DuPage County Stormwater Management News & Updates

DuPage County, Illinois sent this bulletin at 05/30/2018 10:13 AM CDT

May 2018                                                                                                                             View this email in your browser
DuPage County Currents

DuPage County and SCARCE Award Water Quality Flags

May 6
County Board Members Liz Chaplin, Sean Noonan and Amy Grant, along with SCARCE's Kay McKeen, award Water Quality Flags to Henry Puffer Elementary School (Downers Grove) and Wheaton Park District.

In partnership with SCARCE, DuPage County Stormwater Management (SWM) recently awarded Water Quality Flags to several local institutions, including Henry Puffer Elementary School (Downers Grove), Stevenson Elementary School (Lombard), Schafer Elementary School (Lombard), Naperville Park District and Wheaton Park District. In addition, several local schools, libraries and park districts are well on their way to earning one. Local organizations can earn the flag by engaging in a series of educational trainings, hands-on activities and green practices. 

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SWM Hosts Pollution Prevention Seminar

May 7
DuPage County Stormwater Committee Chairman Jim Zay greets attendees.

SWM held a Pollution Prevention Seminar for MS4 Communities on May 10. The seminar focused on educating County and municipal staff on ways to reduce stormwater pollution resulting from municipal projects and operations. SWM hosts countywide pollution prevention and green infrastructure trainings annually to comply with federal Clean Water Act requirements.

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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 27th annual DuPage River Sweep, which is a countywide stream cleanup event coordinated by The Conservation Foundation and sponsored by SWM. Since its inception in 1991, more than 12,300 volunteers have participated. Held this year on May 19, local volunteers signed up to remove trash and debris along nearly 100 miles of DuPage County shoreline. Groups can also help year-round by participating in DuPage County's Adopt-a-Stream program.

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May 2
A local Adopt-a-Stream group.

Flood Control Facility Corner

Get to Know the Eldridge Park Reservoir

May 3

Located in southwest Elmhurst, SWM and the City of Elmhurst's Eldridge Park Reservoir provides nearly 40 million gallons, or 120 acre-feet, of flood protection for the Salt Creek Watershed. 

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Upcoming Events

Downers Grove Public Works Open House

Thursday, June 7, 2018, 2:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. 

SWM is sponsoring a booth where attendees can learn about water quality and other initiatives at the annual Downers Grove Public Works Open House . Among Open House activities are tours of the facility and equipment, several raffles and rain barrel sales. The event will be held at Downers Grove's Public Works Facility (5101 Walnut Ave), and all ages are welcome to attend. 

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Retrofitting the Urban Environment: What's New Webcast

Wednesday, June 20, 2018, Noon - 1:30 P.M. 

SWM is hosting a Center for Watershed Protection webcast focusing on retrofits. This webcast will explore the unique stormwater design approach for applying stormwater management criteria on urban lands, as well as profile innovative stormwater practices adapted to the urban setting. It will be held in room 3-500B of DuPage County's Administration Building (421 N. County Farm Rd., Wheaton). Up to 1.5 PDHs offered. 

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Wetland Delineation Course

Tuesday, June 26 - Friday, June 29, 2018, All Day

This course will introduce students 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. Hosted in DuPage County, the course costs $975, which includes all course materials and textbooks. 

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