DuPage County Stormwater Management Begins Wetland Map Initiative
DuPage County’s Wetland Map Initiative to provide
residents, developers and businesses with updated wetland maps is underway. These
enhanced maps will more accurately identify wetland
areas currently in existence throughout DuPage County.
The
United States Environmental Protection Agency awarded DuPage County Stormwater
Management with a Region 5 Wetland Program Development Grant for $118,369 to
update the County’s wetland maps. This proactive effort is intended to help property owners, developers and regulators easily assess the presence of wetlands on a property
in order to save time and money during permitting and development.
DuPage County
developed the current wetland maps in the mid to late 1990s, and they no longer reflect existing conditions because of development. Additionally,
wetlands are dynamic systems that can change over time due to factors such as
surrounding land uses, hydrologic changes and climatic conditions.
Wetlands, wetland buffers and riparian buffers serve an
important function by filtering pollutants from stormwater and storing floodwater.
They also serve as a habitat to a variety of organisms and moderate water and
air temperature fluctuations, creating a more comfortable atmosphere for
wildlife and humans alike.
The project is
expected to be completed within 2 years. For more information on the Wetland
Map Initiative, click here.
Date Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2013