Knollwood Subdivision Project Near Completion
The Knollwood Subdivision Flood Mitigation and Road Improvements Project started construction on August 8, 2022. On November 15 the Knollwood Project reached substantial completion, and the final work, which includes landscape restoration, will be completed on time and under budget in the Spring 2023.
The project is located in the Village of Fox Lake and is bounded by Rollins Road to the north; IL Route 59 to the west; and Duck Lake.
Since 2007, the Knollwood subdivision has experienced a drop in elevation that has increased its susceptibility to flooding. This contributed to significant flooding of homes and properties as well as neighborhood roads being completely underwater during flood events.
As part of this project, drainage improvements will increase stormwater conveyance and storm sewers were installed to alleviate flood issues caused by heavy rains. Additionally, the project elevated the existing roadway above the height of normal flood events to provide increased flood protection.
The Stormwater Management Commission team and the Village of Fox Lake staff worked with Maneval Construction and the residents of this subdivision since the project award last August. Local resident project representatives worked with community members to minimize disruptions to their daily activities while improving the existing infrastructure.
The Knollwood Subdivision Flood Mitigation and Road Improvements Project was fully funded by a grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to Lake County. The U.S. Department of the Treasury awarded to the State of Illinois federal funding. The funding secured for the project supported design and construction services for the road improvements, culverts, and drainage channels completed within the Knollwood Subdivision.
You're Invited! The WMB Annual Meeting is Dec. 7
The Lake County Watershed Management Board (WMB) Meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Central Permit Facility. A virtual meeting attendance option is available for public participation.
At this meeting the WMB will evaluate and recommend project funding for FY2023. SMC staff will present the WMB projects submitted for FY2023, and applicants are welcome to provide additional information as desired. Project proposals recommended for funding by the WMB will be forwarded to the January 2023 SMC meeting for final approval and funding appropriations.
The WMB meeting packet is posted online, click here to view. To register to attend via ZOOM click here. For more information on the WMB, visit SMC's website.
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Winter Deicing Workshop Recap
Road salt and other deicing materials are needed to keep Lake County’s roads, parking lots and sidewalks safe, but the products used can impact our water quality. Each year, several Lake County departments team up to offer deicing workshops to public agencies and private contractors to show how to wisely use road salt that will reduce the environmental impacts and help them save money.
This year, Lake County partnered with the Salt Smart Collaborative and its partners to host a series of virtual workshops. To learn more, recordings of past winter technical briefs are posted online at SaltSmart.org/workshops. Special thanks to everyone who attended the 2022 Virtual Deicing Workshops. Registration for next year’s workshops will open in late summer 2023.
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Call for DECI Presenters
This year's Designated Erosion Control Inspector (DECI) Program Workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, February 21, 2023. The workshop will be held virtually, and presenters can give their presentation from the comfort of their home or office.
Each year, we strive to provide our attendees with helpful, practical and real world DECI related information. If you or someone you know would be a great presenter on a relevant and interesting topic, please apply. Presentations should be between 30 to 45 minutes.
The following topics were requests from DECI attendees in the after workshop survey, but any DECI and SESC related subjects will be considered:
- Case Studies
- A Contractor’s Perspective
- Dewatering Techniques
- Polymers and Polymer Systems
- Treatment Trains
- Enforcement Officer's Perspective on the DECI Program
- Hydromulching
- Assessing Vegetation Establishment After Project Completion
- Green Infrastructure
- Varied techniques of stream restoration
Deadline for topic submission is Dec. 30. Send your presentation topic to Mea Blauer at iblauer2@lakecountyil.gov or (847) 377-7701.
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Staff Spotlight
 On Nov. 16, Brian Frank, SMC Chief Engineer and Certified Floodplain Manager with over 17 years of engineering experience, presented at The American Society of Civil Engineer's (ASCE) Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) Chicagoland Permitting Workshop. The purpose of the one-day seminar for engineers was to outline the process for submitting a permit application involving water resources in northeast Illinois and introduce all agencies involved.
It's always an honor when SMC staff are invited to share their knowledge and expertise with fellow Chicago area engineers and highlight the importance of stormwater management in Lake County. Brian's presentation was informative and shared the importance of regulating watershed development permits and stormwater services. Thank you, Brian.
A Note from the Desk of Kurt Woolford
I'd like to wish everyone a happy holidays as we close out a remarkable 2022. It was quite an exciting year for the Stormwater Management Commission and we are thrilled to be working on over 70 stormwater management projects across Lake County, in partnership with many local units of government. These projects will provide long-lasting benefits for thousands of residents across Lake County. |
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Starting on January 6th, SMC will begin the Community Recertification process for all Certified Communities, including Lake County for Unincorporated areas. All are welcome to attend the Technical Advisory Committee this month to learn more about the requirements. Please contact myself or Chief Engineer, Brian Frank for additional information.
Next year will be one of the busiest years for SMC and we are grateful for all those that support our mission to reduce flood damages, improve water quality, and preserve Lake County's vast nature-based drainage system. Thanks again!
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