TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 16, 2016
COMMITTEE ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authorization to negotiate an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Lake County Forest Preserve District for construction of off-site wetland mitigation necessary for Contract 13-370-3F, Buffalo Creek Reservoir Expansion
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to negotiate an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Lake County Forest Preserve District (LCFPD) for construction of off-site wetland mitigation necessary for Contract 13-370-3F, Buffalo Creek Reservoir Expansion.
On April 7, 2016, the Board of Commissioners authorized the District to enter into an IGA with the LCFPD and Village of Buffalo Grove to expand floodwater storage capacity of the Buffalo Creek Reservoir, located on LCFPD property just north of Lake-Cook Road. The construction cost for this project is estimated to be $19.8 million. The project will provide an additional 180 acre-feet (58,650,000 gallons) of flood storage, protect 107 structures, and provide in excess of $25 million in flood relief benefits to downstream residents within the District’s service area.
To fulfill the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) permitting requirements to authorize construction of the project, the District will need to mitigate 2.70 acres of unavoidable impacts to wetlands under jurisdiction of the USACE. On December 2, 2015, the District issued an RFP seeking wetland mitigation credits within the Des Plaines River Watershed in Lake County. No such credits were found to be available for purchase. The USACE has since suggested that the District fulfill its mitigation requirements by partnering with LCFPD to develop off-site mitigation at LCFPD’s Captain Daniel Wright Woods Forest Preserve.
The terms of the IGA would allow for LCFPD to enhance a portion of northern flatwoods wetland and wet woods within LCFPD property. Proposed work includes invasive and understory mesic tree clearing, native seeding, small invasive tree, shrub, and plant control, and 5 years of maintenance and monitoring, as required by the USACE. The District would provide a negotiated payment to LCFPD as compensation for LCFPD’s work towards the restoration. Upon completion of the work, LCPFD would own and maintain the project improvements.
Based on the foregoing, it is requested that the Board of Commissioners grant authorization to negotiate the aforementioned IGA with the LCFPD for construction of off-site wetland mitigation necessary for Contract 13-370-3F, Buffalo Creek Reservoir Expansion. Once the parties agree in principle, authority to enter into the IGA will be sought from the Board of Commissioners.
Requested, Catherine A. O’Connor, Director of Engineering, WSS:GAK
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, Michael A. Alvarez, Chairman Committee on Stormwater Management
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for June 16, 2016