Supporting residents’ quality of life while protecting the environment is a priority of the City. This is especially true when it comes to stormwater management. Over the decades, the City has undertaken various projects and has required private developers to construct various private and public improvements to help manage storm water that falls throughout the community.

As rainfall totals and storm intensities continue to break new records each year, the challenge of helping to manage storm water likewise intensifies. Record-breaking storms place an increased strain on existing City and private infrastructure, resulting in continued and sometimes greater impacts on residents and business in flood prone areas. For example, in June and July of 2017, the City experienced successive heavy rain events which led to June-July’s total rainfall reaching almost 20 inches, over double the normal average. 2018 and 2019 are in the National Weather Service’s record book as two of the top five wettest years. This is particularly noteworthy since their records go back 150 years to 1871.

Although the City will never be able to eliminate flooding, the City has responded to the increasing need for additional storm water mitigation measure by investing over $7.4 million dollars with $1.9 million in grant funding for storm water projects. Nevertheless, tackling storm water issues is complicated. Solutions need to consider how to move, store, and filter storm water utilizing best management practices. Large scale projects can take years to move from concept through engineering, permitting, property acquisition and then construction.

In 2017 the City enhanced its storm water management efforts with a new Stormwater Solutions Initiative. This effort focused on areas that experience repetitive structure and street flooding from surface water runoff. These areas are mainly in the older sections of the City and were built prior to storm water management ordinances that required storm sewer and detention/retention ponds. Several of these neighborhoods surround the Lake, where naturally high groundwater levels increase the tendency for flooding.

Nine study areas were identified as part of the Stormwater Solutions Initiative (see map). Over 22 meetings were held with the various stakeholder groups to discuss issues and develop consensus on projects. The result was a multi-year list of projects and studies to better manage storm water and reduce flooding impacts.

Projects Recently Completed

Eleven projects have been constructed since 2017 (see map below). These include the following:

• Mary Lane/Union Street Storm Sewer and Detention Basin (2018): Acquisition of an existing 6.9 acre storm water basin and construction of new storm sewer to alleviate severe intersection flooding.
• Honeysuckle Lane (2018): Modification to existing storm sewer to improve the flow of storm water leaving Lippold Park to reduce flooding.
• Green Oaks Swale (2018): Construction of a surface water overflow on City property to reduce flooding.
• Crystal Creek Culverts (2019): Replacement of aging metal culverts with larger concrete box culverts that carry Crystal Creek under Broadway Avenue, Country Club Road, Barlina Road, McHenry Avenue and Dartmoor Drive.
• Thornwood Lane (2019): Roadside ditch project to better manage roadway runoff and reduce flooding.
• North Shore Storm Water/Wetland Improvement Project (2019): Acquisition of 11 vacant lots, creation of one million gallons of storm water storage in three basins with native wetland plants to reduce flooding. Construction of new storm sewer to replace and expand existing, aging storm sewer system.
• Cove Pond Outlet Enhancements (2019): Grading of Cove Pond overflow to enhance the flow of storm water during high rainfall events.
• Woodland Wetlands/Woodland Channel Overflow Outlet (2019): Construction of a storm sewer outlet on City property.
• Gardina Vista Storm Sewer Project (2020): Construction of new storm sewer to provide an outlet for a trapped, depressional area that experienced severe flooding.
• Green Oaks Drain Tile (2019): Construction of a new drain tile on City property west of the Green Oaks subdivision to capture and convey groundwater away from homes.
• Pine Street/Oriole Trail (2021): Acquisition and demolition of five homes along with removal of fill to create additional storm water storage. Project was funded 100 percent by a State of Illinois grant.
• College Street/Union Street Storm Sewer (2022): Upsize existing storm sewer on Union Street from McHenry Avenue to College Street and along College Street. A grant from the County provided some financial assistance.
• Edgewater Drive and Fair Oaks Avenue Rain Gardens (2022): Creation of two rain gardens to store and treat storm water. Grants from the County and ComEd provided some financial assistance.
• Crystal Creek Watershed-Based Plan (2020-2022): Creation of a long term plan to manage and improve the water quality of Crystal Creek. The study was adopted by the City Council in December of 2022.
• Lake Analysis (2020-2024): A study was completed by the United Stated Geological Survey (USGS) for the City to understand the unique groundwater flows into and out of the lake and how groundwater and surface water interact. 

• Overhead Sewer Grant Program: Matching grant program to assist homeowners in converting a basement gravity sanitary sewer service to an overhead sanitary sewer service to reduce the potential for sanitary sewer backups during flooding events.
• Revised Standards for Additional Impervious Areas: Implemented new procedures and infiltration trench requirements to provide storm water storage on residential properties when additional impervious area is added (new driveways, building additions, etc.)

• Edgewater Drive at North Avenue: Design engineering is complete to install storm sewer and small rain gardens to minimize flooding in this area. Construction anticipated in the Fall of 2024.
• Reestablishment of Crystal Creek: Reestablish the section of Crystal Creek placed in storm sewer in the 1950’s between Highland Avenue and St. Andrews Lane. Design engineering is complete, and construction is anticipated to start in May of 2025.
• Review Outlet from Crystal Lake: Based on the outcome of the USGS study, review the existing weir (where water exits the Lake) and box culvert under Lake Avenue to determine if modifications would be beneficial in reducing flooding. Engineering is anticipated to start in 2026.
• Country Club Subdivision Spot Storm Sewer: After re-establishing Crystal Creek, engineering and construction of a new storm sewer along Broadway Avenue with the potential to extend storm sewer to the south along Essex Lane, Oxford Lane, and Cumberland Lane. Engineering anticipated to start in 2025/2026 with construction in 2026/2027.
• Crystal Vista Spot Improvements: Review possible areas within the Crystal Vista neighborhood west of the lake to retrofit stormwater storage facilities. This area was annexed into the City with no stormwater facilities.
• Elmhurst Street Storage: Future joint project with IDOT to create a stormwater detention facility on City property to benefit properties near Elmhurst Street and IL 176.

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