Flood control project completed in Hinsdale

DuPage leaders will join federal, state and local officials next week to celebrate the completion of a three-year, roughly $4.6 million project to protect an area in Hinsdale from flooding.

To reduce chronic flooding from nearby Salt Creek, DuPage County Stormwater Management oversaw the construction of berms, pump stations and other improvements in the Graue Mill neighborhood. The subdivision of townhouses and condominiums is located north of Ogden Avenue and east of York Road in Hinsdale.

"It's very satisfying that we're able to once again provide some flood protection to an area that has suffered repetitive damages," said Anthony Charlton, DuPage's director of stormwater management.

County officials said residents in the 243-unit complex have experienced hardships because of multiple flooding events, most recently and notably in April 2013.

"Unfortunately, it was a poorly designed area," said Jim Zay, chairman of the county's stormwater management committee. "It always had flooding issues. Something needed to be done."

Zay said officials from every level of government came together to find funding for the flood control project.

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley secured a roughly $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency. Former state Rep. Patti Bellock worked with DuPage to get a roughly $626,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The village of Hinsdale also helped pay for the project and Graue Mill residents made contributions through their homeowner's association fee.

"It was a total team effort," Zay said. "If one person didn't come through, somebody else was going to pick up the bill."

The flood control project was done in stages. The first included storm sewer improvements and the installation of a floodgate. The next stage included the installation of flood walls, pump stations and berms.

The final phase was the creation of a water detention area in the nearby Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve, which is located west of York Road in Oak Brook.

Because the subdivision is walled off to prevent floodwaters from getting in, Charlton said a hole needed to be dug to store that water.

He said the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County provided the site for the compensatory storage at no charge.

"This project was able to happen because they made land available for the storage," Charlton said.

A news conference about the completion of the flood control project is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Graue Mill Clubhouse, 1203 Old Mill Road.