The Buffalo Creek Restoration Improvements Project implemented Best Management Practices to reduce non-point pollution along both sides of Buffalo Creek in Buffalo Grove, Lake County, IL.

The project started with preparation and submittal of an IEPA Section 319 grant funding application, including preliminary design of the restoration plans. The project included restoration of approximately 1,500 feet of Buffalo Creek located immediately east of Arlington Heights Road within the Buffalo Creek Nature Preserve.

Design features included re-grading of severely eroding banks, stabilizing the banks with a combination of vegetative and biotechnical practices, and thinning of the tree canopy to allow for establishment of native vegetation within the riparian corridor. The project also included obtaining permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Lake County Storm Water Management Commission.

Manhard was hired to design and implement a strategy to stabilize a severely eroded ravine within Kickapoo Woods along the Little Calumet River in Riverdale, IL.  The slide of material had exposed nearly 30 feet of an existing storm sewer which was constructed directly beneath it.  The project was part of a grant based infrastructure improvement project for the Little Calumet River.

The design team developed an innovative approach which included recycling nearly 100% of the existing infrastructure while daylighting the sewer into the ravine, removing the only manhole and reusing as a drop structure.  Existing RCP was specified to be crushed and used as an accepted equivalent to riprap.  Overexposed or at-risk trees were designed as terraced grade breaks to replace the impact of the washout a the toe of the slope.  The reused of onsite materials reduced material needs by an estimated 50% for the entire project, not including traditional and necessary SESC measures.

Lake Leopold is a 22 acre± lake constructed in-part with the Prairie Crossing Subdivision in Grayslake, Illinois.  The subdivision is an acclaimed award-winning conservation design community known mostly for the preservation of open space and a naturalized stormwater management system.  Manhard was contracted to prepare engineering plans and complete the permitting process necessary to restore 900 shoreline feet in the northeastern bay.

Due to the water quality, the lake has been successfully used to re-introduce a number of Illinois endangered and threatened species.  Several of these species have been documented to have done well to a point where the lake can serve as a hatchery.

The project was a showcase presentation at the 2017 Illinois Lakes Management Association (ILMA) Annual Conference in Crystal Lake, IL.

The Village of Volo contracted Manhard Consulting to complete the project management and engineering services for the conversion of the Village’s water supply from municipal wells to Lake Michigan Water. Initial work included revising the Village’s Master Plan to include the internal water system improvements needed to receive the delivered Lake Michigan Water being supplied by the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency (CLCJAWA) and the improvements to deliver the water to the Village’s distribution system. The scope of services included the preliminary and final engineering design and construction engineering for the site and facility improvements.

Improvements included a skid-mounted water booster pump station consisting of three (3) nine-hundred (900) GPM pumps including the necessary mechanical piping, valves, fittings, supports, control valves, pumps, motors, controls and other necessary appurtenances as shown in the prepared engineering improvement plans and specified in the technical specifications prepared by the design team managed by Manhard Consulting. The work was closely coordinated with CLCJAWA to make the connection of the Village’s improvements to a delivery structure constructed by the water supply agency.

The project was completed successfully delivering Lake Michigan water to the Village’s users after many years of planning for a reliable and sustainable water supply for the Village.

Douglas County, Carson City, and Indian Hills General Improvement District (IHGID), as a result of projected growth, combined efforts to respond to future demands.  In addition to increased water demands, the water purveyors within the Douglas County area had problems meeting current safe drinking water standards in some cases. As a result, Douglas County, Carson City, and IHGID looked at ways to insure current and future regulatory compliance. As an alternative to costly treatment processes, they turned to the Town of Minden to provide additional drinking water supply that meets drinking water standards.

To determine the feasibility of moving Town of Minden water through Douglas County to Indian Hills GID, Carson City, and the Douglas County North County/West Valley, Manhard staff created an extensive regional water model using Water CAD v8XM. The model was the basis for an alternative analysis to determine the most cost effective, energy efficient, and timely method to deliver the necessary flows to the above entities. The alternative analysis showed that a phased approach would provide the best solution for both the short term and long term demands, while insuring that the first phase of construction could be completed in the shortest amount of time. This was especially pertinent because IHGID did not meet safe drinking water standards due to elevated levels of arsenic. The Alternative Analysis was completed in July 2009 and accepted by Douglas County, IHGID, Carson City, and the Town of Minden. After approval of the alternatives, Manhard proceeded with the design of the improvements.

The improvements were bid under multiple contracts. The overall scope of work included a preliminary design report (pump selections, piping material selections, schedule and cost estimates), survey of pipeline alignments and the booster pump station site, preliminary design of improvements, environmental and regulatory permitting, final design (plans and specifications), bidding assistance including recommendation to award contracts, and construction management support.

This project included combining Fire Station 1 and the FPD Administration Building into one renovated building. The facility includes administrative offices, a communication center, training center, public meeting area and a new parking lot. The use of permeable pavers was used in strategic locations to reduce storm water runoff.

Paulus Park is a 29 acre± park owned and operated by the Village of Lake Zurich.  The park has on average 75,000 visitors yearly.  The park has approximately 2,200 lineal feet of lake frontage on the southern shoreline of Lake Zurich (lake) which is a relatively clear, glacially formed lake in south central Lake County, IL.  The Village provides access to two beaches on Paulus Park.  Of these two beaches one is a paid access beach monitored with lifeguards and fully maintained with clean sand buoyed with identified swimming limits.  The other beach is passive and unkempt.

The area surrounding this second beach was subject to frequent nuisance ponding and an overabundance of geese.  The droppings created due to the geese population was troubling due the proximity to both beaches.  Fecal coliform was a valid concern.  The geese enjoyed sunning themselves upon an asphalt walking path along the beach.

On behalf of the Village, Manhard applied for and obtained a Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) Watershed Management Board (WMB) grant to offset the cost for installation of site best management practices (BMPs).  Site BMPs installed include the removal of the 200 feet of asphalt pathway and installing a pervious asphalt path using FLEXI-Pave, the installation of a goose abatement light, and a surface water intercept.  The intercept is meant to collect runoff from the park and distribute to an underdrain system beneath the beach.

Manhard Consulting was retained by the Village of Lake Zurich to design and observe construction of the Village’s 2,800 feet of 8” PVC water main replacement project along Robertson Road and surrounding streets. Residents in the area had been experiencing water quality issues for many years with increasing frequency of water main breaks.

Manhard staff performed site analysis with the Village Utilities Superintendent to thoroughly understand the scope of issues and identify key priorities for both the Village and residents. Manhard performed a cost analysis of the pipe layout, material options, and installation methods. Contract documents were prepared specifically to give the Engineer and Village the ability to control cost and schedule impacts to the project despite varying field conditions.

During the construction work, Manhard was able to utilize the flexible design to save on costs. The Village was able to utilize these cost savings to improve portions of the pavement and area drainage conditions; ultimately offering the Village and residents the best overall value for the new infrastructure.

The project consisted of the removal of the existing, badly deteriorated and failing CMP culverts and replaced them with precast RCP culvert pipes, including restoration of disturbed areas and ancillary items.

Manhard was responsible for the removal and replacement of the existing EQRS 42” pipe culvert on Pheasant Ct. and the removal and replacement of the existing 54” pipe culvert on Clarendon Drive at the Round Lake Drain.

The culverts are located within the mapped regulatory floodplain so the proposed improvements had to be made without placing any fill within the limits of the floodplain, which created a challenge. Permits were obtained from the USACE and LCSMC because of the work performed within the floodplain and the impacts to existing wetlands.

Manhard Consulting was retained by the Village of Lake Zurich to design, permit and observe construction of 400 feet of 6” 900 feet of 8” and 1600 feet of 10” watermain at three locations within the Village.

Manhard staff thoroughly vetted options related to pipe layout and installation methods with the Village staff including pipe bursting options for the US Route 12 pipe, boring 8” PVC on Kim Trail, and trenched-in pipe for Cherokee. Route 12 pipe permitting necessitated particular attention considering the in-depth IDOT and IEPA permitting requirements

A key challenge faced with this project involved the replacement of the active watermain systems while maintaining service to the affected residences.  Complicating matters was that replacement can only be made in the same location along US 12 and within 3 feet of the existing main along Kim Trail.  Our design incorporated detailed sequencing and installation guidelines to construct the system while maintaining service.  The installation methods used also provided a benefit to the residences by reducing the amount of physical impacts to yards and driveways

During construction, Manhard provided weekly updates for the Village and residents and ensured coordination among residents, the Village, and the contractor.  The tight coordination, flexibility, and dedication to quality ensured the final construction costs remained under budget with $20,000 in contract construction savings.