.1 4.6 6.3 7.0 4.9 5.8 | OG 6.0 5.0 6.3 7.0 6.1 5.7 yrs wo 6.4 12 6.8 6.6 6.3 6.6 1s Region 6.3 6.6 6.7 6.7 6.1 6.4 A State 7.6 8.3 8.2 7.7 se 3 ie 7.6 , From 1960-1985, the Illinois Department of Public Health defined premature births (in the Vital Statistics of Illinois) as babies born at a weight less than 2501 grams. In 1990, the Vital Statistics Report included number of babies at less than 2599 grams. 1-23 Percentage of Births to Teenage Mothers —* Lee -*- Ogle -+— Winnebago —+ State Percentage 1975 1980 : 1985 1990 Figure 18 Teenage and Single Mothers” Infant mortality and premature births are influenced by the number of teenage and single mothers who often have low income and, therefore, less access to health care. Between 1975 and 1990 the teen birth rate declined both statewide and in the three counties -- about 28% in the state, and 28%, 40%, and 25% in Lee, Ogle, and Winnebago counties respectively. A slight increase occurred, however, during the five-years period of 1985 and 1990. Before the early 1980s, the regional teen birth rate was equal to or below the state average. Since then it has passed the state rate and is now 7% higher than statewide, primarily because of the high rate in Winnebago County (11% higher than the state’s). The teen birth rate in Lee and Ogle counties was 2% and 14% lower than statewide in 1990. Table 15. Percentage of Births to Teenage Mothers 1975 1980 1985 1990 Lee 17.8 14.7 10.6 12.9 Ogle 18.8 15.2 9.4 Lis Winnebago 19.4 15.3 13:3 14.6 Region 19.2 15.2 12.5 14.0 State 18.4 [5.7 12.5 I3:1 > This data is from Illinois Department of Public Health: Division of Health Statistics, Vital Statistics Illinois, various years. 1-24 Table 16. Percentage of Births to Single Mothers 1975 1980 1985 1990 Lee 8.0 11.4 137 23.4 Ogle ao 10.5 11.6 19.8 Winnebago 13.4 Be ia 23.4 31.4 Region 11.8 15.6 20.7 29.0 State 17.1 225 25.7 31.7 Though the percentage of births from teenage mothers has declined since 1975, the percentage of births from single mothers increased. It jumped 85% statewide, and more than doubled in Winnebago County, almost tripled in Lee County and more than tripled in Ogle County. Even so, the rate for the 3-county area remained below the state average during this 15-year period; in 1990 it was 9% lower. Leading the area in both teen and single mother birth rates is Winnebago County, where 14.6% of babies born in 1990 were born to teenagers and 31.4% to single mothers (Tables 15 and 16). Health Care Access A key aspect of health is the availability of health care providers and facilities, specifically the number of doctors and staffed hospital beds. All three counties in the Rock River area have fewer hospital beds and doctors per 100,000 people than the state average. In 1991, Percentage of Births to Single Mothers —* Lee -* Ogle -«- Winnebago -+ State Percentage 1975 1980 1985 1990 Figure 19 1-25 Staffed Hospital Beds (Per 100,000 People) 700 600 SS os eae a 500 400 300 200 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 Figure 20 the number of hospital beds and doctors were 23% and 22% lower in the Rock River area than statewide. Availability in Ogle County was particularly low. However, it is likely that many Ogle County residents use health care facilities and providers located in Lee, Winnebago, or other counties in the area. Table 17. Number of Staffed Hospital Beds° (per 100,000 population) 1975 - 1980 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 Lee 449 498 500... 516... 499. 525 352 350 Ogle 104 91 91 92 92 93 92 89 Winnebago 505 502. 494 518 516 505 490 461 Region 446 444 439 458 455 451 421 398 State 647 626 628 623 613 587 = 548 515 Table 18. Hospitals in the Rock River Region (1994) City Staffed Beds Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital Dixon 122 Rochelle Community Hospital Rochelle 42 H. Douglas Singer Mental Health Center Rockford 190 Rockford Memorial Hospital Rockford 451 Saint Anthony Medical Center Rockford 210 Swedish American Hospital Rockford 298 ° Data on number of hospital beds is from the Illinois Hospital & Health Systems Association. 1-26 Table 19. Number of Doctors per 100,000 Population’ 1975 1980 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 199] Lee ly cette el doe AON. 1h? 7. OR Ogle a St, a Oe | OR a OR aT Winnebago 155 161 160 162 165 189 195 205 Region 1334 136401350, 13% 145 -.164. 165 «174 State 164 172 186 202 184 219 219 223 The trends in health care availability for the Rock River area and the state are similar -- more doctors, fewer hospital beds. Figures 20 and 21 show that, since 1975, the number of staffed hospital beds has declined 9% statewide while the number of doctors has increased about 34%. In the Rock River area there are 11% fewer hospital beds and 31% more doctors. Conclusion The total mortality rate has steadily declined in Illinois, but in the Rock River area only Ogle County has experienced a declining rate. Infant mortality and mortality rates for heart disease and stroke have declined in both the Rock River area and the state, while cancer mortality has increased significantly. Number of Doctors Per 100,000 People —e Lee -s Ogle -«- Winnebago -»- State 250 eF ee a 150 RE eis oo er ec | eager“ loon ha ie) 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 Figure 21 ” Data on number of doctors is from the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. 1-27 Total mortality, infant mortality, and mortality from heart disease and cancer in the Rock River area are consistently below the state average, except in Lee County. The Rock River area is above the state average in stroke mortality rate. Within the Rock River area, Winnebago County typically has the lowest mortality rates while Lee County has the highest (except infant mortality). The percent of births to teenage mothers declined in both the Rock River area and the state, while the percent of births to single mothers rose significantly. With respect to health care availability, the Rock River area is significantly below the state average in doctors and staffed hospital beds per 100,000 people. 1-28 The Regional Economy The Rock River area represents 3% of the state’s employment and 2.5% of its personal income. In 1993, total personal income’ in the area was approximately $6.7 million with 193,131 persons employed. Winnebago County accounted for 80% of the area’s employment and 77.8% of the personal income. During the period 1969-1993, the area experienced slightly higher employment growth than did the state as a whole -- 1.1% average annual growth, compared to .9% statewide. In fact, both Ogle and Winnebago counties fared well over the 24-year period (Figure 22). In Lee County, however, employment fell about 3%, from 16,172 to 15,720 workers. During the same time period, the county’s population declined almost 9%. Personal income -- which includes earnings (wages and salaries minus Social Security deductions), dividends, interest payments, rent and transfer payments -- grew at a slightly faster rate than did employment . Growth averaged 1.5% annually in the Rock River area, slightly less than the 1.7% rate of growth experienced statewide. By 1993, personal income reached $6.7 billion in the Rock River area, including $1 billion in transfer payments. All three counties saw growth over the period, although Lee County experienced the slowest rate of growth. Winnebago County is a significant source of employment for commuters living outside the county, as reflected by the negative $218 million personal income residence adjustment.” Residents of Lee and Ogle counties make 10-20% of their earnings outside of their home county, much of that in the Rockford area. Table 20. 1993 Employment and Personal Income Employment % of state Income % of state emplo (millions) income Lee iS. 720. 0.2% $585.5 0.2% Ogle 22,067 0.3% $844.0 0.3% Winnebago 155,344 2.4% $5,247.2 2.0% Rock River Area 193,131 3.0% $6,676.7 2.5% Illinois 6,482,565 100% $263,630.0 100% ' Income and earnings discussed in this chapter are reported in 1993 dollars. Source of data: Regional Economic Information System, 1969-1993, United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. ? Adjustments are made in earnings to transfer ‘place-of-work’ income to ‘place-of-residence’ income. A negative adjustment means that more people commute to the county for work; a positive adjustment means that more people commute out of the county. 1-29 Change in Employment and Income 1969-1993 percent ee Ogle Winnebago Rock River Illinois Figure 22 Thirty-one businesses in the Rock River area employ 500 or more persons (see Table 22 and Figure 24). Twenty-two are in Winnebago County -- all but two in the Rockford metro area -- seven of which employ more than 1,000 persons. Four are in Ogle County, located in Oregon, Mt. Morris, and Byron, and five in Lee County, all located in the vicinity of Dixon. Table 21. 1993 Total Personal Income (in millions) Lee Ogle Winnebago Rock River Illinois Sector Earnings $486.6 $4,107.7 $4,938.0 $194,112.3 less contributions 23.6 34.3 290.4 348.2 1,350.9 plus residence adjust. 36.3 125.1 -218.7 -57.3 -336.2 Adjusted Earnings 356.4 577.5 3,598.6 4,532.5 180,266.8 Div., Int., & Rent 115.4 136.8 831.5 1,083.6 43,146.9 Transfer payments 113.7 129.8 817.1 1,060.6 40,222.8 Total Real Income 585.5 844.0 5,247.2 6,676.8 263,630.0 Employment Shifts , Over the historical period, the structure of the U.S. and Illinois economies changed dramatically. Manufacturing declined in importance, while the service sector grew substantially. In Illinois, manufacturing dropped from 28% of the work force in 1969 to 15% in 1993, a32 % decline. Service sector employment, on the other hand, increased 115.4%, from 17% to 28% of employed persons. In the Rock River area, manufacturing employment in the three counties experienced more fluctuation and less decline than statewide. Statewide, manufacturing employment peaked in the late 1970s, but declined thereafter. In the Rock River area, Lee and Winnebago counties appear to have followed this pattern, while Ogle county's manufacturing employment peaked in 1988. Even with the decline, manufacturing still represents a substantial level of employment in the region (47,105 workers in 1993). Until 1990, when the service sector overtook it, manufacturing had been the largest employer in the region and it remains the largest source of income, although it has declined in that area also. Manufacturing employment dropped from 39% of the total in 1969 to 24% in 1993 (a 1% annual decline), while earnings’ dropped from 49% of the total in 1969 to 36% ($1.8 billion) in 1993. Statewide, manufacturing earnings dropped from 33% of all earnings to 20%. Whss/Retail 19% Trprt, util, FIRE Whis/Retail 8% 20% Figure 23. Employment Distribution in the Rock River area, 1969 and 1993 The service sector grew 3.3% per year in Illinois, jumping from 17% of employment in 1969 to 28% (54,433 workers) in 1993. Income from this sector jumped from 11% of income to 22% ($1.1 billion) in the region, while statewide it went from 15% to 27%. Although its numbers are smaller, the economic sector that grew at the fastest rate was the combined category of transportation, utilities, and finance, insurance, and real estate (FIRE). In the Rock River area this sector grew 1.4% annually, compared to 1.7% statewide. The remaining economic sectors also grew, except farm employment which fell 1.6% in the Rock River area and 1.3% statewide. The decline in farm income was even higher than the decline in farm employment -- -57% over the 24-year period. Even more striking, however, were the fluctuations in income from year to year, presumably in response to crop yields and commodity prices. * Earnings are the sum of the wages derived from these sectors. They reflect the place of work rather than the place of residence. Table 22. Major Employers, Rock River Area Company‘ Winnebago County Acacia Business Corp. Amcore Financial Atwood Industries Barber-Colman Company Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. Dana Corp. Ingersoll Milling & Machinery Osf Healthcare Pioneer Financial Services Rock Valley College Rockford Memorial Health Services Rockford Powertrain Rockford Products Specialty Equipment (Taylor) Swedish American Hospital Textron Foxboro Co. United Parcel Service U. S. Postal Service Warner-Lambert Co. Winnebago County Woodward Governor Co. Ogle County Commonwealth Edison Kable News Co. Quebecor Printing Woods Equipment Co. Lee County Bethea Katherine Shaw Hospital Borg-Warner Automotive Ill. Dept. of Transportation Ill. Dept. of Corrections Raynor Manufacturing 4 Source: Dun and Bradstreet, Dun’s Direct Access Business Database, New York, 1995. Rockford Rockford Rockford Rockford Rockford South Beloit Rockford Rockford Rockford Rockford Rockford Loves Park Rockford Rockton Rockford Rockford Loves Park Rockford Cherry Valley Loves Park Rockford Loves Park Byron Mt. Morris Mt. Morris Oregon Dixon Dixon Dixon Dixon Dixon Business Classification Marketing Consultancy Bank Holding Companies Motor Vehicle Steering Systems Aircraft Flight Instruments General Warehouse & Storage Motor Vehicle Transmissions Grinding, Polishing, Buffing General Medical & Surgical Hospital Life Insurance Junior College Medical Centers Motor Vehicle Transmissions Fasteners Dairy & Milk Machinery General Medical & Surgical Hospital Power Driven Handtools Process Control Instruments Air Courier Services Post Office Chewing Gum Executive Offices-Government Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts Electric Services Books, Periodicals, & Newspapers Wrapper & Seal Printing Turf & Grounds Equipment General Medical & Surgical Hospital Ignition Apparatus & Distribution Highway & Street Construction Correctional Institution "Metal Doors 1-32 SIC Employees 874 671 371 381 422 371 354 806 631 822 801 371 396 355 806 354 382 451 431 206 911 372 491 519 275 352 806 369 161 922 344 Figure 24. Employers With Greater Than 500 Employees in Winnebago, Ogle and Lee Counties WINNEBAGO The data far this map were obtained from the Dun and Bradstreet business database, 1996. 0 5 10 15 miles 1993 Govt one Other 10% 6% Services Manu 3% uc Manu 49% Trprt, util, FIRE 7 Mag ther = 1% Trprt, util, FIRE 11% Figure 25. Earnings Distribution in the Rock River area, 1969 and 1993 Although the service and manufacturing sectors employ the most people in the 3-county area, other sectors are significant in various parts of the region (Figure 26).° For example, the census tract just west of Oregon in Ogle County has a high percentage employed in wholesale and retail trade, while tracts around Byron have a high proportion employed in public utilities. In most of Lee County a significant percentage are employed in farming or related industries, although residents of Dixon and nearby areas are employed disproportionately in government. Residents of central and northeastern parts of Rockford work in the service sector and wholesale and retail trade, while in the southwest . part of the city residents most frequently are employed in manufacturing. A look at the employment and earnings of the three counties individually reveals some similarities with the state and regional pattern, but also traits unique to each county. Lee County In 1993 Lee County had 15,720 workers with a combined income of $344 million. Service employment in the county followed the upward statewide trend until it dropped suddenly in 1992 (the same year that service sector employment and income increased > “Significant” employment sector is defined as greater than one standard deviation above the mean percentage for the census tracts in the area. For example, among the 326 census tracts analyzed the mean percentage employed in the wholesale and retail trade sector is 20%, with a standard deviation of 7%. In census tract #48129 28% are employed in trade, which is more than one standard deviation above the mean; thus trade is a significant employment sector in this tract. For the 46 districts where more than one sector is significant, only the most significant one (the one most above the mean) is displayed. One third of the census tracts have no predominant séctor, meaning that the percentages of employment in the sectors are all close to the mean. ‘ 1-34 Figure 26. Significant Employment Sectors by Census Tract From the 1990 U.S. Census Significant is Defined As Greater than One Standard Deviation Above the Mean Percentage For the 3-County Region Ue RON Agriculture, Forestry, & Fisheries Durable & Non-durable Manufacturing Wholesale & Retail Trade Service Industries Other (See Footnote) No Predominant Sector HEE oe 0 5 10 15 miles Table 23. 1990 Private Non-Farm Establishments by Size, Lee County Total 1 to 49 50 or more employees Total number of businesses 37 Agricultural services, forestry, fishing 9 9 0 Mining 4 4 0 Construction 65 65 0 Manufacturing 51 36 15 Transportation and public utilities 37 35 2 Wholesale Trade 83 81 2 Retail Trade 202 197 5 Finance, insurance & real estate 57 55 2 Services 216 205 11 Unclassified 44 44 0 dramatically in Ogle County). Service employment increased 202.5% from 1969 to its peak year of 1991. Over the 24-year period, to 1993, service jobs grew 134.4%, higher than the statewide growth of 115.4%. Income from this sector also grew substantially, increasing 146.9% to $85.5 million. In the last few years, service income has remained higher than manufacturing income. In 1993, the service sector employed 4,335 workers, representing 27.6 % of Lee County employment. Also experiencing a sudden drop in employment and earnings was the transport, utilities, finance, insurance, and real estate category. It had remained flat over 21 years until 1990 Lee County Employment in thousands Figure 27 1-36 Sector Eamings, Lee County in million $ 1969 1975 1981 1987 1993 Figure 28 when employment dropped 41%. (The sector grew 59% in Ogle County that year.)° Manufacturing followed the state’s trend, and dropped in the 1980’s. In 1993 it represented 15.5 % or 2,432 workers of Lee County's total employment. Earnings from manufacturing initially fell, but have recovered and remained steady at around $80 million (23% of total earnings). Farm income, on the other hand, has fluctuated considerably over the period, primarily because it is dependent from year to year on prices and yield. As in most of the state, farm employment has declined slowly over time, but agriculture remains a significant source of employment in Lee County. Ogle County In 1993 Ogle County had 22,067 workers with a combined income of $487 million. From 1969-1993 earnings increased 16.2%, 0.6% annually, below the state rate of 1.3%. Manufacturing employs 24 % of the work force. Manufacturing employment fluctuated historically, but has been dropping since it peaked in 1988. Manufacturing income fluctuated around $200 million over the period, but recently dropped to below $160 million. However, manufacturing remains the largest employer (24%) and source of income (32%). © The authors are not certain what caused the simultaneous employment decrease in Lee and increase in Ogle County. Perhaps a facility located in Lee County moved to Ogle. 1-37 Table 24. 1990 Private Non-Farm Establishments by Size, Ogle County Total 1 to 49 50 or more employees ‘Total number of businesses Agricultural services, forestry, fishing | 13 13 0 Mining 4 4 0 Construction 98 98 0 Manufacturing 67 48 19 Transportation and public utilities 53 51 2 Wholesale Trade 71 69 2 Retail Trade 240 236 4 Finance, insurance & real estate 74 71 3 Services 266 259 7 Unclassified 43 43 0 Close behind manufacturing is the service sector -- up 167.8% (4.3 % annually) in employment and 90.3% in income. In 1993, services provided 22 % of total employment, but only 8.4% of earnings. It was surpassed in 1991 by the transport, utilities, finance, insurance, and real estate category, where earnings grew to $71 million. Ogle County Employment 8 7 6 2 5 2 4 —+- Trprt, util., FIRE = — Govt = 3 —— Farm —= Other 2 1 0 1969 1975 1981 1987 1993 Figure 29 1-38 Sector Eamings Ogle County $250 fi SO $150 $100 in millions 1969 1975 1981 1987 1993 Figure 30 Winnebago County In 1993, Winnebago County had a larger work force than Lee and Ogle counties combined -- more than 155,000 workers -- with income at $5.2 billion. Earnings grew at an average annual rate of 1.1 % from 1969-1993, just below the growth rate for the state. Manufacturing employment fluctuated slightly above 45,000 workers until its decline in the early 1980s, but has since maintained employment around 40,000 (25% of total employment). It provides the largest source of earnings for the county (38%), fluctuating at around $1.6 billion. Table 25. 1990 Private Non-Farm Establishments by Size, Winnebago County Total 1 to 49 50 or more employees Total:number of businesses Agricultural services, forestry, fishing 81 0 Mining 8 0 Construction 565 15 Manufacturing tm! ©~§©6SB 152 Transportation and public utilities 187 24 Wholesale Trade 564 536 28 Retail Trade 1,502 1,408 94 Finance, insurance & real estate 500 484 16 Services 2,050 1,945 105 Unclassified 279 279 0 1-39 Winnebago County Employment in thousands 1969 1975 1981 1987 1993 Figure 3] The second highest source of earnings is the service sector. As elsewhere, the service sector in Winnebago County has grown steadily over the historical period. Service employment increased 263% over the 24-year period, or 4.1 % annually, while earnings jumped from $365 million in 1969 to $926 million in 1993, an average of 4% annual growth. Also exhibiting healthy growth in Winnebago County was the wholesale and retail sector, up 84.5%, averaging 2.6 % annual growth in employment, compared to a statewide growth rate of 1.2%. Earnings growth, however, did not match employment; it was a mere 0.9 % annually, identical to the state rate of income growth in that sector. Conclusion Winnebago County, which includes the city of Rockford, has employment and income levels almost seven times larger than the other two Rock River area counties -- 155 thousand workers and sector earnings at $5,247 million. Lee County has 15,000 workers earning $586 million and Ogle County has 22,000 employed with $844 million in earnings. 1-40 Sector Eamings, Winnebago County —* Manu. -* Services $1,000 —+«- Whisale/Retail in million $ 1969 1975 1981 1987 1993 Figure 32 The service sector in the Rock River region has grown from 14% in 1969 to 29% in 1993. The manufacturing sector has lost ground over the years, declining from 39% of employment in 1969 to 24% in 1993, but it remains a substantial employer in Ogle and Winnebago counties. The manufacturing sector employs 5,320 of the 22,067 employed persons living in Ogle County and 39,353 of 155,344 employees residing in Winnebago. County. 1-41 15 miles 10 Scale 1 : 480,000 Ins 7) ” w pe Oo 0 es =) ie a Agricultural Landcover Figure 33. [ ] Row Crops HB smail Gra Agriculture Agriculture is a small but very important part of the economy in the Rock River area, particularly in Lee and Ogle counties. It is, moreover, the dominant land use in all three counties. Two-thirds of the land in Winnebago county is farmed, while about 90% of the land area of Lee and Ogle counties is used for agriculture.’ Lee and Ogle counties each contain 360,000 to 380,000 acres of cropland and Winnebago about half that acreage. Over the past ten years, acreage planted in crops has remained virtually constant in both Illinois and the three-county Rock River area.” There was, however, a 7% decline in acreage in Ogle County. Even though acreage has remained fairly constant, the number of farms has been declining (Figure 35). In the three-county area, the number dropped 19% between 1982 and 1992; statewide farm numbers were down 21%. Cropland 0198: nN acres 8 8 Ogle Lee Winnebago ‘Department of Natural Resources. Landcover in Illinois Counties. Draft Report, January 1996. Agricultural land is defined as cropland (planted in row crops, small grains, orchards, and nurseries) and tural grasslands (fallow fields, pasture, and greenways) and may include a small amount of non-farm grasslands. ? Information taken from Agricultural Statistics, IMinois Department of Agriculture, various years. 1-43 Number of Farms - 1992 Ogle Lee Winnebago Figure 35 Cash Receipts Between 1983 and 1988, cash receipts (the amount received from the sale of crops and livestock) fell 30% in the Rock River area and 24% in Illinois. Farm receipts recovered most lost ground in the succeeding years. In 1992, total receipts for the three-county area represented four percent of Illinois farm receipts. Receipts in Lee and Ogle counties are twice those of the highly urbanized Winnebago County -- about $135 million compared to $60 million on average (1983- 1992, discounting drought years such as 1988). Farm cash receipts include both crop and livestock receipts. In 1992, the three-county crop receipts totaled $197 million, 3.6% of Illinois’ $5.3 billion crop receipts (Table 26). Table 26. 1992 Farm Cash Receipts (in thousands) Ogle Lee Winnebago Rock River Crops $63,261 $104,373 $29,976 $197,610 $5,341,346 -Com 42,209 70,491 15,705 128,405 2,779,942 -Soybeans 18,249 29,934 7,935 56,118 2,025,859 -Other 2,803 3,948 6,336 13,087 535,545 Livestock 72,511 29,573 33,255 135,339 2,202,346 -Cattle 33,374 16,832 12,189 62,395 719,720 -Hogs & Pigs 29,875 9,603 8,749 48,227 1,041,579 -Other 9,262 3,138 12.315 24,717 441,047 1-44 Crop Cash Receipts (in thousands) Ogle $60,000 —>Lee -*- Winnebago 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Figure 36 Lee County leads in crop receipts, followed by Ogle, then Winnebago County. The three counties show similar trends over the 1982-1992 period, although at different levels (Figure 36). Livestock cash receipts accounted for 30% of the state’s total farm receipts in 1992. The state total of $2.2 billion has remained relatively stable over the historical period. In the three-county area, livestock receipts are about 40% of total receipts and have fluctuated between $130 million and $145 million. Ogle county has the highest cash receipts for livestock, with more than twice the receipts of the other two counties (Figure 37). Livestock Cash Receipts (in thousands) 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Figure 37 1-45 Table 27. 1993 Acreage (in thousands) Ogle Lee Winnebago Rock River Illinois Cropland (acres) 359.6 389.8 182.2 931.6 24,164.5 Com 188.6 205.4 81.1 475.1 10,000.0 Soybeans 74.0 116.0 34.0 224.0 9,100.0 Oats 4A (27 2.8 9.9 550.0 Hay P53 ‘NSF 18.6 52.6 1,250.0 Wheat RS S127 44 11.6 1,650.0 Other 62.8 543 41.3 158.4 1,614.5 Production Crops As in the rest of the state, corn and soybeans are the predominant crops in the Rock River region (Table 27). Corn production fluctuated significantly between 1984 and 1993, ranging from a high of more than 34 million bushels in 1985 in Lee County to a low of four million bushels in Winnebago County during the 1988 drought. Soybean production, on the other hand, remained fairly steady except for a large decline during the 1988 drought. (Figures 38 and 39). Corn Production —s- Ogle -e— Lee -«— Winnebago 35 30 25 2 @ 4 20 J 2 S = 15 E 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 Figure 38 1-46 Soybean Production 2 Ogle -- Lee -«- Winnebago 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 Figure 39 Trends in corn and soybean yields have been quite similar in the three-county area and the state. Corn yields fluctuated between 115 and 140 bushels per acre, while soybean yields fluctuated between 32 and 45 bushels per acre. All yields fell during the drought year of 1988. In 1993, Ogle County had the largest corn yield per acre in the area; Lee led in soybeans, and Ogle in oats. In addition to corn and soybeans, the area is also planted in oats and hay, although at much lower production rates. Ogle County is ranked 4th in the state for oats production, harvesting 268,400 bushels in 1993; Lee is ranked seventh, producing 151,200 bushels, and Winnebago ranks ninth at 128,800 bushels. In addition, Ogle county is the eighth highest producer of hay in Illinois. Of the 4.1 million tons produced in Illinois, Ogle produced 90,740 tons, 2.2%, in 1993. Table 28. 1993 Selected Crop Yields (bushels per acre) Lee Winnebago’ Rock River _ Illinois Com 122 118 103 114 130 Soybeans 43 44 37 4] 43 Oats 61 56 46 se 51 1-47 Hog and Pig Production 82 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 92 $3 Figure 40 Livestock The three counties are among the top ten livestock producers in the state. Of the 5.5 million hogs in Illinois, Ogle county produced 130,000 head, ranking seventh in the state. Ogle county is the sixth largest producer of cattle, with 57,000 head from a state total of 1.9 million head. In the "fed-cattle-marketed" sub-category, Ogle and Lee counties are the fifth and sixth top producers, producing 4.7% and 3.4% of the state total. In the "milk-cow" sub-category, Winnebago ranks seventh, providing 2.9% of the state’s production. Ogle County also ranks fourth in sheep production, with 3.4% of the state total. Cattle Production —*ogle 90,000 —>lee —*- winnebago 82 83 84 6s 6 87 8 8 9 91 92 93 Figure 4] 1-48 Conclusion After dipping during the drought of 1988, cash receipts for crops and livestock have increased to their former levels. In 1993, Rock River region crop cash receipts were $198 million, while livestock cash receipts were $135 million. The Rock River region, as with most of Illinois, is a large producer of corn and soybeans with 54.6 and 9.5 million bushels, respectively. It is also one of the state’s top region’s for producing oats and hay. In addition, the area is a large producer of livestock, with Ogle County ranking seventh in hog and pig production, Ogle and Lee counties ranking fifth and sixth in fed-marketed cattle, Winnebago seventh in milk cows and Ogle fourth in sheep production. 1-49 Figure 42. State Parks, Forests and Natural Areas in the Rock River Resource Rich Area WINNEBAGO ™ Lowden Memorial State Park White Pines Forest State Park = Castle Rock iz Lowden Miller State Forest State Park - ranklin Creek State “te, _ Natural Area Scale 1 : 480,000 =—_2=> 0 5 10 15 miles Outdoor Recreation The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) operates five state-owned sites within the watersheds of the Rock River area’: Castle Rock State Park, Lowden-Miller State Forest, White Pines Forest State Park, Lowden Memorial State Park, and Franklin Creek State Natural Area. These sites attract numerous visitors to the region and contribute to the local economy. Camping, hunting and fishing are important recreational activities that occur within and outside the state sites, and residents and visitors alike enjoy recreational boating on the Rock River and its tributaries. Illinois State Parks, Forests, and Natural Areas Together, the five sites total 5,303 acres, or 0.83% of the land area of the Rock River Resource Rich area. The lands are predominantly wooded and represent approximately 10% of the forest cover within the area. The natural and recreational resources and features of each site are described below. Castle Rock State Park/Lowden-Miller State Forest Over 4,225 acres (about 7.6%) of the forested lands present in the region are found within the Castle Rock State Park/Lowden-Miller State Forest complex. These parks are located south of Oregon along opposite sides of the Rock River. This forest complex provides extensive wildlife habitat and is known for a diverse flora. These forests support 22 state- listed species” (endangered or threatened) and the largest breeding community of warblers in the state.” Castle Rock State Park The 2,000 acre Castle Rock State Park and the 709 acre George B. Fell Nature Preserve within it, contain several designated* high quality communities, features, and endangered species occurrences. Castle Rock is dominated by dry-mesic and mesic upland forest. This site offers camping (walk in/canoe in only), picnicking, hiking, birdwatching, nature study, fishing, cross-country skiing, and hunting. ' Only those state parks within the Rock River Area Watersheds (RRAW) -- as opposed to the borders of Lee, Ogle, and Winnebago Counties — are discussed in this section. ? Illinois Natural Heritage Database, 1995. > Robinson, 1995. “Designated” natural communities are those recognized as high quality by the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI). INAI criteria and the initial inventory are set forth by White (1978). The most recent update of the inventory is presented in the 1995 Illinois Natural Heritage Database (IDOC). 1-51 Lowden-Miller State Forest The site conditions across the river at the 2,225 acre Lowden-Miller State Forest (formerly Sinnissippi Forest) are similar to Castle Rock State Park. The forest cover there is quite different, however, because this forest has been extensively managed for timber and Christmas tree production since 1948. IDNR purchased the site in 1993 and designated it Lowden-Miller State Forest. At that time, the only high quality natural areas within the forest recognized by the INAI were the relatively undisturbed bluffs along the Rock River. After purchasing the land the IDNR commissioned plant and bird surveys of the forest that documented new occurrences of 10 state-listed plant species and three state-listed bird species.” Hunting, hiking, nature study, and birdwatching are currently offered at this state forest. Hunting accounts for 90% of visitor activity at the site (see Table 29). Turkey and deer are the primary game species. White Pines Forest State Park This 385-acre site contains one of the few native stands of white pines in Illinois. There are more than 50 acres of designated high quality dry-mesic upland forest, and several dolomite cliff communities on the bluffs along Pine Creek. Located about six miles west of Castle Rock State Park, White Pines is one of the most heavily visited sites in the Rock River area. Picnicking is the primary visitor activity at the park, and about one-quarter of the park’s visitors dine or stay overnight at the lodge. Other activities include camping, hiking, fishing, birdwatching, nature study, and cross-country skiing. Lowden Memorial State Park Located north of Oregon and east of the Rock River, Lowden Memorial State Park is the most visited IDNR site in the Rock River region. The 207-acre park contains 20 acres of designated high quality dry-mesic upland forest. Camping is the primary visitor activity, and picnicking, birdwatching, nature study, hiking, and fishing are also available. Franklin Creek State Natural Area Franklin Creek State Natural Area is just northwest of Franklin Grove. The 520-acre park contains a 96-acre Illinois Nature Preserve and a 146-acre Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site. The primary activity at the park is picnicking. > Jones, 1994; Robinson, 1995. 1-52 Table 29. Visitor Activity at State Sites in the Rock River Resource Rich Area Castle Lowden- Franklin Lowden White Activities® Rock Miller Creek Memorial Camping 5% -- - 40% 35% Picnicking 80% -- 70% 30% 45% Hiking 30% 10% 20% 10% 15% Fishing 35% -- 15% 5% 10% Hunting 20% 90% 5% -- -- Lodge - dining or - -- -- -- 25% staying overnight Sightseeing 5% - 5% 5% 5% Horseback riding -- -- 10% -- -- Snowmobiling -- - 5% -- - Franklin Creek is the only park in the area that offers horseback riding; six miles of trails are maintained for this purpose. Other activities include hiking, fishing, hunting, cross- country skiing, birdwatching, nature study, and snowmobiling. Attendance at State Sites In 1994, almost 1 million people visited the state sites described above. While collective attendance at these sites varies from year to year, it has ranged from 800,000 to 1,200,000 since the mid 1970’s.’ Meanwhile, the region’s share of Illinois state park visits has fallen from a stable about 3% in the mid 1980’s to about 2.5% in 1994. In 1975, over 99.5% of park visits in the Rock River region were to Lowden Memorial or White Pines. In 1994, they were still the busiest parks but their share of visits had dropped to under 75%, largely because of the rapid rise in attendance at Castle Rock. Inaccessible and unpublicized, in 1975 Castle Rock hosted only 3,800 visitors; improved roads and expanded facilities sparked a jump to nearly 200,000 visitors in 1991, roughly 20% of the region’s attendance. Attendance at Franklin Creek, the region’s least-visited park, has also more than quadrupled since 1986. Figure 43 shows that annual attendance at state parks can be volatile. Factors such as abnormal weather, special events, park improvements, and more accurate counting techniques can cause significant fluctuations. For example, DNR’s Site Attendance ® Data obtained from internal DNR files. ” State park attendance data obtained from internal DNR files. 1-53 Attendence at Rock River Region State Parks 1,200,000 1,000,000 800,000 OY LE ES PS _..| —*—Rock River Region —*— Lowden Memorial —s— White Pines 600,000 SS oe —— Castle Rock 5p , --@--Franklin Creek 400,000 200,000 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 Figure 43 Information report for 1990 noted that Castle Rock experienced particularly strong attendance in 1989 because of favorable river conditions and the addition of a popular trail, while fears of Lyme disease kept some visitors away in 1990. Camping Since 1981, campers have spent an average of 31,000 camping-days each year at state sites in the Rock River area.» Lowden Memorial and White Pines, class A camps with electricity, showers, and vehicular access, account for over 99% of the camping in the region. Campers at these locations average stays of 5.6 days per visit. Castle Rock, a class D camp with fewer amenities and more limited access, accounts for the rest. Campers here spend over 7 days per visit. Camping in all parks peaked in 1983 with 54,000 camping-days, and reached a low of 15,400 in 1989. Since 1984, average annual camping-days in the area have generally hovered near 30,000. In a given year, however, special events, abnormal weather, and temporary closures can cause significant departures from the norm. ® Camping data obtained from internal DNR files. 1-54 Camping-Days at Rock River Region State Parks, 1981-94 1981 1983 1985 . 1987 1989 1991 1993 Figure 44 Water Recreation The Rock River itself is the primary water body for recreational boating in the region. Along the ‘Resource Rich Area’ portion of the Rock River there are 39 access areas, 26 of which are publicly owned, and 11 of which have public boat ramps. Among streams that drain over a 10 sq. mile area within the Rock River Basin, more than 12% of stream miles are both canoeable and accessible at a publicly-owned site.” In 1994, Rock River residents registered more than 18,700 recreational boats -- roughly one for every eighteen residents.'° Registration has grown 3.15% annually since 1988, compared to 2.6% for the entire state. Ogle County experienced the highest annual growth at 4.6%, while Winnebago County accounts for over 70% of the region’s total registrations. ; Fishing and Hunting During the 1992 fishing season, 1,475,329 anglers (58% licensed) sport fished in Illinois. About 4.2% of fishing license purchases took place in the three-county area of Lee, Ogle, and Winnebago counties. Of anglers surveyed during the 1988-89 season along the Rock ® Kohler and Osborne, 1994. '© Boating registration data obtained from internal DNR files. 1-55 Boat Registrations in Rock River Region, 1988-1994 Figure 45 River, 33% fished from boats and 67% fished from the shore between the Rockford dam and the Oregon dam. The same survey reported that from the Oregon dam to the Dixon dam, 61% of anglers fish from boats while 39% fish from the shore." Fishing is available at four area IDNR parks. Franklin Creek and White Pines have access to Franklin Creek and Pine Creek, respectively, and Castle Rock and Lowden Memorial have access to the Rock River itself. About 16% of visitors to these four sites engage in fishing. Game species include walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, and northern pike. The number of licensed hunters in Illinois peaked in 1956 -- at more than 550,000; by 1979 the number had dropped 38% and has since ranged from 307,000 to 338,000. In the three Rock River counties, about 9,000 hunting licenses were issued in 1990. The majority (63.7%) of these licenses were issued in Winnebago County; Ogle and Lee counties accounted for 19.2% and 17.1%, respectively. Notably, between 1987 and 1990 licenses dropped in all three counties (by only a handful in Lee County); overall, Rock River area licenses fell almost 6%. Meanwhile, statewide totals increased by 4.3% during the same time period. As a result, the region’s share of Illinois’ licenses fell from 2.9% to 2.6%. '! Survey results are presented by Heidinger and Tetzlaff, 1989. 1-56 Final Hunting License Sales, 1987 and 1990 (includes combination and non-resident licenses) 0 1987 @ 1990 Lee Co. Ogle Co. Winnebago Co. Rock River Region Figure 46 Deer hunting is the most popular hunting activity in the Rock River region. From 1989 to 1993, 5,067 long gun hunters and 2,851 bow hunters harvested almost 5,000 deer annually.'? While rifle hunters greatly outnumbered bow hunters and accounted for 70% of the harvest, bow hunters actually spent almost three times as many days in the field. This result reflects both the longer season and greater difficulty of bow hunting. Ogle County accounted for roughly 57% of the region’s deer harvest. Pheasant was the region’s second most popular game, based on its nearly 30,000 hunter- days in the field. Hunter-days were spread fairly even across the Rock River counties -- Winnebago County had the most with 38% of the region’s total while Lee County, with the least, accounted for 30%. Even so, Lee County accounted for 42% of the region’s pheasant harvest. Hunters also spend over 20,000 days in the field hunting squirrel and rabbit. Hunters harvested about 35,000 squirrels and 18,000 rabbits annually, with Ogle County accounting for about half of the region’s harvest of each species. Turkey hunting opportunities greatly expanded in the past few years due to a successful reintroduction program. Eighty-five birds were harvested in Ogle and Winnebago counties in 1993. Other game in the region include coyote, raccoon, red and gray fox, dove, groundhog, quail, opossum, and gray partridge. '2 Hunting data from IDNR’s “Hunter Activity and Wildlife Harvest in Illinois: County Averages for 1989-1993”. This report relied on mailed hunter surveys. The authors caution that no adjustments were made to account for known biases inherent to this sampling technique. 1-57 Table 30. Hunting Activity in the Rock River Region, 1989-1993 Harvest Hunters Hunter-Days Deer Rifle 5,067 20,953 3,494 Bow 2,851 57,827 1,479 Pheasant 5,281 29,879 15,811 Squirrel (Fox and Gray) 5,334 29,025 34,725 Rabbit 4,425 23,548 17,918 Economic Impact of State Sites Parks and other state-owned lands contribute to the local economy due to both increased tourism and the inflow of IDNR fiscal expenditures. To examine this economic impact, DNR used an input-output model built on county-level data.” In 1995, IDNR spent $791,000 on park employee salaries, auto maintenance, and other park ‘inputs’; roughly 87% of these funds were spent locally. The effect of tourism and visitor spending is based on attendance estimates, the proportion of local vs. non-local visitors, and spending per visitor per day."* About 134,000 local residents visited the parks in 1995 and 847,000 non-local visitors. Total visitor expenditures were estimated at $5.81 per visitor per day for local visitors and $9.93 for non-local visitors. Based on these assumptions, area parks add $9.2 million in economic output to Lee and Ogle counties.'° The parks also create almost 240 jobs -- almost 1% of the two counties’ total employment -- and increase personal income by more than $5 million. When incorporating Winnebago County into the analysis, the effects are a $12.4 million increase in economic output, an increase of almost $7 million in personal income, and 280 jobs. The 40 jobs in Winnebago County represent a very small percentage of that county’s employment, suggesting that the economic benefits of the parks are concentrated in Lee and Ogle counties, in percentage as well as absolute terms. Table 31. Economic Impacts of State Sites (in millions) Increase in Lee and Ogle counties Lee, Ogle & Winnebago Economic Output $9.21 $12.40 Personal Income $5.14 $6.98 Jobs vey] , 280 '3 The model used, IMPLAN, is designed to trace the ultimate impacts of a stimulus (such as increased or decreased tourism) as it “ripples” through the economy. The input-output analysis is premised on the relationships between sectors of the economy. '4 Estimating Visitor Expenditures at Illinois Department of Conservation Properties, June 1982. 'S Total industry output is the sum of all industries’ gross sales. 1-58 Over half of all jobs in the Rock River counties created by the state sites are in wholesale and retail trade. Trade also accounts for the largest increases in economic output and personal income. The services sector is second in jobs, income and output. Government ranks third in jobs created, while FIRE (finance, insurance and real estate) ranks third in income and output gains. Table 32. Employment Effects by Sector Industry # Jobs Wholesale & Retail Trade 165 Services 68 Government 21 Finance, Insurance & Real Estate 9 Other 16 Total 280 The state sites contribute to the local economy primarily by encouraging expenditures by non-local visitors; eighty-one percent of job creation is generated by non-local visitors. The same pattern holds for economic output and personal income. The residual impacts of the parks are attributable to IDNR fiscal and local visitor expenditures. The economic impact analysis is sensitive to assumptions made about attendance and spending. IDNR is currently studying visitor attendance and spending patterns in order to better refine estimates and the economic analysis. Conclusion In 1994 more than one million people visited state sites in the Rock River area and while attendance fluctuates from year to year, it has hovered around the million mark for the last decade. White Pines and Lowden Memorial are the area’s busiest parks, and Castle Rock is emerging as a significant attraction. Hunting license sales may be declining in the area, but deer, pheasant, squirrel, and rabbit remain popular game. The state sites are important economically to the Rock River area. 1-59 JY © © Figure 47. Airports, Railroads, and Major Roads in Lee, Ogle, and Winnebago Counties Road and railroad information fram USGS 1:100,000 digital line graph files. Interstates and Tollways US and State Highways Active Railroads Abandoned Railroads Commercial Airports General Aviation Airports Scale 1 : 480,000 5 10 15 miles _=>—_2=> ——— Transportation Infrastructure A region’s transportation infrastructure -- its roadways, airports, waterways, and railways -- enables businesses and residents to move goods and people. Coupled with information regarding demographics and economics, trends in transportation infrastructure and its usage are strong indicators of the nature of a region’s development and its suitability for various resource management strategies. Auto Traffic Roads Rockford, like most Illinois cities, is served by multiple major highways. The I-90 Tollway runs east towards Chicago and north towards Madison, Wisconsin. I-39, converted from a US Highway to an Interstate in 1985, runs from Rockford through southern Winnebago county, Ogle County, and Lee County en route to Bloomington- Normal. In addition, Tollway I-88, connecting Chicago and the Quad Cities, runs through Lee County and the southeast corner of Ogle County. From 1973 to 1993, the total miles of road in the Rock River region grew from 4,650 to 5,107, about 3.7% of the state’s total (Figure 48). From 1973 to 1980, the region’s average annual growth was over 0.6 %. It has since dropped to around 0.4%. Road Mileage 6,000 5,000 4,000 = 3,000 2,000 1,000 1973. 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 Figure 48 1-61 Winnebago County has the most extensive network, currently accounting for 40.3% of the region’s road-miles. Ogle and Lee counties account for 31.0% and 28.7%, respectively.’ The region’s 0.47% annual growth in road-miles has consistently outpaced the statewide average of 0.29%, mostly because Winnebago County has averaged 0.76% growth since 1973. The bulk of Winnebago County’s increase is attributable to municipal roads, reflecting ongoing urbanization. Vehicle Registration Residents of Rock River counties registered more than 211,000 passenger cars in 1992.” Car registrations have grown by a fairly stable rate of 1.3% annually since 1972, compared to the state average of 1.4%. Winnebago County has had the region’s highest annual growth at 1.4% and accounts for over three-fourths of car registrations. Ogle County has experienced 1.2% growth in registrations and accounts for about 13% of the region’s cars. Lee County’s growth has been much slower at 0.8% and rounds out the last 10%. Motorcycle registrations have been more volatile. Registrations jumped from 4,900 to 11,800 from 1972 to 1982, then declined to 7,800 by 1992. All three Rock River counties exhibit this pattern. The rapid growth in the 1970’s and early 1980’s may have been partially due to high gasoline prices. The subsequent decline is probably due to better fuel efficiency in cars, lower gas prices, changing styles, and an aging population. Registrations for trucks (excluding semis) and buses in the Rock River region increased from 27,100 to 55,750 between 1972 and 1992. Growth averaged 4.2% between 1972 and 1982 and 3.0% between 1982 and 1992, somewhat above the state average for both periods. All three counties have experienced similar growth since 1982. Over 85% of the vehicles in this category are pick-ups, which have been reported separately since 1988. About 31,000 semis and trailers were registered in the Rock River region in 1992, nearly double the numbers for 1972.° Like trucks and buses, growth was considerably lower from 1982 to 1992 than it was the previous decade. About 70% of Rock River’s semi- trailers are based in Winnebago County. Of course, semis usually function as long- distance haulers; locally-registered semis may spend little time at “home”, while out-of- town semis routinely drive through. How many miles semis drive locally is impossible to determine from available data. ' Mileage data from Illinois Department of Transportation: Office of Planning and Programming; Illinois Travel Statistics, various years. ? Vehicle registration data from the State of Illinois Office of the Secretary of State, County Statistical Report for Motor Vehicle License Units and Transactions Received, various years. > This figure includes roughly 3500 “regional” trucks -- mostly semis -- registered through IDOT’s IRP program, where licensees pay prorated fees based on the percentage of miles driven in Illinois. 1-62 Vehicle-Miles Traveled (VMT) Since 1973, annual vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) in the Rock River counties have grown by an average annual rate of 2.2%, compared to a statewide average of 1.9%.* This growth level has not been constant. Between 1973 and 1980, an era marked by severe oil shortages in 1973 and 1978, Rock River’s VMT grew by only 0.6% annually. Winnebago County’s annual growth of less than 0.2% was particularly low. Clearly, drivers adjusted to high gas prices by driving less. During the first half of the 1980’s, growth increased to 2.4% in the Rock River region and 1.8% statewide. From 1985 to 1993, Rock River’s VMT growth rose to 3.82%, well above the statewide rate of 1.95%, rising to a total of 3.07 trillion miles annually -- 3.4% of the state’s total. Notably, Winnebago County’s VMT grew by 3.86% annually for that period. Reasons for the steady increase in auto travel since the 1970’s include economic growth, more fuel-efficient vehicles, and significantly lower fuel prices. Construction of I- 39 probably contributed to post-1985 VMT growth in all three Rock River counties. Despite containing just over 40% of the road mileage in the Rock River region, Winnebago County accounts for more than 67% of the VMT, primarily due to the greater urbanization and congestion in the Rockford area. By way of comparison, Lee County, the least urbanized of the Rock River counties, accounts for 29% of the road mileage but only 15.9% of the VMT. Annual Vehicle-Miles Traveled —eLee Co. -e-Ogle Co. -*- Winnebago Co. -o— Rock River 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 Figure 49 “ VMT data from JIlinois Travel Statistics. 1-63 Annual Road Mileage Growth & VMT Growth 1973-1993 3.50% 3.00% 2.50% 2.00% 1.50% 1.00% 0.50% 0.00% Lee Co. Ogle Co. Winnebago Rock River State Co. Area Figure 50 As shown in Figure 50, VMT has grown more rapidly than road mileage in all three Rock River counties, as well as statewide. This suggests that roadways are growing more congested. In Lee County, VMT has grown eleven times faster than road mileage, compared to seven times faster statewide. In Ogle County, the ratio is a fairly high 9:1 and in Winnebago County it is slightly less than 3:1. Air Traffic Greater Rockford Airport, located in Winnebago County several miles south of Rockford, is the most important air travel center in the Rock River region. Based on its estimated 103,700 passenger boardings (enplanements) in 1993, Greater Rockford was Illinois’ seventh-busiest airport. Overall, Greater Rockford accounted for 0.3% of the state’ S enplanements, 10.1% excluding Chicago-area airports. Table 33. 1993 Enplanements, Busiest Illinois Airports % Total 88.09% % Non-Chi Enplanements 30,394,589 Chicago O'Hare Chicago Midway 3,051,253 8.84% Moline 290,639 0.84% 28.20% Peoria 213,907 0.62% 20.76% Champaign 139,681 0.40% 13.55% Springfield 132,125 0.38% 12.82% Rockford 103,664 0.30% 10.06% Bloomington 75,944 0.22% 7.37% Decatur 38,264 0.11% 3.71% Chicago Meigs 25,961 0.08% 1-64 Enplanements and Operations Greater Rockford Airport .———— 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 Figure 5] As shown in Figure 51, the character of Greater Rockford airport changed dramatically in the early 1990’s. Enplanements (number of people boarding planes) jumped from 20,000 in 1989 to 106,800 in 1990, and have remained above 100,000 since. This jump occurred while operations (the combined total of take-offs and landings) hovered near the low end of its recent annual range of 110,000 to 130,000.° This apparent contradiction was caused by an influx of commuter airlines which displaced the operations of smaller aircraft. American Eagle, Northwest Airlink, and Skyway now connect Rockford with the midwestern hubs of Chicago, Minneapolis, and Detroit. This influx marks an important addition to the region’s transportation infrastructure, especially given the lack of commuter rail service. The region also includes general aviation airports, with the largest in Dixon and Rochelle, as well as several private landing strips. These secondary airports serve smaller aircraft and do not offer commercial service.® > Enplanement and Operations data from Illinois Department of Transportation, J/linois Airport Inventory Report 1995. ° See Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics, J/linois Airport Directory. 1-65 Water and Rail The Rock River region contains no waterways suitable for commercial shipping. See the section on “Outdoor Recreation” for a discussion of recreational boating. The Rock River Region has not had commuter rail service since the “Blackhawk” line, connecting Chicago and Dubuque via Rockford, was discontinued in October 1981. In 1980, its last full year of operation, the Blackhawk averaged 3,614 passengers per month. Revenues covered less than one-third of expenses incurred each state fiscal year between 1974 and 1982.’ While plans for extending commuter service to the Rockford area have been explored, including restoring the Chicago-Dubuque line® and connecting Greater Rockford Airport and O’Hare via high speed rail’, no such plans are imminent. Conclusion Miles of road are being added faster in the Rock River region than in the state as a whole, and vehicle-miles of travel are growing at an even faster rate, especially in Lee and Ogle Counties. While commuter rail service has not been available for many years, commuter air service at Greater Rockford Airport has emerged as a viable alternative to driving. Overall, Rockford stands out as the transportation hub of the Rock River region. As their stable populations indicate’, Lee and Ogle Counties retain their rural character, despite indications that traffic densities are increasing. 7 Source of data regarding Blackhawk line: Internal documents supplied by IDOT 8 See Illinois Department of Transportation, Bureau of Railroads, Restoring Amtrak Service Between Chicago and Dubuque: An Investigation (1984) ; ° See Illinois Department of Transportation, J/linois Rail Plan: 1991-1992 Update. '0 See chapter on “Demographic Trends”. 1-66 Energy Facilities Energy facilities are an important part of the infrastructure of Ogle, Lee and Winnebago counties. The area is served by three electric companies and two natural gas suppliers. The capacity, generation, prices, etc. of each company are described in this chapter. Electricity Three utilities provide electric energy to the Rock River region: Commonwealth Edison Company, Rochelle Municipal Utilities, and South Beloit Water, Gas and Electric Company. Each of the utilities has one or more generation plants in the region and supplies electricity to residential, business and government customers in part of the region. In total, plants in the region generated 16.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 1994 (11.7% of total Illinois generation) from a capacity of more than 2,900 megawatts (7.8% of statewide capacity). Rochelle Municipal Utilities Rochelle Municipal Utilities supplies electricity to 6,118 customers in and around Rochelle in Ogle County. The company is owned and operated by the city government. Its customer base includes 5,300 residential customers, 786 commercial, 18 industrial, and 14 government customers. Table 34. Electric Utilities Rochelle Municipal So. Beloit Water, Gas Commonwealth Utilities’ and Electric Company” _ Edison’ Rock River Service | City of Rochelle, City of South Beloit, Lee, Ogle, and Territory Ogle County Winnebago Co. Winnebago Co. Customers 6,118 6,726 120,000 (est.) Population Served 9,000 7,000 317,000 Capacity 32.2 MW 1.1 MW 2,903 MW Generation 181,442 MWh 5,010 MWh 16,309,065 MWh ' Data source: General Manager’s Office, Rochelle Municipal Utilities. ? Data source: Finance Division, Wisconsin Power and Light Company. . > Data source: Commonwealth Edison Company, FERC Form 1, 1994. 1-67 Figure 52. Major Transmission Lines and Generating Plants in Winnebago, Ogle, and Lee Counties The electric transmission line information is from a map published by the Illinois Commerce Commission in 1980, entitled, Electric Utilities in Illinois. 34,500 volts ; —_ $e -- ~~ ~~~ “ 69,000 volts — WY 138,000 volts 4 345,000 volts @ = Generating Plants Scale 1 : 480,000 _=—2] —— 0 5 10 15 miles Rochelle Municipal Utilities operates two base load cogeneration units, as well as 10 diesel units used specifically for summer peaks (Table 35). Located in Rochelle, the plants have a current rated capacity of 32.2 megawatts; during the past year they generated approximately 181,000 megawatt-hours. In 1995 summer demand peaked at 38,024 kilowatts and winter demand at 26,850 kilowatts . The two boilers at the cogenerator have been modified to burn micronized coal that is mixed with limestone during combustion to remove sulfur dioxide. Six miles of transmission lines run from the utility’s sub-stations to the cogeneration facility, and distribution facilities cover 100 square miles in and around Rochelle. The utility also has a tie line with Commonwealth Edison’s Byron power plant from which it purchases 21 megawatts of firm power. It also purchases some interruptable short-term and limited-term power -- in 1995 it purchased 135,320 megawatt-hours. Table 35. Generating Units, Rochelle Municipal Utilities* Fuel Source Capaci Cogeneration i coal/natural gas 11.5 Cogeneration 3,4 oil/natural gas 5.0 Diesel ] oil 0.6 Diesel 3 oil/natural gas 2.0 Diesel 4 oil 0.8 Diesel 6 oil/natural gas 2.3 Diesel 7 oil/natural gas 35 Diesel 8 oil 0.8 Diesel 9 oil/natural gas 3.3 Diesel 10 oil/natural gas 2.4 Total capacity 32.2 South Beloit Water, Gas and Electric Company South Beloit Water, Gas and Electric Company, an investor-owned subsidiary of Wisconsin Power and Light Company, serves northern Winnebago County, including the city of South Beloit and village of Rockton. Most of the electricity supplied by the utility is generated by the parent company. South Beloit’s single plant, located on the Rock River, is a small hydropower plant with a capacity of 1.1 megawatts.° * Cogeneration is the simultaneous production of electric and thermal (i.e., heat or steam) energy. ° Data source: General Manager’s Office, Rochelle Municipal Utilities. ® Data source: South Beloit Water, Gas and Electric Company, ILCC Form 21, 1994. 1-69 The utility supplies 6,726 electric customers (5,944 residential, 742 commercial, 28 industrial, and 12 government). Although most (88 percent) of its customers are residential, more than half (55 percent) of its 193,807 megawatt-hours of electricity sales are to industry. ‘In 1994, the company sold 49,768 megawatt-hours to the residential sector, 30,802 megawatt-hours to the commercial sector, and 106,464 megawatt-hours to the industrial sector. Commonwealth Edison Commonwealth Edison provides electric service to most of the Rock River region. The company is one of the largest investor-owned electric utilities in the country, with a generating capacity of more than 22,500 megawatts. It serves over three million customers throughout northern Illinois (approximately 70% of Illinois’ population) and most of the population of 333,000 living in the Rock River region -- all but the 16,000 living in Rochelle, South Beloit and Rockton. With its Dixon plant in Lee County, its Byron plant in Ogle County and its Sabrooke plant in Winnebago County, Commonwealth Edison Company maintains a combined generating capacity of 2,903 megawatts in the Rock River area. This represents 13% of its total generating capacity. Dixon is a small hydropower plant located on the Rock River at the city of Dixon; the company is currently in the process of selling the plant. Sabrooke is an oil-fired peaking unit located at Rockford. Byron is the newest of Commonwealth Edison’s nuclear power plants; the second of two units was completed in 1987. It is located on the Rock River in northwest Ogle County near the city of Byron. In 1994, the Byron nuclear plant experienced a maximum 2,258 megawatts net peak demand and a net generation of 16,296,064 megawatt-hours. Table 36. Generating Units, Commonwealth Edison’ Plant Location Unit FuelSource Capacity -Sabrooke Rockford, Winnebago Co. = 31,32 oil 73.7 Sabrooke Rockford, Winnebago Co. 33,34 oil 76.0 Dixon Dixon, Lee County 1-5 hydropower 32 Byron Byron, Ogle County 1,2 uranium 2,450 Total capacity 2,603 7 Data source: Commonwealth Edison Company, ILCC Form 21, 1994. 1-70 Residential Electricity Rates Rochelle South Beloit ComEd Figure 53 Rates Electricity rates vary considerably among the three utilities serving the Rock River area. The city council of Rochelle sets rates for Rochelle Municipal Utilities; the Illinois Commerce Commission sets the rates for Commonwealth Edison and South Beloit. Because the latter two are investor-owned utilities, rates not only cover costs of service but also provide for a reasonable rate of return. As shown in Figure 53°, residential customers of South Beloit pay a relatively low rate of 5.9 cents per kilowatt-hour, and customers of Rochelle Municipal Utilities pay a moderate rate of 8 cents per kilowatt-hour. In contrast, residential customers of Commonwealth Edison, which include most of the population of the Rock River area, pay the highest rate in the state, more than 10.6 cents per kilowatt-hour. Table 37 compares the residential, commercial, and industrial rates of the three utilities. Electric rates for each group differ based on the level of consumption, type of usage, time of usage and the individual customer’s ability to defer or delay its maximum demand to off-peak periods. In general, rates for commercial and industrial customers are lower than for residential customers, although they may pay a higher fixed or demand charge. Unlike residential customers, commercial and industrial customers may choose a declining block rate schedule -- rates that drop as they consume more electricity -- and lower rates for electricity consumed during off-peak hours (at night). 8 Rates information obtained from personal communication with Ray Schuatzs, Rochelle Municipal * Utilities; Cindy Kessem, Wisconsin Power and Light Company; and Norb Mizwicki, Commonwealth Edison Company. 1-71 Table 37. Utility Rates ROCHELLE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES Customer Class Fixed Charge Energy Charge (monthly) (cents/k Wh) Residential $4.50 7.95 Commercial? Standard $7.50 10.00 <1000 kWh 8.08 >1000 kWh Demand charge $6.00 <200/kW 6.72 <5000 kWh 5.52 5000-35000 kWh 4.67 >40,000 kWh $8.00/kW. 4.56 <200 kW 3.71 200-500 kw $50+$6.00/kW 3.30 off-peak 5.50 peak SOUTH BELOIT WATER, GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY Fixed Charge . Energy Charge (monthly) . (cents/k Wh) $4.00 5.719 $5.00 2.89 $7.00/kW 2.89 $7.00/kW 2.02 off-peak 3.01 peak COMMONWEALTH EDISON Fixed Charge Energy Charge (monthly) (cents/kWh) $14.24 10.64 $39.93 10.287 <30,000 kWh 9.207 next 470,000 kWh 9.158 to 750,000 kWh $246.39 <10,000 kW 7.88 $524.61 >10,000 kW Demand Charge (basic) $12.85/kW <10,000 kW $5.03/kKW >10,000 kW Demand Charge (summer) $16.41/kW <10,000 kW $6.51/kW >10,000 kW ° Commercial and industrial customers usually have a choice of rate schedules other than the standard schedule, such as a demand charge or time of day schedule. 1-72 Just as with residential customers, South Beloit and Rochelle charge lower rates to their commercial and industrial customers than does Commonwealth Edison. For example, industry pays 2.89 cents per kilowatt-hour in South Beloit, 6 cents or less in Rochelle (depending on the level of consumption), and 7.88 cents in Commonwealth Edison’s territory. The industrial and commercial rates charged by Commonwealth Edison are generally the highest in the state. Natural Gas Natural gas is supplied to the Rock River region by two companies -- Northern Illinois Gas Company and South Beloit Water, Gas and Electric Company. Figure 54 shows the major pipelines and natural gas storage facilities in the area. Northern Illinois Gas is the largest natural gas company in Illinois, supplying the Rock River region in Ogle, Lee and Winnebago Counties (except in South Beloit). The company has an underground storage facility with 3.2 billion cubic feet capacity, located in the Pecatonica Village in Winnebago County. It can accommodate the three counties with a peak day delivery averaging 75 billion cubic feet. Northern Illinois Gas also owns 29 natural gas wells in the area and a 22-inch transmission line running from Dubuque, Iowa to Elgin, Illinois. Twenty-seven miles of the transmission line runs through Ogle County. The South Beloit Water, Gas and Electric Company provides gas to the area in and around South Beloit in Winnebago County. In 1994, the company sold 7,469,412 million cubic feet of natural gas to its 4,847 natural gas customers. Facilities include 3-, 4- and 5- inch steel pipes and 2-, 3-, and 4-inch plastic pipes totaling 101.67 miles of gas lines. Conclusion Three companies provide electric service and two supply natural gas in the Rock River area. Commonwealth Edison is the largest electric supplier with 13% of its capacity located in the region and 95% of the local population served by its system. The electric rates charged by Edison are generally higher than those charged by the two smaller companies in the area. Northern Illinois Gas is the primary natural gas supplier in the region with a large underground storage facility in Winnebago County. 1-73 g Figure 54. Major Pipelines and Natural Gas Storage Facilities The pipeline information is fram a map prepared by W. F. Meents of the Illinois State Geological Survey in 1977 titled, Oil and Gas Industry in Illinois. Natural Gas Pipeline Refined Products Pipeline Natural Gas Storage Facility 5 10 15 miles | Property Taxes Property taxes’ are the major source of tax revenue for local government in Illinois, providing more than 75% of total revenue. These taxes finance the majority of local government services, including school districts, county, township, and municipality governments, and special districts such as fire, park, sanitary, library, and airport. Property taxes depend primarily on the equalized assessed valuation’ (i.e., tax base) of property in the county and the tax rates. Changes in the tax base are based primarily on the assessed values, which are usually reassessed every four years, and the amount of residential, commercial, and industrial expansion. The tax rate is dependent on the amount of revenue sought by the local governments (tax levy), the assessed value of the property (tax base), and the legal maximum tax rate. Tax Revenues Property tax revenues in Illinois have increased significantly in the last ten years, after a steady decline during the 1970’s and early 1980s. As illustrated in Figure 56, property tax revenues rose more than one percent annually from 1971-76 and about a half of a percent a year from 1977-82. However, since then taxes increased more than three percent annually from 1983-88 and over two percent a year from 1989-93. Real property taxes collected in Illinois went from over $9 billion in 1971 to almost $11.5 billion in 1993. The Rock River area followed a similar pattern, with declines in property tax revenues in the 1970s and early 1980s and increases in revenues since. The one exception is Ogle County, where property tax revenues began increasing significantly in the mid 1970s. The increases in Ogle County have also been higher than the state average and the other Rock River counties. Ogle County has had higher annual increases in property tax revenues since the mid 1970s because of the building and operation of Commonwealth Edison’s Byron nuclear power plant (two generating units were added in 1985 and 1987) which contributes millions of dollars to the county in property taxes annually. ' All property tax data is from Illinois Department of Revenue, J/linois Property Tax Statistics, various years. ? Equalized assessed valuations are determined by several factors including: e property is assessed at 33.3% of fair market value (except where property is classified); e equalization process is to correct for counties which over- or under assess property; e the amount of farmland in a county, which is assessed on productivity instead of market value. 1-75 Figure 55. L-------- be oe ee ee Major Property Tax Districts d Codes Counties, Townships, Municipalities and 1992 Unit School Districts an Unit School Districts Nv Township Boundaries County Boundaries é The Mi -------- Scale 1 : 480,000 15 miles 10 Average Annual Percentage Change in Property Tax Revenue (using 1993 dollars ) Lee Ogle Winnebago State Figure 56 Just recently, however, the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board ruled that the Byron plant was being overassessed and cut its tax base and resulting revenues two-thirds. In 1994, Commonwealth Edison paid $40.1 million in taxes for Byron, representing more than 50% of the county’s property tax revenues. The Board’s ruling would reduce those taxes to $13.3 million. Furthermore, the ruling is retroactive to 1989, meaning that local taxing districts in Ogle County will have to refund more than $110 million in taxes. Ogle County is expected to appeal the ruling. Of the three counties, Lee County has had the lowest growth in property tax revenues, with larger declines in the 1970s through the mid-1980s and minimal increases since 1988. Winnebago County experienced significant declines in revenue, particularly from 1977-82, but has had strong growth since then, with almost 5% growth between 1988-1993. Table 38. Real Property Taxes Collected (Million 1993$) 1971 1975 1980 1985 1990 1993 Lee 30.54 30.20 25.93 24.45 22.86 23.83 Ogle 32:97 28.86 38.67 40.86 50.15 64.80 Winnebago 182.44 179.76 125.32 147.89 164.50 196.68 Region 245.95 238.82 189.92 213.20 237.52 285.31 State 9283.35 8616.34 8149.24 8450.35 10673.27 11496.63 1-77 Average Annual Percentage Change in Real Property Tax Base 1969-76 0 1977-82 0 1983-88 & 1989-93 Lee . Ogle - Winnebago State Figure 57 Property Tax Base The property tax base in Illinois has declined significantly since 1969, though it has increased since the low point in 1985. Lee and Winnebago Counties also had a declining tax base; falling 50% between 1969 and 1993. In Ogle County, the tax base has doubled over this same time period, due to the addition of a nuclear power plant owned by Commonwealth Edison. Table 39. Real Property Tax Base (Million 1993$) 1969 1975 1980 1985 1990 1993 Lee 833 613 500 396 301 316 Ogle 782 594 856 1,031 992 1,446 Winnebago 4,139 3,404 2,194 1,884 1,912 2,194 Region 5,754 4,611 3,311 3,311 3,205 3,956 State 167,175 136,665 120,427 112,565 130,953 144,469 Figures 58 and 59 show the make up of the tax base by the different classes of property in 1981 and 1993. In 1993, residential property provided the largest chunk of the state’s tax base (50%), followed by commercial (28%), industrial (14)%, and farm property (4.3%). This was not much of a change since 1981 except that farm property dropped from 12.4% to 4.3% of the tax base. Because of this decline, residential and commercial properties accounted for a higher proportion of the tax base in 1993 than in 1981. 1-78 1981 Property Tax Base by Class of Property Residential OFarm & Commercial @ Industrial Figure 58 The make up of the tax base varies greatly among the counties of the Rock River area because of the different types of economic activity dominating each county. Lee County, for example, is predominantly a rural farm community and subsequently obtains a large proportion of its tax base from farm property, 35% in 1993. This is down from 50% in 1981. Residential property now accounts for more than 45% of the tax base. 1993 Property Tax Base by Class of Property 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Figure 59 1-79 Ogle County’s tax base is dominated by the Commonwealth Edison nuclear power plant -- industrial property accounts for more than 70% of its tax base, considerably higher than 1981, when industrial property provided 42% of the tax base. Residential property accounts for less than 20% of the tax base, much less than the state average of 53%. The tax base in Winnebago County reflects its highly urban character, with residential property providing 70% of the taxes. Tax Rates Over the past couple of decades the average property tax rate has risen in the state and the Rock River area (Figure 60). The tax rate is typically expressed in dollars collected per $100 dollars of tax base. Since 1969, the statewide average property tax rate has risen from $4.60 to $8.00 per $100 of tax base -- almost an 80% increase. In Winnebago and Lee counties property tax rates have more than doubled. The tax rate in Ogle County has risen only 18% since 1969 and is actually below the peak rate of $5.30/$100 of tax base in 1975 and 1990. Tax rate increases are directly related to a greater need for revenue and/or a significant decline in the tax base. For example, between 1969 and 1993 the tax base in Winnebago County declined by almost 50%, while the need for revenue continued to grow. Asa result, tax rates were increased to the point that in 1993 more property tax revenue was collected than in 1971. In contrast, the tax base in Ogle County has grown since 1975, with the result that tax rates have increased only moderately, and have at times actually decreased. Average Property Tax Rate > Lee -* Ogle -*- Winnebago —+ State $/$100 of tax base 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 Figure 60 1-80 Property Tax Distribution Property taxes are used to finance a variety of local government services, with the majority going to school districts (Figure 61). Statewide, 60% was distributed to school districts in 1993. The remainder of property tax revenues went to municipal (16%), county (10%), and township governments (3%), and to other services (11%) such as fire, sanitary, park, library, and airport services. In the Rock River area slightly more of the revenue goes to schools, ranging from 61% in Winnebago County to 66% in Ogle County. In Winnebago County the remaining revenue was distributed in similar proportions as the state average. The more rural counties, however, distribute less to municipal government and allot more to county and township governments. The distribution of property taxes in the state and the Rock River area has not changed much since 1980. Conclusion Property tax revenues have increased significantly in the Rock River area and the state. Ogle County has had the largest increase, while revenues have declined in Lee County. The property taxes are determined by the tax base and the tax rate. Overall, the tax base has declined and the tax rates have risen in the Rock River area and the state. The one exception to the declining tax base is Ogle County, where the tax base has doubled due to the addition of a nuclear power plant in the county. (However, if a recent ruling by the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board is upheld, the county would lose two-thirds of its tax base.) Given the large increase in the tax base, the increase in the tax rate in Ogle County (18%) is much lower than the increases in the other Rock River counties (> 100%) and the state average (>80%). For the state, the majority of the tax base is from residential property. This trend is also true for Winnebago and Lee County. Lee County also obtains a large percent of its tax base from farm property. Ogle County obtains most of its tax base from industrial property. For both the Rock River area and the state, a majority of property tax revenues (> 60%) go to school districts. 1-81 1993 Property Tax Distribution” Lee County Other 6% Township 8% County 15% School 63% City 8% Ogle County Other Township 5% County 11% City 3% Winnebago County Other 13% Township 3% County 8% School City 61% 15% Figure 61 > The property tax distributions are based on total property taxes extended, which is the dollar amount of taxes billed to property taxes extended. This is different from the amount collected due to charges against collections such as protest, delinquencies, certificates of error and other changes. The amount collected is typically more than 97% of the amount of taxes extended. 1-82 Environmental Quality Human activities have a significant potential impact upon the environment; air emissions, point and non-point discharges to water, solid and hazardous waste all affect environmental quality. Because of its predominantly rural character, the Rock River area does not have major pollution problems. This section discusses the air quality of the area and the generation and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. Air Quality Of the three counties in the Rock River area, only Winnebago County, specifically the Rockford area, has been monitored as part of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s statewide air quality network.’ Ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, and particulate matter are the regulated pollutants monitored in Rockford.? Measurements for particulate matter included both total suspended particulates (TSP) and particles less than ten micrometers (PMjpo) in size. Sulfur dioxide No sulfur dioxide standards were violated during the period of 1978 through 1986 when the Rockford monitoring station collected and reported SO2 measurements. Table 40 shows that measured levels of SO2 declined during the period. Illinois ambient air quality standards for SQ2 are: e - Primary -- 0.14 ppm (parts per million) in a 24-hour period 0.03 ppm annual arithmetic mean e Secondary -- 0.5 ppm in a 3-hour period ' Data on the air quality in the Rock River Macrosite region was obtained from a database put together by the State Water Survey for the Critical Trends Assessment Project. The database was developed from IEPA’s Annual Air Quality Reports for the period 1978 through 1990. ? TSP and lead were measured in South Beloit in 1979-1981. 1-83 Table 40. Sulfur Dioxide Measurements (in parts per million) Number of Maximum Maximum Annual 3-hour* 24-hour* Mean 7844 0.074 0.037 0.009 6688 0.118 0.039 N/A 7998 0.039 0.021 0.005 8266 0.06 0.033 0.004 8501 0.06 0.034 0.004 8331 0.053 0.027 0.004 8013 0.056 0.031 0.004 8607 0.044 0.019 0.003 8406 0.043 0.021 0.003 *average for the time period Ozone The one-hour 0.12 ppm ozone standard was never violated at the two Rockford monitoring stations during the reporting period of 1980-90. (A third station collected samples in 1980 and 1981). Measurements during the 10-year period hovered around 0.1 ppm, although they began declining in 1988. Ozone Levels (1hr. Max) Figure 62 1-84 Carbon Monoxide The carbon monoxide standard has not been exceeded at the Rockford monitoring station since 1984 when the 8-hour standard of 9 ppm was violated three times. The 8-hour standard was also exceeded once in the years 1981, 1982, and 1983. The 1-hour standard of 35 ppm had no violations during the 1981-1990 time period. Table 41 shows that the 1-hour maximums have fluctuated, while the 8-hour maximums have declined since their peak in 1984. Table 41. Carbon Monoxide Measurements (in parts per million) Number of Maximum Maximum 1-hour 8-hour 1981 8211 21.0 9.5 1982 7515 13.7 9.5 1983 5941 17.3 9.7 1984 7962 19.7 10.5 1985 7708 12.4 8.2 1986 8342 12.9 9.4* 1987 7902 15.5 9.1* 1988 8117 11.4 8.2 1989 8300 12.6 6.7 1990 8613 15.8 6.7 *Because data are rounded, values have to be equal to or greater than 9.5 to exceed the standard. Lead . During the 1978-1992 study period, the lead standard was never exceeded in the Rockford area. Lead was monitored at five different locations, four in Rockford and one in South Beloit, with three stations collecting data for only one year and South Beloit collecting no data after 1982. The highest mean was slightly above .2 ug/m’ (micrograms per cubic meter), well below the standard of 1.5 ug/m* (based on the quarterly arithmetic mean). Particulate Matter Only twice in 1983 (one time each at two different monitoring stations) and once in 1985 was the 24-hour total suspended particulate. standard (TSP) exceeded in Rockford. Initially five stations collected TSP data, but two Rockford stations stopped collecting in 1980 and the South Beloit station stopped in 1981. The other two Rockford stations collected data from at least 1981 through 1990; their findings are reported in Table 42. At that time, the TSP standards were: 1-85 e Primary -- 75 ug/m? for annual geometric mean 260 ug/m? for 24-hour e Secondary --60 ug/m’ for annual geometric mean 150 ug/m’ for 24-hour Based on U.S. EPA standards promulgated in 1987, Illinois replaced TSP standards with PMypo standards in 1992. (PM standards are based on the size of the particulates -- 10 micrometers and smaller.) For 1988-1990 one station reported PMio measurements for the 24-hour standard; no measurements exceeded the PMio standard. Table 42. Total Suspended Particulate Measurements (in ug/m’ -- micrograms per cubic meter) First Street Waste Generation and Disposal Toxic Release Inventory Federal law requires that manufacturing firms report environmental releases’ of toxic chemicals to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI).* Between 1987 and 1992, five to six percent of Illinois facilities reporting were from the Rock River area. Facilities in the area released between three and ten percent of the statewide total released to all environmental media. Figure 63 illustrates significant releases in the Rock River area. In figure 1 and following tables, “Fugitive Air” means indirect releases such as leaks to the atmosphere (i.e. not from the smokestack). “Stack Air” means direct releases to the atmosphere from the smokestack. “To Water” means direct release to a stream or river. “To POTW” means discharge to a publicly-owned sewage treatment works, where the chemicals are generally removed prior to release to a stream or river. “To Land” means landfilled, put in an impoundment, or otherwise disposed at the facility. “Off-site” means shipped off-site to another facility to be recycled or disposed of by that facility. 4 Data on the Toxic Release Inventory is from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Annual Toxic Chemical Reports from 1989 to 1994. 1-86 Significant TRI Releases Rock River Area Million Lbs. Figure 63 In Winnebago County, the number of facilities reporting TRI data increased from 37 firms in 1987 to 66 firms in 1992. This increase was due primarily to changes in reporting requirements. The amount of chemicals released increased from 3.4 million pounds to 23.3 million pounds. Between 1990 and 1991 total emissions jumped because of a significant increase in the reported release of sulfuric acid and copper and related compounds to publicly-owned treatment works. Table 43 shows the total amounts released to different parts of the environment over the six-year period. In Ogle County the number of manufacturing facilities reporting TRI releases varied around a dozen. Over the six years, estimated releases declined roughly 20%. Between 1988 and 1992 total releases ranged between 2.5 and 2.8 million pounds per year. Table 43. Toxic Release Inventory - Winnebago County (in thousand pounds) Environmental Releases 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 Fugitive Air 963.9 1,328.1 7864 786.4 757 581.7 Stack Air Ta a "1,073°7 © STE2. 4918.2 ~ 5 1323.5~ 1,078.3 To Water 1.5 15 3.2 3.2 5.1 3.1 To POTW 136.1 1,012.5 1,371.1-1,37h1 -15,893.8-14,908.9 To Land 92.1 22.9 Ss) 5 0 0 Off-Site 877.9 2,300.3 2,041.9 2,041.9 5,891.2 6,720.9 1-87 Table 44. Toxic Release Inventory -- Ogle County (in thousand pounds) 1989 1990 1991 1992 224.6 193.5 141.3 200.87 1988 200.3 1987 1,484.6 Environmental Releases Fugitive air Stack-air 439.2 2,094.3 1,972.2 1,634.5 1,624.9 1,327.1 To water »S 1.5 ites) 4 3 er To POTW 1,421 97.1 64.5 2004 171.9 251.9 Off-site 192.4 328.1 298.2 780.8 1,037.6 1,051.1 Table 44 presents the environmental releases reported for the period 1987 through 1992 for manufacturing facilities in Ogle County. In Lee County, the number of facilities reporting TRI data has ranged from one to three, with three facilities reporting in 1992. During the six years reported, releases declined from more than 25 million pounds to less than one thousand pounds by 1992, the lowest amount reported from any county in the state. The decline was due to aluminum oxide being removed from reporting requirements. Table 45. Toxic Release Inventory - Lee County (in thousand pounds) 1992 1989 1990 1991 1987 1988 Environmental Releases Fugitive air 8.7 2.2 0 2. 0 0 Stack-air 2.6 165 3.54 26 5.6 iS To water 0 2.1 .03 .03 0 0 To POTW 1.8 0 0 0 5 5 Off-site 0 18,727.7 25,011.88 7.5 10.6 6 Hazardous Waste Generation, Storage and Disposal Between 1987 and 1992 the total amount of hazardous waste generated’ in the region increased by 97%, compared to a 86% increase statewide. In 1992, the amount generated in the 3-county area was two percent of the state’s total. Table 46 shows that hazardous waste generation in Winnebago and Ogle counties was fairly stable until 1991, when it increased significantly in both counties. Most of that increase was managed on-site. The small amount of hazardous waste generated in Lee County is mostly shipped off-site. > Note the total amount of hazardous waste generated is the sum of two classifications, “generated and shipped off-site” and “generated and managed on-site”. The data is from IEPA’s reports, Table K, Hazardous Waste Generated and Managed by County, 1987-1989 & 1989-1992. This approach was used to compare county generation with statewide since the data was not available to calculate it in the same manner as the IEPA. 1-88 Table 46. Hazardous Waste Generation and Management (in tons) 1988 1989 Winnebago County 10,185 9,542 87,800 366,676 Shipped Off-Site 9,655 9,314 9,503 8,094 12,711 241,947 Managed On-Site 530 562 39 102 75,089 124,729 Ogle County 624 815 1,015 3,158 43,654 18,425 Shipped Off-Site 624 815 1014 2039 1413 699 Managed On-Site 0 0 1 1,119 42,241 17,726 Lee County 47 173 102 166 118 88 Shipped Off-Site 47 173 102 166 112 83 Managed On-Site 0 0 0 0 6 5 Solid Waste Generation and Disposal In 1993 the region had four operating landfills; two others had closed between 1987 and 1993. Statewide, 70 of 146 landfills closed during that time, mostly in response to stricter environmental regulations. During the six years, the amount of solid waste generated increased 24% in the region and 30% statewide. Table 47. Solid Waste Generation and Disposal (in thousand cubic yards) 1991 1987 1990 1988 1989 Rock River Area Generated 1,065.8 1,066.8 1,225.2 1,352.9 1,375.5 1,229.0 1,319.3 Disposed 996.8 1,221.9 1,301.1 984.7 893.2 1088.6 838.1 Statewide Generated 37,819.0 37,925.6 43,459.2 47,895.3 51,957.8 47,280.6 49,052.3 Disposed 51,906.7 51,236.3 45,869.6 45,228.4 42,741.1 42,048.9 42,245.7 The amount of waste disposed, however, decreased 16% as more of the waste was recycled or composted (Figure 64). Statewide, the amount declined 19%. In 1993, solid waste generated in the region comprised approximately two and half percent of the statewide total, while solid waste disposed comprised two percent of the statewide total. ° Data on solid waste from IEPA annual solid waste reports entitled, Available Disposal Capacity for Solid Waste in Illinois, years 1987 through 1994. 1-89 1987 landfill 93% net export 7% Figure 64. Solid Waste Disposal, Rock River Area Winnebago County From 1987 to 1993, solid waste generation increased 27% in Winnebago County. Most of this waste was either exported or landfilled in the county’s landfill, Pagel Pit. After 1991, only one landfill was operating, but more waste was being recycled or composted -- 30% recycled and 5% composted in 1993. Table 48. Winnebago County Solid Waste Generation and Management (in thousand tons) 1988 1989 1990 321 147 63 95 16 Ogle County Up to 1990 Ogle County had three licensed landfills; only two were in operation as of 1993. The landfills are known as the Browning Ferris Industries landfill and the Rochelle Municipal #2 landfill. No distinct trends were discernible; waste generation increased until 1991, when it began dropping. In 1993, less waste was generated than in 1987. 1-90 Table 49. Ogle County Solid Waste Generation and Management (in thousand tons) 1990 1988 1989 Generated Imported Landfilled Recycled Lee County For the past seven years Lee County has had one licensed landfill, the Dixon Municipal Group #2. The amount of solid waste generated steadily increased from 1987 to 1991, after which it began decreasing. In 1991 generation was 54% more than in 1987; in 1993 it was only 30% more than in 1987. During the seven year period, the amount landfilled peaked in 1989 at 45 thousand tons and dropped to 33 thousands tons by 1993. Table 50. Lee County Solid Waste Generation and Management (in thousand tons) 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 Generated 28 = 28 37 ©9408 843 40 39 Exported 0 0 0 0 2 0 6 Imported 12 Pay. 37 1 0 10 0 Landfilled 40 40 45 41 4] 39 33 Recycled 0 Ab. hye 0 0 1] 0 Low-level nuclear waste The significant low-level nuclear waste generators’ in the Rock River area are the University of Illinois at Rockford and Commonwealth Edison’s Byron Nuclear Plant in Ogle County. The volume of waste at both varied greatly over the eight years of available data (e.g., no waste was reported by U of I in 1985 and 1990), but over the long-term the reported amount stayed fairly constant. Radioactivity (curies) was reported only for the Byron waste. The trend in curies was upward between 1984 and 1990, but in 1991 levels were half those of 1990. ” Data on low-level waste was from Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety’s annual reports, Annual Report on the Survey of Low-Level Radioactive Waste Generators in Illinois, for the years 1984 though 1992 1-9] Table 51. Low-Level Nuclear Waste Generation Units 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 Cubic Feet 270 0 60 466 38.9 46.6 0. 533 0 6,277 11,215 10,788 7,713 12,986 10,099 11,774 0 14 100 376) (50Rsni112Z2 1574 623 Generator U of I-Rockford Byron Nuclear Plant} Cubic Feet Radioactivity Curies Five medical generators also produce low-level nuclear waste in the area; however, the amounts are too small to be published in the state’s annual report. Conclusion Air quality in the Rock River area is generally good; none of the five criteria air pollutants measured in the Rockford area has exceeded the standard since 1985. Hazardous waste.is being generated at a higher level, however -- up 97% between 1987 and 1992. The amount of solid waste being generated has also increased, although not at quite the level of hazardous waste; it increased 24% between 1987 and 1993, while the amount disposed in the region declined 16%. 1-92 References Demographics Bureau of Economic and Business Research. 1990 and 1993. Illinois Statistical Abstract. Champaign, IL. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Illinois Secretary of State. 1993. Illinois Counties & Incorporated Municipalities. Springfield, IL. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 1982, 1987 and 1992. National Resources Inventory. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1970 Census of Population. General Social and Economic Characteristics: Illinois. Washington, D.C. U.S. Government Printing Office. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1970 Census of Housing. Volume 1. Housing Characteristics for State, Cities, and Counties. Part 15: Illinois. Washington, D.C. U.S. Government Printing Office. - U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1970 and 1980. Census of Population. General Population Characteristics: Illinois. Washington, D.C. U.S. Government Printing Office. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1980 Census of Population and Housing. Summary Characteristics for Governmental Units and Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Illinois. Washington, D.C. U.S. Government Printing Office. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1990 Census of Population and Housing. Summary Population and Housing Characteristics. Washington, D.C. U.S. Government Printing Office. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1990 Census of Population and ‘Housing. Summary Social, Economic , and Housing Characteristics. Illinois. Washington, D.C. U.S. Government Printing Office. Woods & Poole Economics, Inc. 1994 State Profile: Illinois. Washington, D. C. Health Trends Illinois Department of Public Health. 1960-1970, 1975, 1985, 1990. Vital Statistics Illinois. Springfield, IL. Illinois Department of Public Health. 1991-1994. Vital Statistician. Springfield, IL. 1-93 The Regional Economy United States Department of Commerce. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 1995. Regional Economic Information System, 1969-1993. Washington, D.C. Agriculture Illinois Department of Agriculture. 1994. Agricultural Statistics. Springfield, IL. Outdoor Recreation Anderson, W.L., L.K. Campbell, and D.M. Witzany. 1995. Hunter activity and wildlife harvest in Illinois: county averages for 1989-1993. Federal Aid Projects W-99-R and W-112-R. Illinois Department of Conservation, Springfield, IL. Bertrand, B. (revised by E. Walsh) 1991. Fishing the Rock. Illinois Department of Conservation, Division of Fisheries, Springfield, IL. Fox, H.W., and D.M. Stengert. 1976. Silvicutural management used to develop simulated virgin timber conditions. Forestry Research Report No. 76-2, Department of Forestry, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. Garver, J.K. 1994a. Restocking of wild turkeys. Final report: survey and investigations projects, Federal Aid Project W-105-R(5). Illinois Department of Conservation, Springfield, IL. Garver, J.K. 1994b. Population studies of wild turkeys. Job completion report: survey and investigations projects, Federal Aid Project W-105-R(4). Illinois Department of Conservation, Springfield, IL. . Heidinger, R.C. and B.L. Tetzlaff. Principle investigators. 1989. Rock River recreational use survey. Illinois Department of Conservation Project F-86-R. Springfield, IL. Illinois Department of Conservation. 1994. Land and Water Report. Springfield, Illinois Illinois Department of Conservation. 1994. Illinois sport fishing survey: 1992. Special Fisheries Report Number 55. Springfield, IL. Illinois Natural Heritage Database. 1995. Illinois Department of Conservation, Springfield, IL. Jones, M.D. 1994. Flora of Lowden-Miller State Forest, Ogle County, Illinois. Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 1994. The Changing Illinois Environment: Critical Trends. Volume 3, Ecological Resources. ILENR/RE- EA-94/05(3). Springfield, IL. White, J. 1978. Illinois natural areas technical report: volume 1, survey methods and results. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, Urbana, IL. 1-94 Transportation Infrastructure Illinois Department of Transportation, Office of Planning and Programming. 1973-1993. Illinois Travel Statistics. Springfield, IL. Illinois Department of Transportation. 1995. Illinois Airport Inventory Report 1995. Springfield, IL. Illinois Department of Transportation. 1992. Illinois Rail Plan: 1991-1992 Update. Springfield, IL. Illinois Secretary of State. 1970-1992. County Statistical Report for Motor Vehicle License Units and Transactions Received. Springfield, IL. Energy Facilities Commonwealth Edison Company. 1994. Annual Report of Major Electric Utilities, Licencees and Others. Form No. 1, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. . Electrical World. 1992. Directory of Electric Utilities. New York, N.Y. McGraw Hill, Inc. South Beloit Water, Gas and Electric Company. 1994. Annual Report of Electric Utilities, Licensees and/or other Natural Gas Utilities to the Illinois Commerce Commission. Form 21 ILCC. Wisconsin Power and Light. 1994. Annual Report of Electric Utilities, Licencees and/or Natural Gas Utilities to the Illinois Commerce Commission. Form 21 ILCC. Taxes Illinois Department of Revenue. 1966-1993. Illinois Property Tax Statistics. Springfield, Illinois. Environmental Quality Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety. 1986. Annual Report on the Survey of Low-Level Radioactive Waste Generators in Illinois for 1984. Springfield, IL. Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety. 1987-1995. (1985-1994) Annual Survey Report. Springfield, IL. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. 1989-1994. Annual Toxic Chemical Report. Springfield, IL. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. 1987-1994. Available Disposal Capacity for Solid Waste in Illinois; Annual Report. Springfield, IL. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. 1990-1994. Summary of Annual Reports on Hazardous Waste; Generation, Treatment, Storage and Disposal. Springfield, IL. 1-95 The Rao Eng 2 ‘Sicaiaenih para een, (968 2Q2! iroqad yremnaval nog toni eth agave Agritniters . ha | ves s Ns :. " ’ * ta ines 4: 4 ba _ é 2 the? oti tect i S26 Anderson, WL, LR. 7 Ald erreat in WRioix’ oct enrages fr Y9A9-)993. F F Bessa W-99-R tard Wei 124K, These Saparunsye of ose Garver, 1K. 1994a. : pinedien a ie elie rater ir rebreresecaonl pester esl fs ie aii ob Conse Laie led dora. Saini is a aoa eat) la Garver, JK. 1994, Populatinys studies of wile turkeys. Job completion report | satay dnd fervesti igen OER: mand A a a W-105-u4) WMnots Hedinger, F.C, and BL. Sonn peal et 200 sae ‘7989. at ven’ recreations! Yue mar vey {seme | heehee’ of Conservation enlccapleetr Springfield, iL. F teva fe Cord a to Hoga Koa ht bei (ine a0 oS cig sa aN A isftyaing? Bead | ire masonic NE ——S He 4 Stone reap 0 ¢ Cours e tao : N MiB ifa-)'- i. ol d ; Wy AG a ee Sti gre eee prone eran and reeults. [Hingis Nanual Arias lnveeucery, Vrbanw, (1. 20a set ‘ < PART II | EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE ECOLOGY OF THE ROCK RIVER HILL COUNTRY Bie ve, r YWestivivoO LH as > 12051 40 AT ic — * P é = Ls oy : ( ~~ i y * ‘ . ‘ a bs 3 - s # és - a ¢ * — 7 = ‘ wily 4 a “ aA ' > avi er 7; . a « Ne 5. > * 6 < . « € % c. 2 ' «7 Y eT 4 , i af oy , = ~ ue ay rae | { ie as? Table of Contents COINS Lo TES CORN OPE EN OAS Oa 2 Oe ee on CORED Sd 2-1 PE CRSDIONL SCOUT 05.5 nas npactinns dance oaporbnadnstensenassnayooont 2-1 Arerier ell Alec raurarem ts fete wea tetas wee Pe Dh x= pp icantiem, Whe (compiler). 1825, Nit ti itaian stl ool 4 Pinas Piven, Lake Winnepeck Lake of the Woods. &t. Performed is the : S808, by he Onder of the Hon, 1.C. Cathoun, Secretary of War, Under tt Conameind of Revives H, Long UST.E, VWohsme IT. cg See ' Loraen 2AR % 156 pr - Miel 55. Te ni 7 fe Bi Powneetias, Face of vi Coanay, Pptainent Digricts, 2s oF i . a: ro = Re 1 ao <<, ee si ‘ i