Northbrook West/Citation Lake Stormwater Project earns highest-priority ranking from Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

Northfield Township Road District’s Phase II project placed in Group 1, the top tier, of MWRD’s 2026 Stormwater Partnership Program; construction could begin as early as 2027

NORTHBROOK, Illinois (July 21, 2026) — The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has notified the Northfield Township Road District (NTRD) that its Northbrook West/Citation Lake Stormwater Improvements Phase II project (MWRD No. 2025-0022-SP) has been placed in Group 1, the highest-priority tier, of MWRD’s 2026 Stormwater Partnership Program funding cycle.

The notification, dated June 12, 2026, was issued by Catherine A. O’Connor, Ph.D., P.E., MWRD’s director of engineering.

Under the program’s schedule, MWRD staff will engage Group 1 applicants in the coming months to confirm design and engineering progress, permitting status, land and right-of-way acquisition, and local-match budgeting before advancing projects to Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) negotiations. Construction on prioritized projects could begin as early as 2027, pending available funding.

“Northbrook West/Citation Lake has been a generational drainage challenge for the residents and roadways in that corridor, and this prioritization moves us a significant step closer to a permanent regional solution,” said Highway Commissioner Michael Korman.

“Earning a Group 1 ranking from MWRD validates the engineering work our team and ERA Consultants put into Phase II — and it positions NTRD to deliver the next phase while limiting the cost burden on local property taxpayers and seniors on fixed incomes.”

Phase I of the Northbrook West/Citation Lake Stormwater Improvements is under construction and on schedule for substantial completion in August 2026, addressing the most pressing hydraulic deficiencies in the watershed. Phase II will build on that foundation with additional detention, conveyance, and water-quality improvements designed to reduce flood risk to homes and roadways throughout the Northbrook West corridor.

About the MWRD Stormwater Partnership Program
The Stormwater Partnership Program is the principal vehicle by which the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago co-funds capital stormwater infrastructure on public property across Cook County. Eligible projects include localized detention, storm-sewer and culvert upsizing, pumping improvements, drainage-way construction, and green infrastructure. Under standard program terms:

MWRD reimburses up to $4 million per project, paid over a two-year construction window.
The partnering local government must contribute a minimum 10% local match of eligible construction costs.
The local partner remains responsible for design, bidding, contract award, construction management, and long-term operations and maintenance.
Each partnership is formalized through an IGA requiring final approval by MWRD’s Board of Commissioners.

MWRD prioritizes applications based on the severity and frequency of documented flooding, the number of flood-prone structures benefited, project cost-effectiveness, design readiness, and community need. The agency has more than 280 stormwater-management projects completed or in active design or construction across Cook County, collectively protecting more than 18,000 structures.

Project Team and Next Steps
Design engineering for the Northbrook West/Citation Lake project is being led by ERA Consultants, with Mike Maslowski serving as the consulting project engineer. MWRD has designated Jack Chan of its Engineering Department as the point of contact for the Phase II application; he can be reached at 312-751-3214 or [email protected]. NTRD will continue to advance Phase II design, permitting, and right-of-way work in parallel with MWRD’s readiness review, with the objective of being IGA-ready when MWRD opens formal negotiations.

About the Northfield Township Road District
The Northfield Township Road District is an independent unit of local government established under the Illinois Highway Code, responsible for the construction, maintenance, and reconstruction of unincorporated roads and associated drainage infrastructure in Northfield Township, Cook County, Illinois. The district is led by Highway Commissioner Michael J. Korman, who was elected to the office in 2025. More information is available at ntroad.com.

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