Phase II Overview
The Board of Trustees approved an agreement for Professional Engineering Services to Engineering Resource Associates, Inc. (ERA) at their meeting on March 2, 2024.
The design began with collecting information in the field. Flags were placed (pink) along the edge of the streambank, as well as metal tags on the trees for identification. Regional Land Services (RLS) then surveyed the cross section of the stream, including trees, fences, and property corners. This was followed by Testing Service Corporation (TSC) who sampled the streambed to help estimate the quantity of sediment that will have to be removed, as well as check for any pollutants of concern.
Although the Village has an easement for "Maintaining Drainage", the 30 feet is no longer sufficient for the amount of water that flows through this stretch of Klein Creek. Therefore, the design anticipates retaining wall on both sides of the creek for the entire stretch. That retaining wall will look similar to what was installed south of Thunderbird Trail (Section I) and north of Illini Drive (Section III).
SCHEDULE
| 2026-03-31 |
IEPA grant deadline to begin construction. |
| Winter 2026 |
An Open House or Presentation to Residents is planned to occur after awarding the construction contract. |
| Winter 2026 |
Awarding a Construction Contract is anticipated early next year. |
| 2025-09-23 |
ERA submitted our application for the first of two major permits required (US Army Corps of Engineers). |
| 2025-01-20 |
Village Board authorized executing a grant with IEPA for up to $1,000,000 in construction funding (R-3399). |
| 2024-03-29 |
The topographic survey, including wetland and tree identification, was completed. |
| 2024-03-13 |
A notice was mailed to residents notifying them of the award and introducing this website. |
| 2024-03-09 |
ERA and RLS began their field collection of the existing conditions that will serve as the basis for the final design. |
BACKGROUND
The Village completed a Pond and Stream Bank Study in 1998 where Mitchell Lakes North (Pond 21) and South (Pond 22) were among 33 ponds evaluated for restoration. The study used several factors to establish a prioritization schedule and these two ponds were ranked 3rd and 4th, respectively. The report estimated approximately 10,000 (North) and 8,000 (South) cubic yards of sediment removal would be required by 2018 at an estimated cost of $200,000 (North) and $160,000 (South) in 1998 dollars.
In September 2016, the Village awarded Engineering Resource Associates, Inc. (ERA) with a contract to develop a Watershed Master Plan for Klein Creek. One of the deliverables was to develop a strategy to improve the likelihood of receiving Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) 319 grants for streambank stabilization based on their firm’s experience and understanding of the IEPA’s evaluation criteria. Their recommendation was to partition streambank stabilization projects into sections (see figures at the end of memo) and then combine each one with other projects that created habitat (i.e. detention retrofits) or addressed water-quality through public outreach (i.e. residential rain garden program). This is because most of Klein Creek and it's Tributary No. 2 (aka "Thunderbird Creek", aka "Section IV") is highly channelized (i.e. artificially straightened) and the surrounding land use eliminates the option to re-meander and create additional habitat within the stream corridor itself.
SCHEDULE
The Village intends to submit for an IEPA 319 grant for Section II in the next round of applications, which are expected to be due by July 30, 2022.
This Phase has not yet been started. There is no anticipated date for its commencement at this time.
