River Forest Gets $480K to Reduce Flooding

Illinois Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside) on Monday presented the Village of River Forest with a check for $480,000 to replace alleyways with material that will absorb stormwater, River Forest Leaves reports.

Last month, Gov. Pat Quinn announced more than $5 million in Illinois Green Infrastructure Grants (IGIG) would be awarded to 13 communities.

The grants are designed to support projects that reduce the amount of pollution running into Illinois waterways from stormwater sources and reduce the risk of localized flooding, according to a news release from Gov. Quinn. 

Village President Cathy Aducci told the River Forest Leaves the village will use the grant to repave village alleys with permeable surfacing materials to absorb stormwater. The improvements will be in 34,800 square feet of alley space in the northeast corner of the village, south of North Avenue and west of Harlem Avenue, according to the paper.

“Over the past year we have seen firsthand the impact that heavy rain can have on our communities,” Quinn said in a statement. “These green investments will not only lessen the damage of these storms but will reduce pollution and harmful runoff, improve water quality and ensure that our communities are more prepared for future floods.”

The grants could be used for any stormwater management project with the goal of preserving or restoring natural hydrology is known as “green infrastructure,” according to the release, including methods of using soil and vegetation for the preservation and restoration of natural landscape features, such as forests, floodplains, headwaters and wetlands.

Projects that could also be considered green infrastructure consist of permeable pavement, rain gardens and barrels, downspouts and bioswales, according to the release.