Lakewood Springs Club is a residential community in Plano, Illinois. It is typically characterized by single-family homes and offers a suburban lifestyle. Plano, located in Kendall County, is a smaller city known for its friendly community atmosphere and various local amenities. Lake Springs likely provides residents with access to nearby parks, schools, and other local facilities, contributing to a comfortable living environment. The community might feature amenities such as lakes, parks, or green spaces, enhancing the quality of life for its residents. Pizzo & Associates was hired to help establish a stormwater management system to help with flood mitigation and control erosion around the lake.
The developer of this residential community decided to implement a large bioswale through the center of their development to transport stormwater through the site. Prior to Pizzo’s implementation the bioswale was dominated by monocultures of highly invasive species and had significant sediment buildup. Bioswales, when planted with native plants, slow stormwater runoff allowing it to percolate into the soil. This filters and cools stormwater, reducing downstream flooding and recharging aquifers. The root system of native plants is an extensive network of tiny sponges that store water and secure soil, reducing the risk of erosion and flooding.
The installation of the bioswale consisted of twenty pounds of native seed per acre installed with a Truax® native seed drill. Installation was followed by intense stewardship, which included mowing, hand pulling weeds, and herbicide treatments. The planting has now matured into a very diverse natural area with species such as Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium), Canada Milkvetch (Astragalus Canadensis), and Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta).
The native prairie provides aesthetics enjoyed by homeowners and the general public along with providing critical habitat for many species of wildlife.
Founded in 1988, Pizzo & Associates is one of the Midwest’s largest ecological restoration firms with over 170 industry awards. We have the experience and know-how to restore natural environments.
We work with a large variety of public and private landowners on habitat restoration projects of all sizes. We help with everything from installations to ongoing management, which is needed for optimal results.
