Forest Glen, Greenwood Could Get Flood Reduction Improvements

Residents in the Forest Glen neighborhood may soon get relief from flood-related issues after Winnetka trustees directed staff to add Forest Glen in the engineering designs for flood reduction improvements in Northwest Winnetka. 

“This absolutely dovetails into the Tower Road and Greenwood project,” Trustee Richard Kate said at a recent village council study session. “The bottom line is there is no rational reason not to do it.” 

The Northwest Winnetka Flood Reduction Improvements include adding new storm sewers for the Greenwood Avenue area to withstand 4.47 inches of downpour in two hours. 

The Forest Glen improvements would add about $685,000 to the estimated $2.9 million it would cost for flood reduction improvements in Northwest Winnetka, which was already included in the village's 2012-2013 budget, village documents show. 

The Northwest Winnetka improvements are scheduled for engineering in 2012 with the intent for construction to begin in 2013. 

Christopher B. Burke Engineering, which has worked with the village on past storm sewer related projects, identified the following conditions in the Forest Glen area: 

1. The Forest Glen storm sewer system has less than a five-year capacity. For storm events grater than or equal to the magnitude of a five-year return interval, the system will surcharge and storm water ponding will occur. 
2. When the capacity of the storm sewer system along Forest Glen Drive North is exceeded, the surcharged flow is directed towards the homes between Forest Glen Drive North and Forest Glen Drive South
3. Ponding occurs at the low spots along Forest Glen Drive East for storm events equal to or greater than a five-year frequency. There is about 0.6 feet of depth between the low spot in the road and the overtopping elevation between the houses on the west side of the street. 

The Rosemont-based engineering firm recommends the village install larger storm sewers along Forest Glen Drive and increase the capacity of Tower Road storm sewer to move the additional flow from the Forest Glen area west to the proposed Northwest Winnetka Improvements. 

Related Articles:

• Winnetka Considers a $34.6 Million Stormwater Tunnel

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Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly said the Village Council was still considering adding Forest Glen in the proposed Northwest Winnetka Improvements. The article has been updated to reflect that the Village Council has directed staff to include Forest Glen in the improvements.