Every drop of water that falls within the Woods Creek watershed area runs into Woods Creek. So if that water picks up pollutants like oil, pesticides and chemicals, that flows into Woods Creek as well.

"People need to be educated on what happens to storm water and where it goes," said Michele Zimmerman, Algonquin's assistant public works director and one of the coordinators for the Woods Creek Watershed Plan. "It affects all of the water downstream, and all of us live downstream from somebody." The Woods Creek Watershed stretches from Algonquin to Lake in the Hills and Crystal Lake. It is the area that drains into Woods Creek, which drains into Crystal Creek and the Fox River. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency lists the Fox River as an impaired waterway, which means that it is very polluted, Zimmerman said. Impaired waterways aren't safe for recreational pursuits such as swimming and fishing. The pollution also has a negative effect on the ecosystem and biological diversity in the area.

The Woods Creek Watershed Plan will hold a stakeholders kickoff meeting from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at , 2200 Harnish Drive. The term stakeholders applies to anyone who lives or owns property within the watershed and is interested in being involved in the planning process.

The 9-square-mile watershed flows beyond municipal borders, so the watershed plan is a cooperative effort of the villages of Algonquin and , the and the Crystal Lake Park District. Funding for the plan comes primarily from a $55,000 grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The full cost is $75,000. The remaining $20,000 will be split among the four government bodies.

The Woods Creek Watershed is a diverse area that includes housing developments, commercial centers, farmland and natural areas. Urban sprawl in the past 15 years has degraded the water quality.

A consultant, Applied Ecological Services Inc., will conduct the watershed study and planning process. The entire process will take nearly two years, Zimmerman said.

"They will start with evaluating the watershed, identifying the creek and its tributaries, where all surface water comes from, and where it enters Woods Creek. They will evaluate sample water to find where pollutants are coming from and have suggestions to help clean the water," Zimmerman said. She said education is a big part of the process as well, since it is important for people to understand the impact of pollutants on water quality.