June 2015

Environment & Natural Resources Insights

Managing Stormwater Basins: A Three-Part Series

We ask a lot of our urban stormwater basins: capture stormwater, filter pollutants, delay peak discharges, enhance aesthetics and, in the case of dry basins, provide recreational area. With this much demanded of these open spaces, it's important that you understand how best to maintain and manage these facilities. Over the next year, V3 will provide advice on managing stormwater basins beginning with defining the goals for your basins, followed by separate insight on assessing, maintaining and retrofitting/repairing them.

Basin Goals: Function - Vegetation - Public Use (Part 1 of 3)

The first critical question in a structured basin management program is, "Do you know the goals of your stormwater basin?" Most likely the answer is, "Seriously? My basin needs goals?" The answer is a definitive "Yes." Establishing objectives for your program represents the starting point of creating a long-term approach regarding the maintenance and use of these valuable spaces. You can also start to ask the deeper questions such as, "Does the condition of your stormwater basin match your established goals?" The following suggestions will help you to identify potential goals for your stormwater basin program.

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Proper Functioning

Appropriate Vegetation

Incorporating Public Use

New Federal Clean Water Rule Issued

The US Environmental Protection Agency and US Army Corps of Engineers agreed upon a new Clean Water Rule in late May. This action revises the definition of "Waters of the United States," including wetlands regulated by the Federal government. The new rule more precisely defines "tributaries" as waters according to the significant nexus standard and clarifies the jurisdiction of wetlands located within the 100-year floodplain. More importantly, the rule defines and clarifies areas that are not jurisdictional. The rule specifically excludes certain types of non-jurisdictional ditches and non-jurisdictional areas that were previously excavated or constructed in "dry land," including lakes or ponds, water-filled depressions, erosional features and "puddles."

The rule will be used by the US Army Corps of Engineers in making jurisdictional determinations, and should help clarify certain "gray areas" in the regulations. For more information on the rule and how it may affect any recent jurisdictional determinations, please contact Tom Slowinski at 630.729.6285 or Scott Brejcha at 630.729.6325.

What is Your Growing Season?

Regulatory agencies generally require that wetland delineations and related floristic inventories occur during the growing season. So when is the growing season, you ask? The official growing season for any given year is defined as, "The period of each year when native plants and ornamental plants grow; and when agricultural crops can be grown." Still a little vague? Click here for clarification and a reference chart for each municipality's growing season.

Compliance Sign-offs Validate Wetland Mitigation Efforts

The Messenger Woods and Hadley Valley Central wetland mitigation projects

Hadley Valley Greenway Video

received compliance sign-offs on April 16, 2015 from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District. Both sites provided wetland mitigation for the O'Hare Airport Modernization Program and are owned by the Forest Preserve District of Will County. The compliance sign-offs validate that the wetland mitigation efforts were successfully completed and that all ecological performance standards have been met. Both projects met those standards in the final year of their required 5-year management and monitoring periods. V3 Companies provided design/build services for all ecological mitigation and restoration, and conducted all ecological management and monitoring during the 5-year period.

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