$30 million state grant will fund 16 projects to ease flooding in Lake County

Another round of projects to control flooding throughout Lake County is being teed up with the receipt of a second $30 million state grant.

The Lake County Board on Nov. 12 is expected to approve a resolution accepting the grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and appropriating the money for regional stormwater projects.

This is the second $30 million grant in an overall state appropriation of $122 million to address what is considered a critical issue in Lake County.

The first $30 million was designated for 14 projects and put into action in 2022. Work for projects on the initial list benefited more than 2,300 properties and 25 roads, according to the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission.

The commission was established by state legislation to coordinate activities in more than 80 local jurisdictions and to implement a countywide comprehensive stormwater management plan.

Flooding is the most common natural hazard in Lake County, the commission explained in the most recent grant application. In developed areas flooding often is a consequence of aging or undersized facilities installed before modern stormwater regulations.

Also, a documented increase in the frequency and intensity of rainfall events has exacerbated “all types of flooding” affecting residents and businesses, according to SMC. Essentially, a variety of projects are needed to handle greater volumes of water.

Projects submitted for the first round of state funding generally involved storm sewers, channel improvements, detention, drainage system upgrades and flood mitigation measures geographically spread from Antioch in the northwest part of Lake County to Highland Park in the southeast.

With work essentially complete, DCEO awarded a second grant of $30 million for projects to be done from Oct. 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2026. At least one is underway and several are being designed.

“They’re having real impact reducing flooding for residents all across the county,” said county board member Paul Frank, who is on the board’s planning, building, zoning and environment committee.

The next 16 projects to be funded with the $30 million grant are targeted for Zion, Wauconda, Kildeer, the Round Lake and Buffalo Grove areas, North Barrington, North Chicago, Lake Zurich, Lindenhurst, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Lincolnshire and Vernon Hills.

“We have so many flooding issues in the county,” said committee member Marah Altenberg. “I don’t think we ever thought we’d be able to do this much work to correct these issues in a small amount of time.”