MISSION
The mission of the countywide stormwater management program is to provide Cook County with effective rules, regulations, and projects that will reduce the potential for stormwater damage to life, public health, safety, property and the environment. Nineteen stormwater management goals have been developed by the District for the CCSMP. The goals extend from protecting new and existing development from flooding to preventing the loss of water quality and habitat.

A brochure describing the District's countywide stormwater management program can be found here.

The authority for general supervision of stormwater management in Cook County was conveyed to the District pursuant to the passage of Public Act 93-1049 (Act) by the Illinois State Legislature on November 17, 2004. A summary of the Act can be found here.

COOK COUNTY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
The Act requires the preparation and adoption of a countywide stormwater management plan. On February 15, 2007, the District's Board of Commissioners adopted the Cook County Stormwater Management Plan (CCSMP) by ordinance. The CCSMP is not a regulatory ordinance and does not set forth any rules, regulations, or standards to which a municipality will be held to or be required to enforce. The CCSMP is a high level organizational plan wherein the overall framework for the countywide program is established and which the District was required per the Act to adopt as a first step in establishing the District's countywide stormwater management program.

The CCSMP was amended on July 10, 2014 to be consistent with P.A. 98-0652, which amends the District’s statutory authority to allow for acquisition of flood-prone properties and to plan, implement, finance, and operate local stormwater management projects. The CCSMP dated July 10, 2014 can be found here.

WATERSHED PLANNING COUNCILS
The District has worked with communities to create Watershed Planning Councils. These planning councils represent communities located within major watersheds in Cook County, and communicate the needs and interests of the members of the public and local governments to the MWRD. Currently there are six watershed planning councils: Lower Des Plaines, Poplar Creek, Upper Salt Creek, Little Calumet River, Cal-Sag Channel, and the North Branch of the Chicago River. An additional planning council will be created for the combined sewer areas within Cook County as well. Information on upcoming Watershed Planning Council meetings can be found here.

A final version of the detailed watershed plan (DWP) for the Cal-Sag Channel watershed is now available. Click here to view the final report. 

A final version of the detailed watershed plan (DWP) for the Little Calumet River watershed is now available. Click here to view the final report.

A final version of the detailed watershed plan (DWP) for the Lower Des Plaines watershed is now available. Click here to view the final report.

A final version of the detailed watershed plan (DWP) for the North Branch of the Chicago River watershed is now available. Click here to view the final report.

A final version of the detailed watershed plan (DWP) for the Poplar Creek watershed is now available. Click here to view the final report.

A final version of the detailed watershed plan (DWP) for the Upper Salt Creek watershed is now available. Click here to view the final report.

COOK COUNTY WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE

The District’s Board of Commissioners adopted the Watershed Management Ordinance (WMO) on October 3, 2013. The WMO became effective on May 1, 2014. Further information regarding the WMO can be found here.

MWRD Inundation Area GIS Application

The modeling results from MWRD detailed watershed plans can now be viewed on a web-based GIS Application. The application allows for viewing of the inundation area and water surface elevation calculated during the DWP process as well as viewing "live" regulatory Flood Insurance Study data (floodplain, floodway, base flood elevation and LOMR/A) from FEMA. The application for 32-bit browsers is at http://gispub.mwrd.org/swima/. For Macintosh and mobile devices use http://gispub.mwrd.org/swimajs/.