DuPage River Flooding: Meeting Thursday In Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, IL — The Army Corps of Engineers will hold the second of two public meetings on plans to reduce flood risk along the DuPage River Thursday in Plainfield. The Aug. 16 meeting comes weeks after the release of the Army Corps of Engineers' DuPage River draft integrated feasibility report and environmental assessment.

Residents can sound off on the report at Thursday's meeting, set for 6 p.m. at the Plainfield Public Works building at 14400 Coil Plus Drive, or submit public comment via email to dupageriver@usace.army.mil through Aug. 30. Comments can also be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, 231 S. LaSalle Street, Ste. 1500, Chicago, IL 60604, ATTN: DuPage River and must be postmarked by Aug. 30.

The study provides a recommended plan to address flood risk on the DuPage River and its tributaries in Will and DuPage counties. According to the study, roughly 900,000 residents in 40 communities along the river are in areas that are at risk for flooding.

The study evaluated several plans to reduce flood risk, including improving the Lisle Levee and flood proofing or buyout of 42 structures in the affected areas. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

A slide presentation from Will County gives a glimpse of the history of flooding along the DuPage River after major storms in 1996, 2008, 2010 and 2013. Photos show flood conditions along the east branch of the river in Bolingbrook in April 2013, along Caton Farm Road in July 1996 and April 2013, throughout Plainfield in April 2013, along Weller Drive in Plainfield in September 2008, in Plainfield Township in 1996 and more. View the slides here.

2013 Photos: Plainfield Hit By Major Flood

Residents can view the full Army Corps of Engineers report here.

Photo via Shutterstock