TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF APRIL 18, 2019
COMMITTEE ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Mr. Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Title
Authorization to negotiate and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission for the purpose of updating the watershed-based plan under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act for the North Branch of the Chicago River Watershed
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to negotiate and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) for the purpose of updating the watershed-based plan under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act for the North Branch of the Chicago River Watershed (NBCR).
Pursuant to the MOU, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) will perform stream and detention basin inventory data collection to identify opportunities for improving water quality, reducing flood damage, and protecting and enhancing natural resources within the Cook County portion of the North Branch of the Chicago River Watershed. SMC will use and incorporate this data into an update of the NBCR Watershed-Based Plan, which is necessary for maintaining Cook County stakeholders’ eligibility to qualify for grant funding under the Clean Water Act’s Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Reduction Program (319). Because the Illinois EPA 319 funding that SMC is receiving to complete the plan update requires a local match, the MOU also provides a framework for the monetary value of the District’s data collection to be reported as an in-kind services contribution.
Based on the foregoing, the Engineering Department recommends that the District be authorized to negotiate and enter into a MOU with the SMC for the mutual benefits described above, and that the Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Executive Director, and Clerk be authorized to execute said MOU on behalf of the District, upon approval by the Directors of the Engineering and Monitoring and Research Departments as to technical matters, and by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Catherine A. O’Connor, Director of Engineering, WSS:JK
Recommended, Brain A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for April 18, 2019