Second Round of $30M to Fund 16 SMC Projects
 The Lake County Board will vote at its November 12 meeting to approve a resolution accepting a second grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for $30 million for regional stormwater projects. This is part of the overall $122 million state appropriation Lake County is to receive to address critical issues related to stormwater across Lake County. The second grant will fund projects to be completed from November 1, 2024, through October 31, 2026. Work is underway on the Windsor Drive drainage improvements project in Lincolnshire, pictured above, and several other projects are in the design phase.
The next 16 projects to be funded with the $30 million grant are targeted for Zion, Wauconda, Kildeer, the Round Lake and Buffalo Grove areas, North Barrington, North Chicago, Lake Zurich, Lindenhurst, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Lincolnshire and Vernon Hills.
Lake County’s Stormwater Management Commission utilized the first $30 million towards 14 projects, which were put into action in 2022. These projects benefited more than 2,300 properties and 25 roads. Projects submitted to SMC for the first round of state funding involved storm sewers, channel improvements, detention, drainage system upgrades and flood mitigation measures across Lake County.
 
2025 WMB Grant Recommendations to be Announced November 20, 2024
Thank you to all who applied for Fiscal Year 2025 Watershed Management Board (WMB) funding. Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) staff will review and present all project proposals and recommendations at the Watershed Management Board meeting on November 20. The meeting, which can be attended in-person or virtually, will be held at 6 p.m. in the large conference room located on the second floor of the Central Permit Facility (500 W. Winchester Rd, Libertyville).
Projects recommended for funding by the WMB will be forwarded to the December SMC meeting for final approval and funding appropriations. The primary role of the WMB is to oversee the allocation of SMC funding and SMC staff resources for projects across the four watersheds of Lake County. A WMB Member is a
- Chief elected official of a Lake County Municipality
- Lake County Township supervisor
- President of an active Lake County Drainage District
- Lake County Board Member
- or a Delegate of one of the above
Projects for individual maintenance needs are not eligible for WMB funding. View the fact sheet here.
Click here to register to attend the November 20, 2024, meeting online.
 
Thank You To All Who Attended Our Joint
Winter Maintenance Calibration Event
 Lake County SMC, Health Department (LCHD) and Division of Transportation (LCDOT) hosted the inaugural Lake County Calibration Event for winter maintenance trucks on October 23. This event was open to municipalities and the public to sign up to have Force America representatives and LCDOT staff help entities calibrate their winter maintenance vehicles before the beginning of snow plowing season. This event was full within two weeks of advertising and has received positive feedback from participants.
Ten vehicles were calibrated at this year’s event and many of those vehicles were new winter maintenance vehicles that had never been calibrated. Lake County’s goal is to help train winter maintenance operators to calibrate their own equipment and bring this knowledge back to their entities to train other staff. This event showed operators that even the small effort of calibrating your vehicles before the winter season and after a relevant repair goes a long way in salting sustainably!
Coming up! Two More Winter Maintenance Webinars
There will be two additional Winter Maintenance Workshop Webinars for staff who were not able to attend the Workshops held in September and October. Click on the blue links below to register with Zoom for these virtual workshops.
Watch Our HOA Event Online!
 Did you miss our 2024 Homeowners Association (HOA) Workshop and Vendor Expo? The special event was held for homeowner associations and property owners who are responsible for maintaining detention ponds, wetlands, natural areas and other drainage infrastructure. The workshop portion of the event featured five informational sessions available online. Click here to learn more.
Call for Presenters!
2025 DECI Workshop
 The 2025 edition of the Designated Erosion Control Inspector (DECI) Program is scheduled for Tuesday, February 11, 2025. SMC is currently accepting presentations for consideration.
Each year, SMC strives to provide 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 deadline to apply is December 31.
The following topics were requested by previous attendees, but any related subjects will be considered:
- Case Studies
- Steep Slope Stabilization
- Common Mistakes and Misconceptions on SESC Installation and Maintenance
- Stormwater Grassroots Projects
- Native Plant Requirements and Determining Plant Coverage Percentages
- New SESC Products and Methods
- Urban Stream Creative Installations and Rehabilitations
- Budgeting for BMPs in a Public Bid
- SESC Lessons Learned
- Waterways Jurisdiction
There are great benefits to presenting at the DECI workshop! You can highlight YOUR projects, celebrate accomplishments, share project challenges, connect with peers, present innovative ideas, technology and solutions and showcase your public speaking skills and present innovative ideas, technology and solutions. For consideration, send your presentation topic to Mea Blauer at iblauer2@lakecountyil.gov.
You're Invited!
SMC Board of Commissioners Meeting
Thursday, November 7
There are two options for the public to attend the meeting. Come to the 2nd floor Central Permit Facility conference room located at 500 W. Winchester Road in Libertyville or join virtually via Zoom.
Click here to view the meeting agenda.
Annual MAC and ANHMP Meeting is November 20
On November 20, the Municipal Advisory Committee (MAC) and Annual All Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (ANHMP) Meeting will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Central Permit Facility 2nd Floor Conference Room, located at 500 W. Winchester Rd. in Libertyville.
The first half of the combined meeting will focus on MAC topics. Two speakers will present during the ANHMP portion. Deputy Director of Public Works and Village of Libertyville Engineer, Jeff Cooper will share a presentation titled, "Highlands Subdivision Flood Control Project, Village of Libertyville," highlighting the village's recent improvements on their storm sewer system and increased flood storage.
Rebecca Kumar, Assistant Manager for the Lake County Emergency Management Agency, and Bill Lark, Mundelein Fire Chief, will be on-hand to discuss the 2024 tornado that hit Mundelein and their response both during and after the event. Miss Kumar will also provide information about EMA events, activities and general preparedness for hazards impacting the county.
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A Note from Executive Director, Kurt Woolford
Thank you, Lake County voters, for your overwhelming decision to invest in nature. Enjoy your Forest Preserves!
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