Shields Township and the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) collaborated to create an eco-friendly, eye-appealing, sustainable stormwater drainage system along Foster Avenue, east of Birch Avenue in Knollwood, IL.
In January 2023, Shields Township was awarded a matching Watershed Management Board (WMB) grant to enhance stormwater drainage and reduce flooding along Foster Avenue. With the support of hydrology experts, the ditch was regraded, check dams were strategically placed, and biodegradable erosion matting embedded with native plant seeds was installed. Community volunteers also planted:
- Over 600 donated native plants.
- Fifty-five donated native shrubs.
- Three donated Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) trees.
- Over one pound of donated native seeds was scattered.
Note: The frogs and crayfish immediately moved back into the area when the project was completed.
Nov 13, 2025 – Once again, the Township cut the grant project to the ground, leaving the debris in the channel to block the flow of stormwater. They also cut native shrubs that were purchased and donated by community volunteers. Questions for the Township:
- Why does the Township keep razing a grant project?
- Why is the debris left in the channel to block the flow of stormwater?
- Why is the Township being selective with which resident ditches they cut?
Aug 1, 2025 – Despite the continued cutting, the native plants are creating blooms! If they are allowed to go to seed, next year we’ll see more blooms! As the native plants increase, the non-native plants will decrease. In the meantime, the frogs, crayfish, and dragonflies are enjoying the area.
July 14, 2025 – The cutting continues; we have no idea why. Most likely, it is due to a lack of education, communication, and accountability. Listening, learning, and collaboration lead to successful outcomes.
June 6, 2025 – We added a restoration expert to the volunteer team! We are grateful for his willinging to share his knowledge and resources to keep the restoration work moving forward. We also appreciate his natural ability to teach and influence others on the importance of growing natives. It’s exciting to see the natives growing and getting established! We are making plans to reseed the areas that did not recover from the mowing last year.
May 26, 2025 – Spring workday! Things are looking good! We repaired two check dams, planted some native plants, and removed some non-native plants.
Restoration experts state that it takes at least three years for native plants to become established, crowding out non-natives and creating a healthy habitat.
The Township is still cutting the area, although not as drastically as in 2024. There are a couple of places where the natives did not survive the 2024 cutting. They will need to be reseeded or planted.
Overall, the native plants are slowing and filtering the stormwater. The crayfish population is strong, and dragonflies and tadpoles have been spotted.
March 1, 2025 – We were honored to present a poster about our project at the Wild Things Conference. Over 2,400 people attended this event to celebrate nature, wildlife, ecosystem restoration, birding, botanizing, networking, and discovery!
November mini-workday – The much-needed rain finally showed up. A small group did complete some much-needed tasks:
- Removed the branch that was hanging dangerously over the ditch.
- Removed leaf litter that was blocking water flow. PSA: Please check your drainage ditch and ensure there is no debris blocking your culvert of the drainage.
- Installed donated plants, that had been waiting patiently (and healthy) since August!
October 4, 2024, We continue to water the oak trees and the native plants and shrubs that are still being cut.
September 3, 2024, A productive workday! The team watered the oak trees and the native shrubs that were cut down. We are optimistic the slashed native shrubs and plants will grow back in the spring. The team also made significant improvements to the channel by removing 0.34 cubic yards of cutting debris that was blocking several sections. This will restore the water flow and enhance the environment for native plants.
August 22, 2024, Shields Township hired a contractor to cut down the native plants and shrubs that were capturing and absorbing stormwater to eliminate flooding and erosion. A small section submerged in water was not cut. Before the annual cut in 2025, we will teach the contractor the proper cutting level to help keep the green infrastructure in optimal condition.
August 2024 – 1st anniversary! It has been one year and things are looking good. The native plants are getting established and doing their job of slowing and filtering stormwater. The wildlife is enjoying the new habitat! This year we have had some significant rains. The plan is working! Key highlights:
- The flooding at the corners of Birch and Muir Avenues has been eliminated.
- The east end of Foster still experiences some minor flooding during substantial rains.
- A couple of areas have been washed out a bit due to the heavy and powerful flow of stormwater. We will replant natives in this area and hope they can get established before the next heavy rain.
- We had three workdays to remove the non-native plants, mostly purple loosestrife and reed carney grass.
- Seeing a Great Blue Heron and Red-Tail Hawk visit the area was exciting. Their presence is a positive sign that the habitat attracts and supports a diverse range of species.
- We are working to increase the number and diversity of native plants to benefit our pollinators. Let us know if you have native plants you can donate.
Capturing and managing rainwater effectively can have significant environmental benefits. Each native plant, with its long root system, helps absorb and filter water into the ground. Did you plant any native plants in your yard this year? It isn’t too late, September is a perfect time to plant natives!
May 2024 – The plan is working! We have a natural, sustainable, stormwater ecosystem becoming established! The native plants are growing and the area has frogs, dragonflies, birds, and crayfish; which enjoy eating insects. It may look ‘messy’, however, nature is in full swing with filtering, absorbing, and leveraging stormwater to create a healthy habitat. Can you see the three frogs and a dragonfly in the photos below?
On April 22, 2024 (Earth Day) a Shields Township employee removed signs and fencing, which were part of the grant agreement. The materials removed were purchased and donated by a community member and the local school children enthusiastically installed the fencing while learning about and connecting with nature. Imagine how the children felt when they walked past the site, on Earth Day, and now every day, to see their dedicated community service efforts gone. Multiple excuses were given as to why the materials were removed:
- The Township employee ‘did not feel it was aesthetically pleasing.‘ The Township Supervisor and multiple SMC employees complimented the site, saying ‘The materials give the site a professional and intentional look‘, and ‘It looks great‘.
- The Township employee stated the materials ‘interfered with lawn maintenance‘. This information is incorrect since the items were installed with easy maintenance in mind and were within the no-mow area.
Ways you can support the community and this project:
- Do what you can to capture your raindrops where they fall. This website will share actions you can take.
- Visit this website to learn about healthy stormwater management best practices.
- Visit this website to learn why taking care of our stormwater drainage is vital to our system.
- You can create your own Homegrown Park! “We are at a critical point of losing so many species from local ecosystems that their ability to produce the oxygen, clean water, flood control, pollination, pest control, carbon storage, etc, that is, the ecosystem services that sustain us, will become seriously compromised.” Doug Tallamy.
Reach out to Janice Aull, AullNaturePreserve@gmail.com for more information.
Over 600 donated plants planted!
It works! It sure pays to get the experts involved when dealing with stormwater mitigation.
Before Photos – an unhealthy, dangerous stormwater ditch
Construction progress photos. As with any construction or restoration work, things get messy before they look good.
Community Workday #2
Community Workday #1
We were able to rescue four different types of sedges/rushes. They will be replanted once construction is complete. We also rescued and relocated; four green sunfish, one bass, and one yellow garden spider.
Construction was completed by McGinty Brothers, with design and construction management provided by Hey and Associates.
Construction – Day 1 | What a great team, they worked effectively and efficiently ALL day!
Construction – Day 2-3 | How exciting to see the plan come to life! Next step, volunteers secure and plant natives. This will help prevent erosion and add immediate beauty to the area!
A design and construction success! The ditch is doing what it is supposed to do AND the crayfish found their way back! Once the plants are established, they will absorb the water and help it percolate into the ground.
Community Workday #2 – A wonderful day to plant the many donated plants and two Swamp White Oaks. We also prepared a flower bed for plants. The day ended perfectly, with precious RAIN!
Project Design
Projected goal – examples of healthy stormwater mitigation
Aull Nature Preserve 