Lake Zurich gets state grant to address Buffalo Creek erosion, problem made worse by decade-old rainstorm – Chicago Tribune

Lake Zurich village trustees have given the green light to accept a state grant to help fund a Buffalo Creek stabilization project, a project capped at $518,145 and which comes nearly a decade after Severe flooding ravaged the creek, creating a new waterway. .

Since then, the stream has eroded its new banks and risks flooding a neighboring neighborhood.

“The Buffalo Creek bank, located south of Bristol Trails Park along Stanton Road, is experiencing severe erosion due to heavy rainfall, with existing wooden retaining walls collapsing and loss of property imminent if the bank is not stabilized,” said administrator Marc Spacone. village board meeting on May 20, reading the resolution.

The project had been planned for years but was put on hold due to costs. However, Public Works Director Mike Brown said local and state agencies recently awarded the village a grant that will cover most of the costs. Work should therefore begin this year.

Brown addressed the board and reminded them of the severe 2013 rainstorm that created the need for bank stabilization in the first place.

“It was one of the worst rain events I’ve seen on Lake Zurich,” Brown said. “I observed this stream bank movement, which is rare. This storm lifted this bank and moved it.

He said that over the years the village had worked with state and federal agencies to develop a plan to stabilize the creek to prevent serious flooding, but the cost proved too high until ‘to what the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Lake County Stormwater Commission agree to fund. the project nearing completion.

He told the board the state wanted a “shovel ready” project that wouldn’t take long to get underway, and after years of planning, the Buffalo Creek project was nothing if not shovel ready.

“They’re going to fund this thing at 90% — maybe more — but it looks like it’s going to be a 90%/10% buy-in,” Brown said.

He said it makes financial sense for the village to spend what it needs now rather than wait for a better deal.

“It’s never been cheaper than it is today, and lo and behold, it seems to have worked,” Brown said. “It pays to have it ready to go.”

The village issued a request for proposals in March to carry out the work and, out of six proposals, awarded the contract to Waukengan-based ILM Environments.

As part of the project, flora will be removed from 1,400 feet of riverbank and replaced with native species.

Jesse Wright is independent.