Underwood Announces That Infrastructure Project to Protect Hundreds of Lake County Homes from Impending Dam Failure Advances in the House; $1.3 Million For Sylvan Lake Dam Would Protect Public Safety
WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) announced that over $1.3 million in federal funding for Lake County's Sylvan Lake Dam advanced in the House of Representatives. The Sylvan Lake Dam Modification Project is crucial to ensure public safety and protect hundreds of Lake County homes from impending failure of a 100-year-old embankment dam. Recent record flooding and erosion damages across the county have accelerated the urgency of this project, which would benefit homeowners in the Village of Long Grove and Fremont Township, Lake County public utility infrastructure, and the Illinois Department of Transportation while shielding the public from the impacts of future extreme weather and climate change. Once approved by the House Appropriations Committee, the project will advance to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
"There are tragedies that we don't see coming, and then there are the ones right in front of our eyes—like Lake County's Sylvan Lake Dam, which has the potential to displace hundreds of families. A dam failure would be extremely detrimental to public health and safety in addition to the property damage and disruption to transportation and utilities. I won't let that happen to our community—that's why I'm pushing for this critical project so we can act now and prepare for the future to keep our families and neighbors safe. I'm pleased that my colleagues approved over $1.3 million in federal resources to support this project, and I'll continue to push for these priorities and more to help improve the safety of our communities in 14th District," said Underwood.
The project advanced in the House Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Homeland Security as part of the Community Project Funding (CPF) process. CPF is a new initiative for Fiscal Year 2022 that allows Members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that benefit the communities they represent. Underwood submitted ten projects for consideration overall; similar decisions on her remaining five projects are expected in the coming weeks.
PROJECT SPONSOR: Lake County Stormwater Management Commission
LOCATION: Sylvan Lake Dam, 26083 N Highland Drive, Mundelein, Illinois 60060
AMOUNT FUNDED: $1,342,500
PURPOSE/JUSTIFICATION: The Sylvan Lake Dam Modification Project is a cost-effective project to ensure public safety and increase resilience by mitigating the impending failure of a 100-year-old earthen embankment dam, making it an appropriate use of taxpayer funds. This project will protect the 137 homes in the Indian Creek Club subdivision, the 289 homes near Sylvan Lake serviced by above-ground sanitary sewer, Highland and Midlothian roadways, and preventing further damage along the Sylvan Lake Drain. Lake County experienced countywide record flooding in 2017, and erosion damages to this infrastructure have been accelerating as increased precipitation/climate change impacts our region. This project benefits the following local, county and state jurisdictions: Village of Long Grove (including single family homeowners), the unincorporated Fremont Township around Sylvan Lake, Lake County public utility infrastructure, and Illinois Department of Transportation (Midlothian Rd).
Additional information on Underwood-sponsored projects in the 14th District selected for Community Projects Funding (CPF) through the Committee on Appropriations can be found here.