Lake County Stormwater Management Commission

06/04/2026

05/29/2026

Chicago River Day was held on May 9. It's meant as a fun, volunteer day to impactfully improve the waterway by installing new native plants, and removing trash and invasive plants. Over 2,800 volunteers at 88 different sites along the river worked to move closer to a litter free Chicago-Calumet river system. Thanks to all who helped with the clean-up efforts and we'll see you again next year at the Chicago River Day!

SMC was a co-sponsor of Chicago River Day.

05/28/2026

Last month, Lake County experienced flooding along the Des Plaines and Fox Rivers. Thanks to a rainy April, the county averaged over eight inches of rain, with the northwest section of the county reaching over 10 inches. This, on top of the 9 to 12 inches of rain received in parts of southern Wisconsin, led to Lake County reaching Major Flood status.

On April 15, the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission's (SMC) Flood Threat Alert level changed to Orange status, which means flooding is extremely likely or moderate flooding is occurring. Field Teams were deployed and spent 18 days out in the field. When SMC reached Red status, or Major Flood, there were up to four field teams deployed at once.

The drone team visited 30 different sites and ran 42 drone flights. They recorded over 24 hours of footage in a five-day period. The Des Plaines River team visited over 10 flood problem areas to observe and record peak flood levels and impacts. The Des Plaines River crested on April 19 in the Gurnee area and April 20 in the Lincolnshire area.

The Upper Fox River and Chain O’Lakes team installed 15 stakes to monitor flood levels and capture the crest on April 22. The Lower Fox River team surveyed highwater marks 19 times at nine different locations, creating over 170 readings. This area crested on April 23.

To keep residents informed, SMC shared flooding updates from April 15 to May 1, including over 20 Facebook posts, 12 emails to partner organizations, and added a Flood Response webpage with helpful flooding resource links. Chief Engineer Brian Frank gave three interviews to media outlets to inform greater Chicagoland about flooding in our county.

SMC staff also coordinated with partners, including outside organizations and the Lake County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and Division of Transportation (DOT), to manage the response to flooding and prepare for a potential emergency. SMC’s Flood Threat Alert was canceled on May 5.
We’re proud of the work our team did and how we assisted our residents when needed!

05/26/2026

We've come to the end of Wetland Month! ☹️💧 If you'd like to enjoy a nice walk through a wetland and spend a few minutes unwinding, you can enjoy this calming video provided by the Chicago Park District.

Explore our wetland trail, a perfect location for bird watching. In this video you will see and hear several bird species such as: Robin and Red-winged Black...

05/25/2026

SMC offices are closed today in observance of the holiday. We hope everyone has a nice long weekend.

05/22/2026

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago created a Green Neighbor Guide with green practices to show residents how to slow down, capture and utilize stormwater instead of directing runoff right into our stormwater sewers. This is an excellent how-to resource for residents to implement small scale green infrastructure practices on their properties!

Access the full guide and other best management practices help on our website: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/2261/Stormwater-Best-Practices

Physical copies are also available at SMC's office in Libertyville.

05/21/2026

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. SMC is hosting the P***c Roads workshop on September 29 in Libertyville. Registration information is coming soon.

Lake County will also be hosting a FREE in-person calibration event in Libertyville on November 5. 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.

05/19/2026

Enjoy some more wetland facts for Wetlands Month! 😄💧

Infographics courtesy of The Wetlands Initiative.

05/18/2026

SMC and the Village of Wauconda celebrated the completion of the Bangs Lake Outfall Improvement Project with a ribbon cutting today in Wauconda. This project will help alleviate flooding and manage the lake level.

The infrastructure improvements included almost 4,000 feet of stream improvements, along with a new lake outfall structure, retaining wall, storm sewer and box culvert. Additionally, restoration efforts included planting native vegetation to improve water quality.

This is one of 16 projects we’re working on thanks to the second round of funding we received from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. We’re excited for the impact it will have on area residents and visitors!

Learn more about this project: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ILLAKE/bulletins/4174e45

05/15/2026

Development and improvements in flood-prone areas require permits and must meet floodplain regulations to reduce risk and protect neighboring properties. Before starting construction or grading, contact the Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department at [email protected].

Learn more about floodplain requirements and safe development practices through Lake County resources: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/844/Flood-Information