DuPage County Stormwater Management News & Updates

DuPage County, Illinois sent this bulletin at 11/30/2017 09:08 AM CST

November 2017                                                                                                                              View this email in your browser
DuPage County Currents

DuPage County Board Recognizes Green Ribbon Schools

November 32
(Left to right) SCARCE Founder Kay McKeen, DuPage Environmental Chair Amy Grant, DuPage Stormwater Chairman Jim Zay and County Board Chairman Dan Cronin recognize staff from Maercker Intermediate School.

In November, the DuPage County Board recognized Maercker Intermediate School in Westmont and Western Trails Elementary School in Carol Stream for becoming Green Ribbon Schools. Maercker is the first school in DuPage County to be designated a Green Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, as well as the State of Illinois. They were also the first institution to earn DuPage County Stormwater Management's (SWM) Water Quality Flag. Western Trails was also designated a Green Ribbon School by the State for their sustainable practices and education.

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SWM Encourages Road Salt Reduction

November56

DuPage County residents are encouraged to reduce the use of road salt this winter to decrease chloride concentrations in the County’s waterways. Road salts, which are harmful to aquatic life, are carried into storm drains and streams via stormwater runoff. Residents can reduce the use of road salt by following a few simple steps when removing snow and ice.

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SWM Accepting Grant Applications

SWM is currently accepting grant proposals for projects aimed at improving the quality of the County’s streams and rivers. In its 19th year, the Water Quality Improvement Program grant awards funding for projects exhibiting a regional water quality benefit, including restoration and green infrastructure projects. The application deadline is Friday, January 12, 2018. 

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Around Town

SCARCE recently hosted a cooking oil recycling event aimed at protecting local waterways and pipes. At this annual event, select towns collected used cooking oil to recycle into biodiesel. The goal of the event was to make it easier for residents to dispose their leftover or expired cooking oils properly, especially for those frying Thanksgiving turkeys. Although many locations were temporary for this event, DuPage County also has eight year-round collection locations.

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Novemer 75
Used cooking oil can be recycled.

Flood Control Facility Corner

Get to Know SWM's Wayne Oaks Dam and Reservoir

November 1
Wayne Oaks Dam and Reservoir takes in water.

The Wayne Oaks Dam and Reservoir is a SWM flood control facility located along Tributary Number 4 of the West Branch DuPage River in Carol Stream. The facility, which has a capacity of nearly 23 million gallons, takes in water over a fixed concrete weir during flood events. In addition, the reservoir is planted with deep-rooted native vegetation to not only promote infiltration, but also stabilize the shoreline. Residents often utilize the area surrounding the streambank for walking or wildlife watching as waterfowl and other wildlife are frequently observed.

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Upcoming Events

DuPage Environmental Summit

Thursday, January 25, 2018, 7:30 A.M. - Noon

Save the date for the 2018 DuPage Environmental Summit entitled Nature Rx: How Spending Time in Nature is Good for Our Mind, Body and Spirit. The annual Summit will focus on how nature is good for our mental, physical and spiritual health. Held at the NIU Naperville Campus (1120 E. Diehl Rd.), the DuPage Environmental Summit is free and open to the public. Registration for the Summit will open in December.  

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