Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued the following announcement on May 5.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director John Kim announced the Village of Flossmoor will receive over $492,000 in Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunity (GIGO) grant funding to implement the Berry Lane Stormwater Improvement project to install permeable pavers along Berry Lane, from Sunset Avenue to the north and Bob O Link Road to the south, in the Village of Flossmoor, Cook County.
"Protecting Illinois communities and businesses from persistent flooding and water damage is a top priority for my administration which is why the Rebuild Illinois capital plan has funding specifically dedicated to green infrastructure initiatives," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Through the Berry Lane Stormwater Improvement project, the residents of Flossmoor will have increased protection against excess stormwater and peace of mind that their homes and families are safe."
Berry Lane is a site of severe localized flooding in the Village of Flossmoor. The roadway and residential yards suffer from 1-3 feet of flooding during moderate to heavy rain events, resulting in dangerous conditions for pedestrians and vehicles and property damage from sewer backups for homeowners generally multiple times per year. The estimated flooding area is over 20 acres (limited to Berry Lane, not the surrounding drainage area) and impacts dozens of residents.
The project will allow rainfall and snowmelt to drain between the permeable pavers down into a gravel subbase and the soil below. The increased water infiltration works to keep rainwater close to where it falls. The Village of Flossmoor developed the project proposal after undertaking an extensive review of problem areas with regards to sanitary sewer backups and urban flooding in the past several years. A community survey and several independent studies identified the Village's worst urban flooding areas, of which Berry Lane was one. As a result, the Village applied for a GIGO grant from Illinois EPA. The total project budget is $699,360, with Illinois EPA providing $492,338 in grant funds and the Village providing $207,022 in match.
"This project is a best management practice that will increase stormwater infiltration into the ground and provide detention relieving the significant flooding that occurs and affects more than two dozen households," said Director Kim. "This project will also provide needed relief to the overburdened storm sewers servicing the project area. By reducing stormwater runoff, and in turn reducing flooding, the project will help the local community to protect not only the local households but also Butterfield Creek."
"Flossmoor is pleased and proud to be the recipient of this grant which will provide additional infrastructure and flooding mitigation improvements to the Berry Lane area in a highly sustainable and environmentally progressive manner," said Mayor Paul S. Braun. "The Village Board of Trustees and I thank Village Staff and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for your hard work and grant assistance on behalf of the residents of Flossmoor."
The GIGO Grant Program is a competitive financial assistance grant program established to help protect Illinois' water resources. The GIGO Program is funded through the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan. The funds are used to implement green infrastructure best management practices to control stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff causes flooding and carries pollutants into waterways such as rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and even groundwater.
For additional information on Illinois' Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities Grant Program, please visit https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/water-quality/surface-water/Pages/green-infrastructure.aspx .
Original source can be found here.
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