West Branch DuPage River Corridor Improvements
Background Information
The flooding of September 2008 in Warrenville prompted DuPage County to study the stretch of the West Branch DuPage River from Roosevelt Road down through Fawell Dam for flood control solutions. This study is also called the West Branch DuPage River Interim Watershed Plan Addendum, and it analyzed a number of alternatives for flood control and water quality enhancement. The recommended alternative identified the following improvements:
- raising of Bower Elementary School flood control berm;
- raising the profile of River Road;
- reconstruction of Warrenville Road bridge;
- reconstruction of Williams Road bridge;
- construction of a flood control berm at the Emerald Green subdivision;
- construction of a flood control berm at the Iroquois Court/Williams Road neighborhood;
- construction of a flood control berm at Forestview Drive;
- implementation of compensatory storage for the above improvements by cutting of channel banks approximately between the Warrenville Grove Dam site and the McDowell Grove Dam site; and
- implementation of a river restoration corridor approximately between the Warrenville Grove Dam site and the McDowell Grove Dam site to provide water quality, fish habitat and riparian improvements.
Project Limits and Proposed Improvements (PDF)
The total cost estimated to implement the recommended alternative is $18.3 million. The recommended alternative includes multiple improvements and the funding will be shared by multiple jurisdictions. In September 2010, the County Board approved a 5-year bond initiative that allocated $5.5 million for the implementation of the West Branch DuPage River Watershed Plan Addendum’s recommended alternative. Other sources of funding are still being sought for the remaining cost. Design engineering has been contracted as of March 2011, and construction is projected to begin in Summer/Fall 2012.
West Branch DuPage River Interim Watershed Plan Addendum
The County along with project consultants held a series of informational meetings and a public meeting to receive and answer questions regarding the project. Residents' questions and their responses are available in the West Branch DuPage River Corridor Improvements Comment Response Document.
Project Design Group
Project Team Lead:
DuPage County Stormwater Management - Lillian B. Prince, P.E., CFM
Engineering Design Consultants - Engineering Resource Associates, Inc., Knight E/A, Inc., and HR Green, Inc.
In Cooperation with:
Progress
March / April 2011: Gathering data and beginning topographic survey and visual inspection of project sites for detailed information.
May 2011: Reaching completion of most of topographic survey. Beginning to obtain soil borings and tree identifications.
June 2011: Obtaining soil borings and beginning wetland delineations.
July 2011: Beginning preliminary design plans and applying for grant funding.
August-September 2011: Continue preliminary design plans and coordination with cooperating agencies.
October 2011: Begin meetings with property owners.
November 2011: Submit for permits. Hold public meeting on November 15th at 7 pm at Warrenville City Hall. Representatives from County Stormwater and the County’s project partner agencies will be in attendance to discuss all of the elements of these proposed West Branch flood control/river corridor restoration projects, and give the public opportunity to comment.
December 2011-January 2012: Develop responses to comments from public meeting and information meetings with residents. Continue to discuss elements of project with residents.