Governor Quinn Announces New Stormwater Management Projects in DuPage County

WESTMONT - Governor Pat Quinn today announced investments for stormwater management projects in DuPage County from his Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to protect the environment by modernizing Illinois' water infrastructure, create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward.

"It's important that we protect Illinois communities from damaging floods," Governor Quinn said. "We must invest locally to ensure our cities and our residents are prepared. Important upgrade projects in DuPage County will alleviate urban flooding problems these communities have experienced and make the stormwater management system more environmentally friendly."

The Governor is committing $3.3 million of investments in DuPage County to address multiple concerns. The DuPage River Salt Creek Work Group will receive $1.5 million for improvements to Salt Creek within the Oak Meadows Preserve, and for modifying a low head dam structure on the West Branch DuPage River.

The Oak Meadows Preserve project will redesign an 18-hole golf course to provide for stormwater storage during flooding events. This project includes stream restoration and stabilization, wetland restoration, permanent vegetative cover, rain gardens, bioswales, protection of stormwater outfall areas from further erosion and tree planting. The low head dam modification project will allow fish to pass from downstream West Branch DuPage River to upstream areas. This structure will have the added benefit of improving dissolved oxygen levels in the river, promoting a healthy ecosystem in the river and surrounding watershed.

Investments totaling $1.2 million are going to the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County for conservation work on 12 acres adjacent to Salt Creek to bring it back to its natural state and install a native wetland and associated buffer areas to protect the stream.

An investment of $439,290 will go to the Glen Ellyn Park District will help install a permeable paving parking lot at the Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center to reduce stormwater volume and nonpoint source pollution discharged to the East Branch DuPage River. The project also includes converting two landscaped areas within the parking lot into rain gardens and retrofitting an existing detention basin into an urban stormwater wetland.

The Westmont Park District will receive a $249,521 investment to retrofit an existing asphalt parking lot into a green permeable pavement parking lot that will provide temporary storage of stormwater.

The Illinois Green Infrastructure Grants are administered through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and are also part of Governor Quinn's $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program. They fund projects that control or reduce rain-related urban flooding. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest construction programs in the nation, supporting more than 439,000 jobs over six years.

"These projects illustrate how green infrastructure can positively improve stormwater management concerns in urban communities," Illinois EPA Director Lisa Bonnett said. "These DuPage County projects will provide a green solution to addressing flooding and resulting water pollution, while bringing economic and environmental benefits to the area."