Be the Solution - Attend Your Watershed Planning Meeting and Get Involved!
 As a watershed stakeholder your actions make a difference in keeping water clean, reducing flooding and protecting natural resources -- as well as providing wildlife habitats and recreational spaces. A comprehensive watershed plan summarizes the overall condition of the watershed (present day and into the future) and provides watershed action recommendations. You can take action to protect watershed resources and help restore degraded watersheds. Learn more by attending one of our upcoming Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan Meetings starting this summer.
Follow SMC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCoSMC for important meeting dates, resources and more.
What is Watershed Planning?
Watershed planning is important because it specifically addresses water problems in your community and watershed. Clean and abundant water, healthy lakes and streams, and safety from flooding are important for residents, businesses, and the general economic and environmental health of Lake County.
Watershed Stakeholders:
- Municipalities
- Townships
- Government agencies
- Homeowner associations
- Businesses
- Institutions
- Non-profit organizations
- Residents that live or work in the watershed
Common Watershed Goals:
- Reduce flood damage
- Improve water quality
- Protect and restore natural resources
- Enhance and restore streams
- Utilize green infrastructure
- Promote education and stewardship
- Increase watershed coordination and collaboration
Components of a Watershed Plan:
- Watershed assessment
- Local stakeholder involvement
- Action recommendations
Be sure to attend your local Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan Meeting to get involved and learn more.
County Board Chair Highlights SMC Work and Impact at the White House
Lake County Board Chair, Sandy Hart, visited the White House for a meeting with Illinois and Indiana leaders last week to discuss how federal investments have made a positive impact in the lives of our residents. Among other topics, she presented on our many successful stormwater projects. Lake County has received over $135 million in federal funds and we will continue to see the benefits of this historic investment for years to come. SMC continues to work with local communities and partners to identify project locations that are in critical need of stormwater upgrades. Information on all these projects can be found here.
Don't Miss the Next DECI Webinar, 2/13
The 2024 Designated Erosion Control Inspector (DECI) Webinar hosted by SMC will be held on Tuesday, February 13, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Click here to sign up and earn 4.5 professional development hours for attending this workshop.
As a registered participant, you will receive a unique meeting link from Zoom. Do not forward this link. If you have colleagues who want to register, please direct them to the registration link. Contact Mea Blauer at iblauer2@lakecountyil.gov or at 847-377-7701 if you have any questions.
Click here to view the meeting agenda.
Additional Important Meeting Reminders
February 14
North Branch Chicago River Watershed Workgroup (NBWW) General Membership Meeting, 1 - 3 PM
Location: Lake Forest Municipal Services Building, Training Room, 800 N. Field Drive, Lake Forest
February 15
Des Plaines River Watershed Workgroup General (DRWW) General Membership Meeting,1:30 - 3:30 PM
Location: Lake County Public Works, Conference Room,
650 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville
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New Videos Highlight Campus BMPs
The Lake County Central Permit Facility (CPF) in Libertyville serves as a model for drainage and water quality improvement through its green roof, rain gardens, native plant swales and wet detention basins. Signage with QR codes that links to the videos was recently installed on the CPF campus, and SMC encourages the public to walk the grounds to learn more. These BMPs demonstrate the integration of improved water quality and stormwater drainage with business/campus landscaping.
Click here to view the first video of the series. To learn more visit www.LakeCountyil.gov/BMPs
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Request for Consultant Qualifications
The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) Consultation questionnaire is intended to help update the Commission's database of consultant qualifications. The questions should be answered to reflect your firm’s current staff expertise. If you or your organization plan to increase your staff qualification, you may update the questionnaire at any time in the future to indicate the additional qualification(s). SMC will utilize the revised questionnaire to evaluate your firm’s current qualifications and experience in place of any previously submitted Statements of Qualifications.
Please click here to complete and return the attached document along with supporting documentation at your earliest convenience:
Darcy McNeill, Executive Assistant
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission
500 W. Winchester Road, Ste. 201, Libertyville, IL 60048
Questions? Email Darcy at DMcNeill@lakecountyil.gov.
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