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The Lake County Stormwater Management Newsletter - October 2024

Join SMC Executive Director Kurt Woolford at the 2024 Chicago River Summit: Linking Watersheds

The 20th anniversary Chicago River Summit: Living Watersheds will take place on October 24 at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago. Lake County Stormwater Management Executive Director, Kurt Woolford, will provide his persepective and share experience at a panel discussion with other Chicago area experts involved in watershed plans, watershed management and green infrastructure. Since 2004, Friends of the Chicago River has hosted the Chicago River Summit to create a platform for leaders to come together to tackle complex issues threatening the river system. National and local expert speakers will examine the intersections of watershed planning, climate justice, environmental health and nature. Register here

Public Notice:
Qualified Contractor Request for Proposal Now Open

The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) is seeking a qualified contractor for the Mill Creek Water Quality Enhancement Project which includes the construction of restoration features for habitat restoration, water quality improvement, and flood mitigation. Specific features may include wetland scrapes, bank stabilization, and in-stream habitat features, site access and restoration. Information packets may be obtained from the Lake County Purchasing Portal by registering as a vendor for Bid Number SMC202410. The deadline for proposal submissions is October 30, 2024, at 12 p.m. CST via the Purchasing Portal. Call SMC at 847-377-7700 with questions.

Get Winter Ready at Deicing and Calibration Events

On Tuesday, September 24, SMC hosted an in-person Winter Best Practices De-Icing Workshop at our Libertyville campus. It had a great turn out! More than 65 attendees from 16 organizations attended the training. The goal of the event is to help limit the amount of salt used in snow fighting operations and address National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Requirements.

As part of this workshop, Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) staff performed a calibration demonstration on one of their winter maintenance vehicles for attendees and staff from LCDOT, the Village of Libertyville and Village of Gurnee shared their experience on snow clearing operations. Thank you to Lake County Division of Transportation and Health Department for partnering with SMC to host the event. Also, a special thank you to all attendees for their participation!

Registration is still open to join the last virtual workshop focused on Public Roads as part of the 2024 Winter Best Practices Workshop series. Sign up now to attend from 8 a.m. to noon on October 15, 2024.

On October 23, SMC looks forward to hosting the FREE in-person Winter Maintenance Vehicle Calibration Event at the LCDOT Salt Dome. Attendees will meet with representatives from Force America and Lake County Division of Transportation to learn about deicing pitfalls and how to calibrate snow removal vehicles. Registration is now closed. Look for more about this unique event in the November Mainstream.

Sylvan Lake Dam Modification Update

Big progress was made over the summer on the Sylvan Lake Dam project in Mundelein. Since work began in May, crews have excavated the area, relocated the water main, installed a sheet piling wall and relocated the sanitary sewer lines along North Highland Drive. The drone image above shows work in progress late this summer. 

The goal of the Sylvan Lake Dam reconstruction is to protect the community from flooding and other natural hazards. The 100-year-old dam was worn down over time, especially due to heavier rainfall and climate changes. The upgrades will ensure the dam can handle more intense storms and prevent the risk of overtopping. The project will also move the above-ground sanitary sewer, protecting homes in the Indian Creek Club subdivision and near Sylvan Lake. This will prevent further erosion and reduce the chance of environmental contamination. Construction is ongoing. View more drone images here captured by SMC.

Lake County Tree Planting Program Takes Root

The first trees from the Lake County Tree Initiative: The Tree Planting Solution for Clean Water were planted on September 30 at a Tree Planting Ceremony in Waukegan. The Tree Planting Program aids in adapting to climate change by increasing the county’s canopy coverage to absorb stormwater, filter out pollutants, offer additional shade to lower temperatures, increase air quality and limit runoff entering sewers, streams and rivers. Other first round winners of the Tree Initiative program include Antioch Township, Village of Hawthorn Woods, Park District of Highland Park, Village of Lindenhurst and Vernon Hills Park District. A total of 403 trees will be planted through this program by the end of the year.  

The 2025 Lake County Tree Planting Program Application is open now through Tuesday, October 15, 2024. This American Rescue Plan Act-Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program is for divisions of local government to improve their stormwater management systems by planting new trees. By enhancing green infrastructure, Lake County communities will also be better equipped to address other impacts of climate change, including more severe weather events, diminished air quality and rising temperatures. More trees will be planted next spring, and the program plans to plant 4,000 trees by the end of 2026. 

Apply for the Tree Initiative

Thank You HOA Hybrid Event Attendees and Vendors!

Special thanks to all who attended our 2024 Homeowners Association (HOA) Workshop and Vendor Expo on September 12 at our Libertyville campus. The event was held for homeowner associations and property owners who are responsible for maintaining detention ponds, wetlands, natural areas and other drainage infrastructure. At the expo, nine vendors provided information on designing, installing, and maintaining drainage infrastructure. Additionally, the workshop featured eight presenters at five informational sessions for the hybrid portion of the event. Click to review the workshop agenda and view the event presentation materials. 

Because of You, It's Our Fox River Day was a Success

Staff members Anna and Sharene represented SMC at the Village of Port Barrington’s celebration of It’s Our Fox River Day (IOFRD) with a booth. They shared SMC’s mission and provided information to attendees about the importance of protecting our waterways. This included educating about rain gardens, winter best management practices and flood mitigation.

IOFRD is celebrated annually in September in communities up and down the Fox River to celebrate, protect and restore the health of the Fox River. The Fox River watershed encompasses over 2,500 square miles and serves over 1 million residents in Illinois and Wisconsin. Thanks to everybody who stopped by our booth to say hello and learn more about the Lake County Stormwater Management Agency!

You're Invited, Register to Attend!

Lake County CERT Training

Fall training dates for the Fremont Township, Mundelein and Round Lake Area Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) are Oct. 18-20, with review and final exercise set for Oct. 26. Training is free and membership in the CERT is not required. Participants will receive hands-on training for common emergency situations occurring in the home or in the community. You must be 16 or older to participate. E-mail for information. 

Public Meeting on Del Mar Woods Sanitary District

Property owners and residents within the Del Mar Woods Sanitary District, please plan to attend:  Tuesday, October 22 6 - 7:30 p.m. West Deerfield Township Office 601 Deerfield Road, Deerfield, IL  Lake County Stormwater Management Commission and Public Works, in conjunction with Deerfield Township, will hold their second public meeting regarding the Del Mar Woods Sanitary District on October 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m at the West Deerfield Township Office. Staff will be providing additional information as a follow up to the July 24 meeting where concept plans including a possible stormwater project and the option to create a Special Service Area (SSA) to replace the Del Mar Woods Sanitary District were discussed.