West Branch Panther Creek watershed Plan

A watershed is the area of land drained by a river, stream, or other body of water.  If rain or snowmelt does not have areas of vegetation to infiltrate into the soil, it may flow overland to lower areas in the landscape to a body of water or wetland. The land surrounding that wetland or body of water is considered the watershed.

The figure below depicts the Woodford County Watershed.

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The primary purpose of the project is to reduce riverine flood damages to residential, municipal, and commercial properties, and other infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, along the West Branch Panther Creek (WBPC), in Woodford County, Illinois.

The proposed action is needed to address repetitive flood damages to residential, municipal, and commercial properties adjacent to the WBPC in the Village and disruptions to emergency service routes. Approximately three bridges are overtopped during the 10-year flood and eight during the 100-year flood up to depths of about three feet.

Per the Tri-County Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (updated 2020), between 1950 and 2017, there were 27 occurrences of general flooding and 28 occurrences of flash flooding in Woodford County. Ten of these occurrences caused approximately $40 million in property damage and $250,000 in crop damage. Six of these events contributed to five federally declared disasters in the County. Based on the frequency and severity of recorded floods, there is a medium to high risk of vulnerability to existing buildings, infrastructure, and critical facilities to all forms of flooding.

The 2016 WBPC Resiliency Plan describes two recent major floods. In 2013, on April 17 and 18, Roanoke experienced 5 inches of rain with the heaviest amounts coming in a 12-hour period. Street flooding isolated one neighborhood, forcing emergency services to take a 4-mile alternate route via rural roads to reach it. Seventeen (17) people were evacuated. Five (5) government/public buildings (including the Village Water Treatment Plant, Village office, ambulance garage, and Village Public Works maintenance building) were damaged and 80 percent of the Village’s maintenance equipment was lost. The American Legion, which is an emergency shelter, community center and polling place, was damaged beyond repair. Twenty-six (26) properties and 82 residences were flooded, costing an estimated $2.7 million in flood damage and clean-up expense. Per the 2016 Resiliency study, bridge and culvert crossings, for example at Court Street, were further affected by the accumulation of crop debris blockage during the 2013 flood.

More recently, on July 15, 2020, Roanoke experienced 6.5 inches of rain which resulted in 123 residences being damaged. Seventeen (17) residences were damaged beyond repair, including the Panther Creek Apartment complex. Area fire departments reported rescuing 14 trapped residents of six homes and apartments. Damage to public buildings include severe damage to the Village Hall, which resulted in the Village relocating it to its current location. The State of Illinois estimated total damage at around $1.3 million.

The primary areas of analysis are near the Village of Roanoke. The West Branch Panther Creek flows along the south side of Roanoke and is an area of interest. There are also streamflow channels arriving from the north that will be analyzed. The segment of West Branch Panther Creek downstream (east) of town will also be analyzed, as some downstream alternatives could provide flood reduction benefits in Roanoke.

The project is currently in the scoping and alternatives development phases. As such,there are no specific plans at this time. The IL-NRCS and the Village of Roanoke are committed to working with property owners. To learn how your property might be impacted by the West Branch Panther Creek Watershed Plan, contact Aaron Pryer, Acting Illinois Watershed Program Manager, at 217-353-6633.

The formal scoping period begins September 2024 and closes February 2026, during which time the public has a chance to submit comments to be considered in the drafting of the Plan/EA. All public comments will be recorded in the Draft Plan/EA. There will also be an Initial Public Meeting on January 22, 2025 and Final Public Meeting on December 18, 2025. When the Draft Plan/EA is published, the public can review it on this Project Website and provide comments.

There will be representatives from the IL-NRCS, Village of Roanoke, and the Architectural – Engineering firm working on the Watershed Plan / EA. The scope of the project will be explained and the areas under consideration will be discussed. The representatives will discuss conceptual  costs of the project and disclose any known potential effects. Comment cards will be available for the public to provide comments and concerns.

The Project website will be updated regularly with information as it is obtained to track the progress of the Plan/EA. If you are unable to attend the Public Meeting, the presentation is planned to be shared via Zoom. It will also be recorded and be available to view within 7 days on the Project Website.

Submitting comments is the most effective way to make your voice heard in the process.  Please feel free to send comments prior to February 2026, and they will be responded to within three business days.

Comments may be:

• Emailed to: WBPCWatershedPlan@stantec.com

• Submitted online at https://www.wbpc-nrcs-watershedplan.com via a comment form in the bottom of the site.

The Illinois-NRCS Office is funding the development of the Plan/EA for the West Branch Panther Creek Watershed Plan. NRCS is authorized to assist local municipalities with watershed and flood reduction planning projects. The local sponsor of the Project is the Village of Roanoke. Roanoke is specifically interested in reducing damages caused by flash floods.

The PR&G govern how federal agencies evaluate proposed water resource projects. They provide direction to federal agencies when evaluating and selecting major water projects. As it relates to the West Branch Panther Creek Watershed Plan, in addition to complying with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Plan/EA must also meet PR&G requirements.  More information on how the PR&G will be incorporated into the Plan/EA can be found in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Guidance for Conducting Analyses Under the Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources Implementation Studies and Federal Water Resource Investments DM 9500-0013.

NEPA was the first major environmental law in the United States, signed by President Nixon on January 1, 1970. NEPA requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. The goal of the NEPA process is to foster action that protects, restores, and enhances our environment. This is achieved through using Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) to provide public officials with relevant information and allow a detailed look at the potential environmental consequences of each proposed project. Read more about the NEPA process from the Council of Environmental Quality.

A Plan/EA is an official environmental review document required by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for planning and carrying out projects under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program (also known as Public Law 83-566) and to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A Plan/EA is required for any project that applies for federal financial assistance through the NRCS Watershed Program and anticipates that the proposed project could significantly affect the quality of the human and natural environment.

If there's an agreed project plan, NRCS may fund a portion of the project costs, depending on the project type.