Title
Ordinance approving the Lake Michigan Watershed-Based Plan and North Branch Chicago River Watershed-Based Plan.
Staff Summary
* The Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) worked with numerous watershed stakeholders to develop the watershed-based plans for the Lake Michigan and North Branch Chicago River Watershed between February 2019 - December 2020; including 10 public stakeholder meetings and 18 focused discussion meetings and collaboration with the North Branch Chicago River Watershed Workgroup (NBWW).
* SMC held a 30-day public review period for both plans that included public information meetings (Lake Michigan: March 9, 2023, in Waukegan & March 14, 2023, virtually; and North Branch Chicago River: March 8, 2023, in Deerfield) and a public hearing (March 15, 2023, in Waukegan).
* Both watershed-based plans were approved by Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and meet Clean Water Act guidelines for watershed planning and SMC approved the Lake Michigan and North Branch Chicago River Watershed-Based Plans on June 1, 2023.
Body
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the County Board of Lake County in enabling the Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) statutory authority has an adopted the Lake County Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan, and said plan recommends the development of comprehensive watershed management plans for each of Lake County's watersheds; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission has been working to revise and update the comprehensive watershed plans to include the Lake Michigan Watershed-Based Plan and North Branch Chicago River Watershed-Based Plan, hereinafter referred to as "Watershed-Based Plans"; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Watershed-Based Plans is to improve degraded conditions in the Lake Michigan and North Branch Chicago River watersheds by improving water quality, reducing flood damage, and protecting and enhancing natural resources through implementing best management practices and programs and pr...
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