Environment & Natural Resource Restoration

Harvey Lake Public Survey

The Village is conducting a public survey to understand resident preferences and recommendations for improving Harvey Lake and the surrounding area. Thank you for participating in our survey. Your feedback is important.
Harvey Lake Survey Link


Seavey Ditch & Lake Charles Restoration Project

The Village of Vernon Hills is partnering with the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission to complete the Seavey Ditch Stream Restoration project from Hazeltime Drive to Greggs Parkway, as shown in the figure below. Plans are complete, and the project is anticipated to be awarded for construction in February 2025.

Seavey Project Location

Why is this project necessary?

This portion of Seavey Ditch contains severely eroded streambanks that result in sedimentation downstream into Lake Charles. The excess sediment is degrading the water quality of both Seavey Ditch and Lake Charles. This issue was identified in a Lake County Health Department report in 2012, and the project was identified in a Lake Charles Water Quality Improvement Feasibility Study completed by Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. 

I live near Seavey Ditch, what can I expect during construction?

The first stage involves clearing brush and undesirable trees throughout the project corridor. Most of the vegetation in the area is buckthorn, a non-native, invasive species that restricts other plant growth in the area. Next, the eroded Seavey Ditch streambanks will be graded with gentler slopes, and the toe of the slope will be protected with stone. This work will require truck traffic to remove excavated soil from the site and deliver materials. While the Village and its contractor will mitigate construction impacts to the extent possible, the project will generate noise and dust.

How will construction trucks access the site?

The Village will establish truck routes that will generally limit trucks to certain roads, such as Huntington Drive, Greggs Parkway and Butterfield Road. Two main construction access locations are from Hawthorn Mellody Park on the western side and from Huntington Drive near Greggs Parkway on the eastern side.

What will the project corridor look like after construction?

The Seavey Ditch streambanks will be restored, then seeded and planted with native vegetation. The bottom of the streambank will have a stone toe to protect from future erosion. There will be a one-year contractor warranty for landscape establishment and a three-year monitoring and maintenance plan following the project completion. Below is a rendering from Hazeltime Drive facing east (left) along with a photo of a similar stream restoration project upstream from Hazeltime Drive (right).

Seavey Project Photos

Questions or comments?

We would love to hear from you! 

More information is available on the Construction Notice.



Previous Seavey Ditch Restoration Projects

  • Phase I: Stone Fence Farms
  • Phase II: Golf Course Dam Removal
  • Phase III: Hazeltime Drive


Other Local Restoration Projects

Environmental Information & Interesting Links