The Village of Vernon Hills along with its consultant, Living Waters, has developed a restoration plan for the Seavey Ditch area between Butterfield Road and Hazeltime Road. This plan includes many different types of shoreline stabilization techniques along with the creation of wetlands to greatly enhance the water quality and sedimentation impairments for this area.

The stream bank has two major areas of concern that have failed causing deposition of material at the Hazeltime box culverts.  The bank has receded in one of the areas by 8 feet raising potential concerns of impacts to utilities servicing the Shadow Creek Subdivision.  The Village has secured two separate grants, one from the USEPA and another from the Stormwater Management Commission which will provide $213,887 towards the improvements.  The required local match is 43% of the $373,806 total project costs.  Work is scheduled to begin after December 17, 2009 and be substantially completed by May 14, 2010.

Please note that due to the proximity of trees to the top of the stream bank, many trees will be impacted during the re-grading of the banks. Staff and our consultant reviewed the existing trees which are mainly softwoods and in poor condition. Staff will take measures to save quality trees to the extent possible. The design was modified to save an approximate 30 foot buffer along Butterfield Road to reduce unappealing views.  Also a number of larger quality trees were identified along the southwesterly project area and these will be protected and enhanced using best forestry management practices.

Please view other projects such as Seavey Ditch Phase 1, Stonefence Farm or Harvey Lake and see how those areas were improved.

We will appreciate your patience and cooperation during this construction.  If you have any additional questions, during business hours feel free to contact David H. Brown, Village Eningeer at (847) 918-3544 or email DaveB@vhills.org.