The Division of Water Resource Management is responsible for :
- Regulating Floodway Construction Activities within or adjacent to Illinois rivers, lakes and streams,
- Regulating Public Waters
- Regulating Construction and Maintenance of Dams,
- Lake Michigan Water Use allocation and monitoring,
- National Flood Insurance Program coordination and
- Flood Mitigation Program (nonstructural) administration.
The Division provides these services through offices in Chicago, Bartlett and Springfield.
Regulation
These responsibilities are carried out through four program sections:
- Northeastern Il Regulatory Programs
The Northeastern Illinois Regulatory Programs Section is responsible for floodplain management activities in the metropolitan Chicago counties of Cook, Dupage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will. Permits are issued for construction of dams, construction in the floodway of streams and activities in and along public bodies of water. The section administers a program through which local governments are delegated authority to approve construction projects under the state's floodway construction rules. The section assists the Statewide Programs Section in the coordination of the National Flood Insurance Program.
- Downstate Regulatory Programs
The Downstate Regulatory Programs Section is responsible for floodplain management activities in the remaining counties. Permits (see Permit Programs) are issued for construction of dams, construction in the floodway of streams and activities in and along public bodies of water. The section assists the Statewide Programs Section in the coordination of the National Flood Insurance Program.
The Statewide Programs Section is responsible for non-permit programs that are applicable in all areas of the state. The section is responsible for the nonstructural mitigation program which purchases and removes structures which are repeatedly flooded. The section leads coordination activities for the National Flood Insurance Program. The section coordinates the development of regulatory floodplain mapping and approval of stream discharges used for regulatory programs. The section provides coordination of state assistance to regional stormwater management programs.
The Lake Michigan Programs Section is responsible for the management of the state's interests in Lake Michigan. Permits (see Permit Programs) are issued for activities in and adjacent to Lake Michigan. The section also administers the allocation of water from Lake Michigan. The section monitors technical studies and data collection activities related to the lake level and bank erosion and sediment movement in the lake. The section represents the state of Illinois on interstate and international organizations related to Lake Michigan.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Also See: OWR NFIP Website
Local floodplain administrators can now download the following documents in PDF format:
Quick Guide to Floodplain Management
Resource Guide for Illinois
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a voluntary program based on a mutual agreement between the federal government and the local community. The NFIP is administered by the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA) within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Illinois Department of Natural Resources/Office of Water Resources (IDNR/OWR) is the state coordinating agency for the NFIP.
Illinois has one of the largest inland systems of rivers, lakes and streams in the United States. Nearly 15% of our total land area (or 7,400 square miles) is subject to flooding. Total stream flow in Illinois averages over 25 billion gallons per day.
Floods are by far the most common natural disaster in Illinois, accounting for well over 90% of the declared disasters. It is estimated that over 250,000 buildings are located in floodplains of Illinois. Unwise floodplain development further increases property damage and potential loss of life from flooding. Annual damages in the state average nearly 700 million dollars.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was created by Congress in 1968 to slow ever rising disaster relief costs and reduce the loss of life and property caused by flooding.
Floods are an inevitable natural event. There are almost always adverse impacts upon the citizens, local governments and state government from both physical and financial damages.The NFIP and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources have set preventative standards for communities to follow to help communities develop programs to avoid disastrous consequences when floods occur.
For more information:
Flood plain management rules in downstate communities: Paul Osman, Floodplain Program Manager
Permits
The Division of Water Resource Management (DWRM) issues permits to demonstrate compliance with its administrative rules. The Division issues permits for work in and along the rivers, lakes and streams of the state, including Lake Michigan, for activities in and along the public waters, and for the construction and maintenance of dams.
Mitigation
Objectives
- Statewide Flood Damage Reduction
- Support Community Flood Mitigation Plans
- Leverage Federal Flood Mitigation Dollars
- Encourage CRS Community Activities
- Public Water Access and Management
FEMA mitigation programs
IEMA mitigation programs
IEMA Mitigation planning
Eligible Recipients
- Local Governments
- NFIP Communities
- Counties
- Communities with approved floodplain development ordinance
Local Responsibilities
- Oversee structure acquisition and demolition of floodprone structures per Intergovernmental Agreement
- Pay any project costs in excess of those supported by the program
- Maintain acquired parcels as open space in perpetuity
- Acquire all local permits for the project
- Pay for any utility relocations required by the project
- Maintain eligibility in the National Flood Insurance Program
Funding Limits
- $1,000,000. Maximum / community / project
- $25,000. Minimum
Eligible Projects
Section 5: Acquisition and demolition of repetitive loss and severely damaged floodprone structures statewide.
Engineering Design
Section 110: Acquisition and demolition of lands and structures in the 100-year floodplain in counties authorized to prepare stormwater management plans
Section 120: Flood mitigation in declared disaster areas
Ineligible Activities
- Reimbursement for previously completed projects
- Maintenance / Operation or Repair costs
- Purchase of structure contents
- Equipment purchases
- Relocation / temporary housing costs
- Floodproofing private properties
- Elevating private properties
Preferences
- Projects in NFIP communities
- Projects in an approved floodplain mitigation plan
- Removal of repetitive loss or substantially damaged properties
- Cost share to leverage Federal dollars
- Mitigation activities that supplement public flood control projects
- Property acquisition for public water access or management
- B/C ratio > 1
Repetitive Loss
Four or more separate claim payments of more than $5,000 each (including building and contents payments); or
Two or more separate claim payments (building payments only) where the total of the payments exceeds the current market value of the property.
Selection Criteria
- Public Safety
- Financial Need
- Mitigation Plan
- Statewide Implementation
- Environmental Clearances
- Benefit-cost
- Related Public Benefits
- Public Safety (0 – 10 Points)
- Immediate Threat to Health or Safety of the Community
- Removal of repetitive loss or substantially damaged properties
- Frequent Evacuation Site
- Transportation Benefits
Terms of Agreement
- IDNR will reimburse community for approved Project costs
- No pre-agreement reimbursement
- IDNR will provide technical assistance
- Project administration costs not provided
- Relocation / temporary housing costs not provided
- Purchases in the name of the state with future convance to the community
- NFIP Community
- Environmental clearances
- IDNR willing to participate in condemnation if necessary
- Community to maintain open space in perpetuity
Protecting Illinois Waters
Construction projects in Illinois waterways, floodplains and wetlands often require both State and Federal authorization. This application packet is designed to simplify the approval process for the applicant seeking project authorizations from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Water Resources and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
Information regarding the joint application process, application requirements, agencies, and instructions can be found here .
Illinois Lake Michigan Water Allocation Program
A 1967 U.S. Supreme Court Decree limits Illinois' diversion of water from Lake Michigan. In response, the General Assembly has tasked the Illinois Department of Natural Resources with developing an ongoing program to equitably allocate Illinois' limited supply of Lake Michigan water. The "Rules and Regulations for the Allocation of Water from Lake Michigan" describe the allocation process, contains the criteria used to evaluate applications for a water allocation and the water conservation practices and other permit conditions required of allocation permit holders.
Allocation Objectives
The importance of wise, long-term water resource planning and the large investments that must be made to secure new water supply sources requires that the objectives of an allocation program clearly address the problems to be solved. In Illinois' case, the objectives must also address the specific requirements of the U.S. :
- To make the greatest amount of Lake Michigan water available for domestic water supply.
- To use Lake Michigan water allocations as a tool to preserve groundwater resources for communities in northeastern Illinois who will not have access to a Lake Michigan water supply.
- To make long-term allocations so that communities receiving an allocation for the first time can secure the needed financing to construct regional water distribution systems.
- To carefully consider the competing needs of all water users in the region so that allocations promote the efficient development of water supplies in the region in light of long range needs and objectives.
- To require all users of Lake Michigan water to conserve and manage this resource.
Allocation Process
A successful water allocation program must combine a technically defensible methodology with an administrative process that follows legally defensible procedures and treats all applicants fairly. To achieve this goal, Illinois' allocation process consists of the following key elements:
- An active public participation program.
- An identification of available water supply sources.
- A long-range water demand forecasting methodology.
- Formal allocation hearings on all requests.
- Issuance of an Allocation Order.
- Ongoing monitoring of water use and consumption by all permittees.
- Formal process to make adjustments in allocations.
For more information see the
Lake Michigan Allocation website.
Contact Us
For all downstate/statewide issues:
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Water Resources
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702-1271
Phone: 217/782-3863 Fax: 217/785-5014
For Lake Michigan issues:
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Water Resources
160 N. LaSalle St, Suite S-703
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312/793-3123 or 312/793-5947 Fax: 312/793-5968
For other Chicago area issues:
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Water Resources
2050 W. Stearns Road
Bartlett, Illinois 60103
Phone: 847/608-3100 Ext. 2025 Fax 847/931-2037