DuPage County Stormwater Management News & Updates

DuPage County, Illinois sent this bulletin at 05/31/2017 09:37 AM CDT

May 2017                                                                                                                              View this email in your browser
DuPage County Currents

DuPage County Awards Sustainable Design Challenge Winners

June 1
(Left to right) DuPage Stormwater Committee Chair Jim Zay, Environmental Committee Chair Amy Grant and SCARCE Founder Kay McKeen award Best Overall LEED Design to a team from Wheaton Warrenville South High School.

At the May 9 meeting, the DuPage County Board awarded winners of the 11th annual Sustainable Design Challenge. Sponsored by DuPage County Stormwater Management (SWM), SCARCE coordinates the event each year to encourage local schools to explore sustainability topics with students. This year, York High School (Elmhurst) secured four awards in each of the categories: Stormwater Design, LEED Design and Energy Efficiency. Glenbard East (Lombard) and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools also each earned an award in Stormwater Design and LEED Design respectively.

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Rain Barrel Season is Underway

June 2

When hooked to downspouts, rain barrels capture stormwater runoff that may otherwise drain to sewers and local waterways, which can contribute to localized flooding and pollution. Rain barrels are available for purchase through local retailers, including The Conservation Foundation. Click on the video above for a step-by-step tutorial on installing rain barrels. 

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Flooding Guidebook Offers Helpful Tips

This spring and summer, residents are encouraged to download SWM's Guide to Preventing & Repairing Flood Damage. Developed in partnership with Bluestem Communications, the guidebook helps homeowners identify the source of their flooding, as well as various ways to combat this flooding. The guidebook also offers resources for during and after a flood. 

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Around Town

This year marked the 26th annual DuPage River Sweep, which is a countywide self-coordinated stream cleanup and restoration event coordinated by The Conservation Foundation in partnership with SWM. Since its inception in 1991, more than 11,700 volunteers have participated. Despite rainy conditions during the event on May 20, more than 720 local volunteers signed up this year to clean DuPage's local streams and rivers.

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June 3
River Sweep volunteers pick up trash.

Upcoming Events

Composting Workshop

Thursday, June 22, 2017, 7:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.

Join a representative from SCARCE as they present about saving money, conserving water and creating nutrient-rich soil through backyard composting. Learn the dos and don’ts for of a successful compost, including troubleshooting, bin options and how to use your compost. It will be held at the Winfield Public Library (0s291 Winfield Road). Registration is recommended.

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Wetland Delineation Course

Monday, July 24 - Thursday, July 27, 2017

This course will introduce students will be introduced to the basic concepts and methods of wetland delineation with both lectures and field exercises. Instructors will guide students through the delineation steps at several sites and offer opportunities for students to practice their skills in groups. Held in Lake County, the course costs $950, which includes all course materials and textbooks.

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