Attend the Initial Upper Des Plaines River Watershed PlanĀ Public Meeting on December 10
December 10, 2024
1:30 ā 3:00 PM
Lake County Central Permit Facility ā 2nd Floor Conference Room
500 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville, IL 60048
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) will be developing a Watershed Plan/Environmental Assessment (Plan/EA) for the Upper Des Plaines River Watershed in 2024-2025. NRCS is managing the project, SMC is acting as the local sponsor.
The Plan/EA will analyze opportunities to reduce the risk of reoccurring flooding along the Upper Des Plaines River through structural measures and/or wetland restorations, enhancements and/or creation. The Plan/EA will also identify opportunities that benefit public recreation and wildlife habitat.
The Lake County Forest Preserve District is providing expertise and potential land opportunities for restoration. Restoration sites may include portions of the following Forest Preserves: Pine Dunes, Duck Farm, Independence Grove, Mill Creek and Wilmot Woods. Download Public Meeting Notice
Learn more about the project here.Ā
2023 WDO Community Certification Cycle Complete!
The 2023 Community Recertification was completed in September 2024. Thank you to all 43 Certified Communities within Lake County for all your hard work associated with our Community Recertification Cycle!
Certified Communities administer the Lake County Watershed Development Ordinance (WDO) within their own community limits. The recertification process occurs every five years through the SMC. The next Community Certification Cycle is scheduled to start in early 2029 and we plan to have the recertification submittal/petition deadline in September of 2029.
2025 WMB Grants to be Announced in January
Thank you to all who applied for Fiscal Year 2025 Watershed Management Board (WMB) funding. Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) staff reviewed and presented all project proposals and recommendations at the Watershed Management Board meeting on November 20.Ā
Projects recommended by the WMB will be announced at the January SMC meeting for final approval and funding appropriations. Residents and guests are invited to attended the meeting in-person on January 9 at 6 p.m. in the large conference room located on the second floor of the Central Permit Facility at 500 W. Winchester Rd, Libertyville.Ā
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. Projects for individual maintenance needs are not eligible for WMB funding. View theĀ fact sheet here.
Apply Today to Present at the 2025 SMC DECI Workshop on February 11, 2025
 SMC is currently accepting topics for the 2025 Designated Erosion Control Inspector (DECI) Program Workshop on February 11, 2025.Ā
Each year, SMC provides helpful, practical and real-world DECI related information. Presentations should be between 30 to 45 minutes. If you or someone you know would be a great presenter on a relevant and interesting topic, the deadline to apply is December 31. There are great benefits to presenting at the DECI workshop! For consideration, send your presentation topic to Mea Blauer. Apply today!
Thanks to All Who Attended the Annual
MAC and ANHMP Meeting
SMC recently hosted the second Joint Municipal Advisory Committee (MAC) and All Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (ANHMP) Annual meeting on November 20 at the Central Permit Facility in Libertyville. SMC staff provided updates on ordinance administration, collaborative working relationships and the Watershed Management Board. Following these updates, Holly and Jason Tarry from Sustainable Runoff Solutions delivered an engaging presentation titled "Routine Maintenance Always Saves Money." They shared insightful case studies demonstrating how routine maintenance can prevent costly stormwater infrastructure reconstruction and the potential consequences of deferred maintenance.
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The second half of the meeting focused on ANHMP-related topics. SMC staff provided updates on hazard mitigation activities led by SMC. Jeff Cooper, Deputy Director of Public Works and Village Engineer for Libertyville, and Dave Buckley, from Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd., presented "Highlands Subdivision Flood Control Project, Village of Libertyville." This informative session highlighted the village's recent storm sewer system improvements and increased flood storage capacity, which have helped prevent future flooding for dozens of homes.
Rebecca Kumar, Assistant Manager for the Lake County Emergency Management Agency, and Deputy Chief Jeremy Lockwood from the Mundelein Fire Protection District shared their experiences responding to the 2024 tornado that struck Mundelein. They discussed their actions during and after the event and the lessons learned from the response efforts.
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Save the Date!
The next Manitou Creek-Fish Lake Drain Watershed Plan Meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 11 at 10 a.m. at the Round Lake Area Library in Round Lake.
SMC staff will be reviewing the final draft of the action plan for the watershed.
The Manitou Creek-Fish Lake Drain Watershed Plan update will cover the portions of Lake County that drain to Manitou Creek, including the Fish Lake Drain watershed. The updated Watershed-Based Plan will identify practices, projects and programs that can be implemented by stakeholders to reduce pollution and flood damage, and protect natural resources.
For more information, visit the Lake County Fox River Watershed webpage.
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Attend the EO and CWS Workshop on January 22
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission is excited to host an Enforcement Officer (EO) and Certified Wetland Specialist Workshop (CWS) Workshop on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.Ā Ā
This will be an optional event for EOs and CWS to learn more about a variety of stormwater related topics. Presentations will be hosted in a hybrid format, in-person and via Zoom. Look for the agenda to be sent soon.
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