The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) began the process of developing a countywide stormwater management regulatory ordinance to be known as the Cook County Watershed Management Ordinance (WMO), in 2007. The WMO’s goal is to establish uniform, minimum, countywide stormwater management regulations for Cook County. Components which may be regulated under the WMO include drainage and detention, floodplain management, wetland protection, stream habitat and riparian environment protection, soil erosion and sediment control, and water quality.  A draft Technical Guidance Manual (TGM) was developed to serve as a companion document to the WMO, by providing detailed information, methodologies and examples to explain how compliance with the rules and regulations set forth in the WMO can be achieved.

PUBLIC REVIEW - WMO

A draft of the WMO was published in September 2009 for public review and comment.  Letters of notification were sent to municipalities, relevant government agencies and other stakeholders announcing the WMO public review period. The public review period concluded on December 31, 2009.

Please click here to view the Draft WMO documents.

Please click here to view the Draft TGM documents.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

The District’s Board of Commissioners conducted six public meetings throughout Cook County during the public review period.  Transcripts from the public meetings are provided at the links below.

WRITTEN COMMENTS

Written comments submitted to the District can be viewed through the links below.

ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY

At the request of various Cook County Municipalities and stakeholders, the District’s Board of Commissioners granted authority for the draft WMO to undergo an Economic Impact Study (EIS) on February 3, 2010. One goal of the EIS is to estimate the economic effect the draft WMO may have on real estate development in Cook County.

The District is conducting the EIS through two components: an engineering analysis and economic impact analysis. The engineering analysis was completed in June of 2011. The results of the engineering analysis are summarized in a report located through the links below.

Engineering Analysis – Report
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
Appendix 5
Appendix 6
Appendix 7

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If you have any questions about the draft WMO or EIS, please contact Mr. John Murray at (312) 751-7918 or john.murray@mwrd.org.