Libertyville's Developing Watershed Problem

Libertyville is not alone in its developing watershed problem, but it can be proactive among watershed communities in recognizing urban degradation of what was once a rural community with an ecologically balanced watershed.

Libertyville is in the Upper Des Plaines Watershed, a water source feeding the Des Plaines River which flows into the Illinois River, a tributary of the Mississippi.  “As recent flooding of the Mississippi points out, the effects of flooding are not as localized as the rainfall might be.  Water flows.  It’s a fact of life,” states Barbara Shafer whose new group “My Neighbor in Libertyville”  has begun to address stormwater and flooding issues facing many Libertyville residents.

“We’re all connected not only by the watershed’s underground waters called aquifers,” Shafer says, “but also by money.  We all pay taxes for sewer systems, including emergencies (for example on Appley costing $25,000 from Libertyville’s Capital Improvement fund) revealing flaws in our processes for new development.”

It’s possible to be pro-development even while being protective of our watershed, avoiding adverse impact to neighbors who are adjacent to new developments, preventing flooding from stormwater, and preserving our tax dollars.  Proper prior planning will address Libertyville’s developing watershed problem.