DuPage County Stormwater Management News & Updates

DuPage County, Illinois sent this bulletin at 06/23/2023 10:25 AM CDT

April 2023                                                                                                                                    View this email in your browser
DuPage County Currents

SWM Hosts Wetland Plant Identification Course

wetland class

Botanist Chris Benda explains the key features of a plant specimen to the class at Eggerman Woods Forest Preserve in Naperville.

SWM's annual plant identification course took place this week, aided by excellent weather. The class is an advanced dive into the identification of wetland grasses, sedges, rushes and forbs. The audience of restoration professionals, wetland consultants, and government employees toured various wetlands, woodlands and prairies throughout DuPage and Lake Counties. The class was led by Chris Benda, a highly respected local botanist and teacher who works as a researcher at Southern Illinois University. Benda also conducts international botanical fieldwork, leads a variety of classes and nature tours for the public around Illinois, and has authored several publications about natural areas in Illinois. He maintains a popular social media presence as the Illinois Botanizer, where he documents rare and interesting plants he encounters.

County Cleaned Up in 32nd Annual River Sweep

river sweep

A volunteer at a cleanup in Naperville picks up trash from the shore of a river.

The 32nd Annual River Sweep was held on May 20th at over 30 different sites across the County. The self-coordinated event, organized by The Conservation Foundation and sponsored by SWM, encourages volunteers to help keep rivers clean by picking up debris in local waterways and removing invasive species from nearby habitat. Since its inception in 1991, over 14,906 volunteers have removed approximately 300 tons of garbage from DuPage waterways. This year, more than 750 volunteers participated, picking up hundreds of pounds of garbage!

New SWM Exhibit Traveling to Local Libraries

scarce

The new educational displays await their first appointment at local libraries.

SWM and DuPage Water Commission recently enlisted SCARCE to produce these wonderful educational displays to engage the public on water quality and water conservation issues. The displays, made from 100% recycled #2 plastic, are covered with panels of information on best management practices and ways to prevent water pollution. The SWM display will serve as a temporary month-long exhibit at library entrances across the County. Keep an eye out for it at your local library in the future!

Around Town

The existing detention basin on the east end of campus is being expanded to handle the anticipated runoff impacts of ongoing and future County capital projects. The basin will gain 6.64 acre feet of new detention capacity, which will support various projects including the Animal Services facility expansion, ADA parking at the 421 building, and future projects for the Health Department and the Care Center. Besides campus runoff, the basin currently and will continue to accommodate runoff from approximately 300 acres of residential properties north of the tracks.The expanded basin will feature a wetland bottom, serving as a habitat for campus wildlife and contributing to improved water quality. This change also fulfills the required Best Management Practices (BMPs) for our current and future campus, while offering cost savings by eliminating the need to haul away soil. Final grading has completed this week, with planting along the edges taking place over the next two weeks.

detention basin crane

An excavator shifts soil around at the easternmost detention basin on County campus.

Upcoming Events

Rotary GroveFest

Sunday, June 25, 2023 12:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M.

SWM will be tabling at Rotary GroveFest going on all weekend in downtown Downers Grove! Come visit us before enjoying all the festival attractions, including live music, carnival, plenty of food and beverages, and more!

More Info

Water Quality Lunch 'N Learn

Thursday, July 11, 2023, 12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M.

Evansville Water and Sewer Utility’s Bee Slough is a concrete-lined, uncovered ditch that runs 1.1 miles along a major road. Three CSO outfalls discharge into Bee Slough. During heavy rains, combined sewage overflows into Bee Slough, totaling nearly 700 MG annually, until it can be pumped to the wastewater treatment facility or discharge into the Ohio River. When overflow occurs, sewage can sit for days, resulting in odor and public health concerns. EWSU decided to design a wet weather treatment facility to address the CSOs that discharge into the slough. The wet weather treatment system includes storage, screening, pumping, chemically enhanced primary clarification, a vertical flow treatment wetland and ultraviolet disinfection.


This project is part of a broader environmental stewardship program instituted by Evansville Water and Sewer Utility to utilize green infrastructure and best management practices to prevent pollution and improve water quality.

Click Here to Register

STEM-a-Palooza at the DuPage County Fair

Friday, July 28 - Sunday, July 30, 2023, All Day

In partnership with SWM, SCARCE is hosting STEM-a-Palooza at the DuPage County Fair! Check out over 3,700 square feet of fun, hands-on environmental activities and make-and-take crafts that bring science, technology, engineering and math to life. SWM staff will also host an interactive booth for children and adults alike. Located at the DuPage County Fairgrounds (2015 Manchester Rd., Wheaton), access is included with Fair admission.

More Info