Basins & Grounds

 The Public Works department oversees the maintenance of the majority of the stormwater basins and common areas in many of the subdivisions in the Village. Due to the vast acreage involved, mowing and landscaping services are divided between the Public Works department and hired contractors.

Stormwater basin maintenance services are provided by ecological design contractors who specialize in the design, planting and managing of the basin areas. In 2007, the Village received an Honorable Mention in the development process category for that year's Chaddick Development Awards program awarded by the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development. More recently, the Village was selected by the US Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness to receive a 2010 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award. The award recognizes exemplary native landscaping and ecosystem restoration and protection, and conservation design.

Native landscaping provides a distinctive landscape that enhances stormwater filtration, infiltration, and bank stabilization. Native vegetation within the bottom of the basin will absorb nutrients, sediments, and pollutants from surrounding upland runoff. The vegetation filters and absorbs nutrients that stimulate high algal levels. Designed plantings will protect the basin banks from local runoff, fluctuating water levels, and erosion around inlets and outlets due to flow conditions. A secondary benefit of naturalized basins is that they discourage use by Canada Geese (which can produce unhealthy levels of fecal bacteria) and advocate resting and foraging habitat for desirable migratory waterfowl and other native wildlife.

Below is a link to a video put together in 2015 by the Brownie troop at McDole Elementary School regarding storm water and water conservation awareness. It is really cute and contains good information for everyone. The troop leader/volunteers for the project are Alisa Liu and Jenna Heller (Fahey). Thank you to "Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois- McDole Brownie Troop 1106."