If you thought Winnetka had been talking about stormwater management for a long time, you wouldn’t be wrong — it’s been a part of the local discussion and a source for giant engineering projects for over 150 years! Despite the Skokie Ditch (1864) and the Skokie Lagoons (1933-1942), we are still struggling to transform Winnetka from the swampy marsh referred to as Che-Wab-Skokie into a reliably livable place.
To help you catch up on the current issues, here is a list of articles covering the issue in the local papers. Warning: most of these links require a subscription.
2017
Council hires firm to review Winnetka stormwater management guidelines, Winnetka Talk 05/25/17
Engineering firm hired for $48k Winnetka stormwater practices evaluation, Winnetka Current, 05/23/17
Winnetka announces pending stormwater project, Winnetka Current, 04/11/17
Letter to the Editor: Stormwater plan progressing contrary to Current article, Winnetka Current, 02/20/17
Winnetka reveals stormwater improvement project plans in limbo, Winnetka Current, 02/08/17
2016
Winnetka adds more funds to backflow reimbursement program, Chicago Tribune, 08/22/16
Winnetka residents, village trustees ponder flood control worries after latest storm, Winnetka Talk, August 11, 2016
Winnetka debating on water’s edge: Village discusses future storm and flooding prevention Winnetka Current, August 9, 2016
Village of Northfield launches free rain barrel program Winnetka Current, June 28, 2016
Winnetka man gets new chance to press case village stormwater fee is unconstitutional tax, Cook County Record, June 2, 2016
Residents Organize to Save Crow Island Woods Daily North Shore, April 19 2016
New Stormwater Plan Proposed for Winnetka Daily North Shore, April 19 2016
New Trier Board: Officials air reservations on detention pond at Duke Childs Winnetka Current, April 19, 2016
Strand’s Idea Sparks Controversy Winnetka Current, April 19 2016
Caucus candidates for trustee discuss election issues at meet and greet Winnetka Current, March 1, 2016
Strand hosts open houses for stormwater improvement alternatives Winnetka Current, February 23, 2016
Strand proposes to keep stormwater west instead of moving east in tunnel Winnetka Current, January 26, 2016
Open house tackles stormwater solutions in Winnetka Chicago Tribune, January 27, 2016
A Vision of the Skokie Lagoons Winnetka Current, April 7, 2016
One independent, two Winnetka Caucus candidates win Village Board seats Chicago Tribune, March 15, 2016
Holland, Lanphier & Rintz take a positive stand on Strand Chicago Tribune, March 3, 2016
Village of Winnetka trustee candidates speak at election forum Winnetka Current, February 25, 2016
Winnetka Caucus candidates appear at first of two luncheon forums Chicago Tribune, February 9, 2016
Winnetka looks at streamlining rules on impermeable surfaces Chicago Tribune, January 25, 2016
2015
Winnetka and Northfield officials anticipate changes in 2016 Chicago Tribune, December 25, 2015
Independent candidates for Village Trustee challenge caucus Winnetka Current, November 18, 2015
Village of Winnetka presents its $66.3M budget Winnetka Current, November 6, 2015
Village approves Strand Associates for westward stormwater study Chicago Tribune, October 13, 2015
Strand Associates was approved to begin identifying stormwater solutions at October 6 Village Council Meeting Winnetka Current, October 7, 2015
New stormwater pipes bring relief to Northfield residents Winnetka Current, August 11, 2015
Northfield unveils Infrastructure Improvement Plan Winnetka Current, September 30, 2015
Winnetka to begin exploring stormwater management alternatives Chicago Tribune, September 22, 2015
Winnetka shelves $81.3M stormwater tunnel project Chicago Tribune, September 3, 2015
Willow Road tunnel project gets deferred Winnetka Current, September 2, 2015
Judge dismisses stormwater utility fee lawsuit Winnetka Current, August 25, 2015
Judge dismisses suit challenging Winnetka’s stormwater utility fee, Chicago Tribune, August 24, 2015
Utility Fee Company Dismissed Winnetka Press Release, August 20, 2015
Tower Road opens to public motorists Winnetka Current, August 13, 2015
E-Winnetka Stormwater E-Blast, July 14, 2015
Village authorizes search for non-tunneling options Winnetka Current, July 21, 2015
Letter: Our flooding is result of village’s drains Winnetka Current, June 9, 2015
Winnetka hires firm to review costs of Willow Road tunnel Chicago Tribune, June 8, 2015
Tunnel project to be reviewed by outside firm Winnetka Current, June 8, 2015
Winnetka Caucus addresses wide range of topics at spring meeting Chicago Tribune, May 25, 2015
Winnetka seeks peer review of Willow tunnel proposal, Chicago Tribune, May 19, 2015
Here comes another stormwater discussion Winnetka Current, May 8, 2015
Cost estimate rises for Willow Road stormwater tunnel Winnetka Current, May 4, 2015
After costs rise, Winnetka ponders future of Willow Road tunnel Chicago Tribune, April 30, 2015
Engineers to update Winnetka Village Council on stormwater tunnel design, water quality solutions, project cost estimates at special meeting Tuesday Winnetka Press Release, April 24, 2015
Tower Road to remain closed until July Winnetka Current, April 7, 2015
Suburban stormwater fees raise cash and ire of residents Chicago Tribune, April 1, 2015
Tower Road detours to begin this month in Winnetka Winnetka Talk, March 12, 2015
E-Winnetka Stormwater E-Blast, March 12, 2014
Stormwater analysis shows ‘typical’ results for area Winnetka Current, March 7, 2015
3/5/14 E-Winnetka Stormwater E-Blast, March 5, 2014
Report: Winnetka stormwater exceeds standards for E. coli, some chemicals Chicago Tribune, March 3, 2015
Rejected, Winnetka Park District reviews stormwater credit strategy Winnetka Talk, March 2, 2015
Water Quality Analysis Shows Winnetka’s Stormwater “Typical” for the Area — Not Significantly Cleaner or More Polluted Winnetka Press Release, February 27, 2015
2/26/14 E-Winnetka Stormwater E-Blast, February 26, 2014
Resident files lawsuit against Village’s stormwater fee Winnetka Current, February 25, 2015
2/19/14 E-Winnetka Stormwater E-Blast, February 19, 2014
Winnetka’s stormwater utility fee provokes lawsuit Chicago Tribune, February 13, 2015
2/12/14 E-Winnetka Stormwater E-Blast, February 12, 2014
Winnetka officials to release results of water study Winnetka Talk, January 27, 2015
2014
Winnetka remains focused on stormwater plan, downtown redevelopment Winnetka Talk, December 5, 2014
Letter: Greable, council ignore mandate again; Residents don’t want tunnel Winnetka Current, November 18, 2014
Council awards $6.1 million stormwater contract for Northwestern Winnetka Winnetka Current, November 7, 2014
The “whoa” way Chicago Tribune, November 6, 2014
Stormwater project costs $2 million more than expected Winnetka Talk, November 7, 2014
North Shore experts talk ways to handle stormwater Winnetka Talk, October 25, 2014
Weather poses challenges to stormwater sampling Winnetka Talk, October 17, 2014
Village Receives $2 Million in Grant Funding from Metropolitan Water Reclamation District August 22, 2014
Winnetka’s Skokie pump station upgrade complete Winnetka Talk, August 13, 2014
Winnetka Avenue Pump Station Project Completed Winnetka Press Release, August 8, 2014
A resident’s guide to stormwater utility bills Winnetka Current, July 15, 2014
Winnetka receives grant for flood control work Winnetka Talk, July 2, 2014
Coucil OKs tunnel’s first check point Winnetka Current, June 27, 2014
Winnetka OKs $125,000 water quality project Winnetka Talk, June 25, 2014
Stormwater credit, appeal process available Winnetka Current, June 24, 2014
Letter to the Editor: Trust the new trustees Winnetka Current, May 29, 2014
Winnetka’s Minority Rule Winnetka-Glencoe Patch, May 23, 2014
Stormwater Fee to begin Winnetka Current, May 23, 2014
Community-Wide Mailing on Village’s Stormwater Utility Implementation Winnetka Press Release, May 12, 2014
The Prevalence and Cost of Urban Flooding: A Case Study of Cook County, IL, Updated May 2014
EPA standards not enough Winnetka Current, April 25, 2014
Tunnel decision stirs up resident feedback Winnetka Current, March 24, 2014
Willow Road tunnel voted down Winnetka Current, March 24, 2014
Village Trustees are proactively wasting money and potentially inflicting long-term damage to the Village of Winnetka, Winnetka-Glencoe Patch
Village answers questions about stormwater project Winnetka Current, March 5, 2014
Caucus-slated candidates discuss issues Winnetka Current, March 4, 2014
Stormwater needs treatment Winnetka Current, March 4, 2014
Pollutants will still enter the lake Winnetka Current, March 4, 2014
Vote no on tunnel referendum Winnetka Current, February 21, 2014
Think of stormwater in facts, not fears Winnetka Current, February 21, 2014
Stormwater exemptions added back to ordinance Winnetka Current, February 21, 2014
Trustees approve engineer for stormwater tunnel Winnetka Current, January 27, 2014
Even Earlier
Swamp Secrets: The Natural and Unnatural Evolution of the Skokie Lagoons, Winnetka Historical Society, Fall 2012
If you see a stormwater-related article not on this list, please email a link to us at info@savecrowislandwoods.org.