Protect Natural Resources

There are three classifications of a flood plain’s natural resources we want to protect: water resources, biological resources, and cultural resources.

Water Resources

Water resources include maintaining both the natural flood storage and erosion control characteristics, as well as the maintenance of water quality, which benefits the reduction of flood velocities, reduction of erosion, and filtering out nutrients and impurities from stormwater prior to entering the stream or lake.

Biological Resources

Biological resources include the support and diversification of flora and providing a habitat for fish and wildlife.

Cultural Resources

Cultural resources include the provision of recreational opportunities, scientific study and outdoor education, and improving the economic base for the community by improving property values and stimulating natural resource activities and businesses.

Protecting Our Flood Plain & Waterway

The original function of the flood plain and waterway served to provide for a variety of needs. Rivers provided for transportation, water supply, a source of energy, and even a source of waste disposal. After hundreds of years, the uses of rivers and flood plains have changed, and the natural function of the riparian ecosystems (the vegetated areas adjacent to the streams) have been significantly altered by humans.

Expanding urbanization of our watershed delivers increased amounts of surface water runoff into the receiving water bodies. The straightening and channelization of streams allow for increased water velocities, which, with the increase in stormwater runoff from past developments, has increased bank erosion, loss of wildlife habitat, and detrimental changes in water quality.

The Village has taken significant steps toward minimizing stormwater runoff from developments, and requires that stormwater quality management techniques be implemented for each development. Every permit issued in the Village that results in an alteration of the existing drainage pattern requires that some form of stormwater management and water quality control be implemented as part of the design. All permits issued in the flood plain require that no fill be placed in the flood plain without the provision of compensatory storage in order to maintain and enhance the existing capacity of our flood plain storage without having to increase its boundaries.

How You Can Help

  • Do not dump or throw anything into ditches, swales, streams, storm inlets or any other body of water or stormwater conveyance system.
  • If you notice non-stormwater discharge into any stream, lake, pond, storm inlet, due to erosion or other deleterious substance, please contact the Public Works Department at 847-716-3568.
  • If you notice that a public storm drain appears to be blocked or has an accumulation of debris over the grate that is inhibiting its function, please contact the Public Works Department at 847-716-3568.
  • If you see any dumping or debris in ditches, swales or streams, or any filling within the flood plain, please contact the Public Works Department at 847-716-3568.
  • If you see any building or filling without a permit posted, or notice any damaged or broken silt fencing on construction sites, please contact the Community Development Department and/or the Public Works Department at 847-716-3520 or 847-716-3568, respectively.
  • If you are calling to report an incident, it is best to call while the activity is in progress.