Title
Ordinance adopting the Manitou Creek-Fish Lake Drain Watershed-Based Plan prepared by the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) as an Amendment to the Lake County Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan.
Staff Summary
• SMC worked with numerous agencies, units of government, and stakeholders, including a series of public meetings and focused discussions with stakeholders to develop a draft watershed-based plan for the Manitou Creek and Fish Lake Drain watersheds.
• SMC conducted a 60-day public review period that included a public information meeting and held two subsequent public hearings in Waukegan.
• The draft watershed-based plan was revised based on the public comments received throughout the review period and at the public hearings.
• The Stormwater Management Commission approved the plan and recommended County Board adoption on April 2, 2026.
Body
ORDINANCE
Whereas, the County Board of Lake County adopted the Lake County Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan on June 11, 1990, and said plan recommended the development of comprehensive watershed management plans for each of Lake County’s watersheds; and
Whereas, the Lake County Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan was updated in 2002 and adopted by the County Board of Lake County, and the update reiterated the priority of developing comprehensive watershed management plans for each of Lake County’s watersheds; and
Whereas, the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission has been working to revise, update, and combine the comprehensive watershed-based plans for the Manitou Creek and Fish Lake Drain watersheds in Lake County, hereinafter referred to as “Watershed-Based Plan”; and
Whereas, the purpose of the Watershed-Based Plan is to improve degraded conditions in the Manitou Creek-Fish Lake Drain watershed by improving water quality, reducing flood damage, and protecting and enhancing natural resources through implementing best management practices and programs; and
Whereas, another goal of the Watershed-Based Plan is to provide resources and information for watershed communities to integrate multi-objective watershed management in decision making for development activities; and
Whereas, the adoption of the Watershed-Based Plan is necessary for the successful implementation of a series of individual site-specific projects and watershed-wide programmatic actions to: improve water quality, reduce flood damage potential, protect and enhance natural resources, provide watershed education and recreation opportunities, and improve community cooperation and participation in watershed improvement activities; and
Whereas, all public hearing and meeting requirements have been met in the preparation of the Watershed-Based Plan; and
Whereas, a 30-day comment period; which included outreach and coordination with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, adjoining counties, and the general public has been accomplished; and
Whereas, the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission approved the Manitou Creek-Fish Lake Drain Watershed-Based Plan on April 2, 2026.
Now, therefore, be it ordained, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the Manitou Creek-Fish Lake Drain Watershed-Based Plan for Lake County, Illinois is hereby adopted as an Amendment to the Lake County Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan, the official countywide, stormwater management plan, in accordance with 55 ILCS 5/5-1062; and
Be it further ordained, that a copy of the final Manitou Creek-Fish Lake Drain Watershed-Based Plan will be sent to each municipality and township in the Manitou Creek-Fish Lake Drain Watershed in Lake County.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on May 12, 2026.