Watershed Alliance Explores Stormwater Solutions in Chicago’s South Suburbs

Last week, Friends of the Chicago River brought partners from across the region together for a field trip highlighting innovative approaches to flooding and stormwater management in Chicago’s south suburbs.

The trip was organized through the Greater Chicago Watershed Alliance, a coalition convened by Friends of the Chicago River that brings together government agencies, nonprofit organizations, researchers, and other partners working to advance equitable, nature-based solutions to flooding throughout the Chicago region. The field trip was made possible with funding from Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.

Participants first visited the Thorn Ditch Flood Mitigation Project in South Holland, where speakers from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and the Village of South Holland explained how the community is addressing persistent neighborhood flooding through a combination of improved drainage, stormwater storage, and natural features. The project provides more than 4 million gallons of stormwater storage in area parks. The Village noted wildlife returned to the area immediately after construction commenced, demonstrating how flood mitigation projects can also create valuable habitat and community benefits.

The tour then traveled to the city of Harvey, where participants visited a corridor of 10 rain gardens along 154th Street. Speakers from The Nature Conservancy shared how the 154th Street rain gardens were incorporated into a larger roadway and streetscape improvement project. Together, the gardens can hold approximately 100,000 gallons of stormwater, helping keep rainwater out of Harvey’s combined sewer system while also adding vegetation and improving the streetscape. Participants even had an opportunity to pitch in with hands-on weeding and maintenance.

Across both communities, the tour highlighted an important lesson: there is no single solution to urban flooding. Large regional infrastructure must be complemented by neighborhood-scale projects, green infrastructure, improved drainage, and investments that keep stormwater closer to where it falls. Through the Greater Chicago Watershed Alliance, Friends of the Chicago River will continue bringing partners together to share lessons like these and accelerate effective, equitable stormwater solutions throughout the Chicago region.