from Patrick McKeehan, Executive Director of Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois

One of the greatest challenges facing elected officials and business leaders throughout Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties is the restoration of the five levee systems protecting the American Bottoms. These levees defend more than 150,000 residents, almost 60,000 homes and approximately 4,000 businesses from annual flooding by the Mississippi River. When the Corps of Engineers announced in August 2007 that the levees do not meet standards and would be decertified, it was a major shock for a region experiencing significant economic growth and billions of dollars in planned capital investment. Regional leaders reacted quickly by assessing the situation, establishing a levee restoration funding source and pushing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to delay implementation of new flood insurance requirements and construction restrictions based upon the decertification. This strategy served the region well until earlier this year when the Corps indicated that the restoration cost may now exceed $500 million and FEMA announced plans to move forward on the new insurance requirements.

In response to these new developments, regional leaders have formed a Flood Protection Districts (FPD) Council that combines the levee restoration efforts of the three counties under one operation. In addition, the Council hired Les Sterman, long-time Executive Director of East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, to lead the levee restoration efforts. In addition, Congressman Jerry Costello introduced H.R. 3415 to hold in place the existing flood insurance rates and delay FEMA’s restrictions on building construction that would adversely affect all new developments within the American Bottoms.

As the FPD Council and regional leaders work toward identifying and implementing a cost-effective, time-efficient solution to restore the levees to standards, they need your assistance. Please contact or write U.S. Senator Richard Durbin and U.S. Senator Roland Burris and request their support for H.R. 3415 (click here to download a sample letter). This legislation provides more time for the levee restoration process without incurring higher insurance requirements or new building restrictions that would further hamper the region’s economic recovery and growth.

For questions regarding the efforts to restore the Metro East levees, go to www.swillinoislevees.org.