WMB Request for Proposals Now Open
The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) is now accepting request for proposals for the annual Watershed Management Board (WMB) funded projects for Fiscal Year 2026.
This opportunity is available to all local watershed groups, landowners, homeowners associations, municipalities, townships, county governments, land conservancies and trusts, park districts, and other land managing agencies. All project proposals must be submitted electronically through SMC's INFLOW proposal intake site and received no later than 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, via the SMC INFLOW portal.
SMC staff will review all proposal submissions based on the project prioritization criteria and will make recommendations to the WMB for their approval of projects at the December 10 WMB meeting. Project proposals recommended for funding by the WMB will be forwarded to the January 2026 SMC meeting for final approval and funding appropriations.
New to the INFLOW system? SMC is hosting an INFLOW Instructional Webinar and Q&A on Wednesday, August 20 at 10 a.m. Register now
For more information, visit SMC's website.
Thank you for Attending the Hydric Soils Workshop
SMC partnered with the Illinois Soil Classifiers Association to host its inaugural Hydric Soils for Wetland Delineation class in Lake County. The class held on June 5 and 6 offered 46 attendees the chance to learn through classroom and field experience.
Led by five expert instructors—Kenneth Anderson, Mark Bramstedt, Mary Beth Falsey, Clayton Heffter and Alicia Metzger—students explored topics such as hydric soil identification, soil feature formation, how water flows through landscapes, and how to spot hydric soil indicators in the field. Students applied their classroom knowledge by taking soil core samples at Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve and analyzing them at the Central Permit Facility. By the end of the course, students walked away with 13 Professional Development Hours and a whole lot of valuable field experience!
Thank you to all the participants and presenters who made this a successful event.
Meet the Latest Additions to the Team!
New Senior Engineer Matthew
Last month, SMC welcomed our newest Senior Engineer, Matthew Buvala. He will lead hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, identify interjurisdictional drainage basins and flows, and is the Watershed Management Board project manager for the Lake Michigan watershed. He will also work to get his Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) license to soon be able to operate the SMC drones to collect data for projects.
Matthew graduated from Iowa State University where he majored in Aerospace Engineering, and has worked in a variety of technical roles up to now. Matthew is a native of Lake County and enjoys playing soccer and video games, swimming and trying new foods and restaurants.
New Intern Jonah
Please join us in welcoming our newest intern spending the summer with SMC, Jonah Frank. He will be working with the Planning and Regulatory team to support a variety of programs and assist staff. This fall Jonah will start his senior year at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where he is majoring in Urban Studies and Planning. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, golfing and traveling.
Mark Your Calendars!
Sylvan Dam Ribbon-Cutting
Celebrate the completion of the Sylvan Lake Dam Modification Project with us at a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on Friday, July 25 at 10 a.m. at 26320 N. Highland Drive in Mundelein! Learn about this long-awaited infrastructure project that provides crucial improvements to ensure public safety and see the reconstructed dam.
IWEER Wetland Delineation Class & Plant Course
The Institute for Wetland & Environmental Education & Research (IWEER), in collaboration with the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC), is excited to announce the return of the highly regarded Basic Wetland Delineation Class from September 16 to 19 at the Central Permit Facility in Libertyville.
On September 15, SMC’s Juli Crane will be hosting an introductory class, Plants of the Wetland Boundary, as a pre-course learning opportunity for those who lack plant identification experience. This is a field-oriented day, with reference material, to familiarize you with plants common to wetland borders in the Chicago area.
For more information about course content and registration, contact Barbara at barbara@wetlanded.com or call (413) 441-3708.
Winter Best Practices Workshops
Save the date for this year's Winter Best Practices Workshops taking place from September through November. There will be a mix of in-person and virtual options available for Public Roads and Parking Lots & Sidewalks workshops. Registration information coming soon.
Lake County Calibration Workshop
Lake County will be hosting a FREE in-person calibration event in Libertyville on November 4. This is an opportunity to bring winter maintenance vehicles to be calibrated. One-hour time slots will be available. Full details will be available soon.
Share Your Climate Change Experience
How has climate change impacted you and your community? The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), in partnership with the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission and Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, is creating a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the greater Chicago region by 2050, and they want to hear from you!
Share your Experience
Grant Opportunities
The Chi-Cal Rivers Fund
The Chi–Cal Rivers Fund is now accepting proposals for grant funding with a focus on the major waterways of the Chicago and Calumet region to reduce stormwater runoff with nature-based infrastructure. Full Details
Section 319 Clean Water Act Grants
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is now accepting grant applications for local units of government and other organizations to protect water quality in Illinois by implementing projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution. Full Details
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