Seeking Public Comment on Metropolitan Water Reclamation District stormwater management and flood control projects in Cook County, Illinois
FEMA is soliciting written comments from the public including agencies, organizations, and individuals regarding the proposed funding of four stormwater management and flood control projects in Berwyn, Chicago, Cicero, and La Grange, Illinois.
Date: September 29, 2025 - October 14, 2025
Important Date
Event Details
Public Notice
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has received a request for funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for DR-4728 (Illinois Severe Storms and Flooding) from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), Cook County, Illinois.
Pursuant to Executive Orders 11988 (Floodplain Management) and 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), and in accordance with 44 CFR Part 9, FEMA hereby provides notice of its intent to fund a project located within the floodplain. This notice also serves to help fulfill requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). FEMA intends to provide funding to support the proposed stormwater system improvements and flood control projects in Berwyn, Chicago, Cicero, and La Grange.
The proposed projects are described below:
Berwyn: The project area will include Euclid Avenue, Wesley Avenue, and Clarence Avenue between 26th Street and 28th Street, as well as Janura Park and 28th Street adjacent to the park.
This project consists of installing flow restrictors at street inlets to slow down stormwater infiltration and promote overland flow south towards 28th Street. The overland flow will be intercepted by a series of rain gardens totaling approximately 10,000 square feet in the parkway on the south side of 28th street. The rain gardens will be installed with underdrains to convey excess stormwater to an underground 5-acre-foot stormwater detention facility on the north side of Janura Park, south of the parkway. If the detention facility reaches capacity, it will overflow to a low-lying area within the park’s baseball fields. This project will help to convey and contain stormwater to reduce the risk of basement backups within the homes near the project area.
Chicago: Two projects are proposed at two different locations in the City of Chicago in the Austin and Lawndale neighborhoods: Kostner Avenue and 15th Street (41.86056, -87.7348), and Arthington St and Lavergne Avenue (41.86932, -87.74902).
This project consists of adding or replacing existing sewers in the combined sewer network with large size box culverts. At Kostner Avenue and 15th Street, a 12-foot by 12-foot box culvert along 15th St from Kilbourn to Kildare Avenue and a 6-foot by 3-foot box culvert along 15th Street from Keeler Avenue to Tripp Avenue will be constructed, adding 162,800 cubic feet of storage volume. Up to a 10-year storm, 249 properties will see reduced damages due to basement backups.
At Arthington Street and Lavergne Avenue, the existing sewer along Lavergne Avenue from Lexington Street to Arthington Street will be replaced with a 10-foot by 4-foot box culvert. A portion of the existing sewer along Arthington Street will be replaced with a 30-inch sewer. Approximately 28,600 cubic feet of storage volume will be added. Five properties will be protected in 2-year storm event, 18 properties in a 5-year storm event, and 7 properties in a 10-year storm event.
Cicero: This project is proposed to occur near 36th Street and 61st Avenue, at Kolar Park, in Cicero.
The project will consist of constructing a 9.3 acre-foot underground detention facility within Kolar Park. New storm sewer pipes will be installed to separate stormwater runoff from the local combined sewer system and for conveyance to the proposed Kolar Park detention facility. Along 35th St, 60th Ct, parts of S 61st Ave, and parts of 61st Ct, 12-inch sewer pipes will be installed. Along parts of 61st Ct and 61st Ave, 15-inch sewer pipes will be installed. Along 36th St, 21-inch, 24-inch, and 30-inch sewer pipes will be installed.
The detained water in the detention facility will then be slowly released back to the combined sewer system. To complete this project, pavement will be saw cut and removed, catch basins/curb inlets will be replaced and will be closed-lid. Erosion and sedimentation measures will also be installed and used.
As a result of this project, 163 homes will either be protected or see reduced damages due to basement backups and overland flooding.
La Grange: The MWRD is proposing a stormwater management project in La Grange, Illinois, in partnership with Lyons Township High School.
This project consists of constructing and installing a 10-acre-foot storage vault to be placed under the sports field at Lyons Township High School. Additionally, a new 60-inch relief sewer with high-capacity inlets will be installed to intercept and convey stormwater from Sunset and Elm Avenues. The proposed relief sewer will connect to the existing combined sewer and the vault will drain via gravity after the storm event has passed. The relief sewer will be installed with a backflow preventor to stop sewer flow from entering the vault. This project will protect up to 50 properties from overland flooding in the 100-year storm event while another 176 properties will see a reduction in flood damages.
FEMA’s HMGP funding is expected to support the construction and implementation of these projects. Funding will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations, including floodplain standards, permit conditions, and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
FEMA, State, and the applicant considered potential alternatives including the No Action alternative. The no action alternative was determined to be not practicable, as taking no action will provide no benefit and offer no additional protection from flooding. FEMA determined the proposed improvements will help protect property and life from flood hazards and proposes to fund these projects.
This will serve as final public notice regarding the above-described action to be funded by the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) opportunity. Interested persons may submit comments, questions, or request a map of one or more of these projects by writing to:
FEMA Region 5 Attention: Duane Castaldi
Regional Environmental Officer
536 S. Clark Street, Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60605
Email: fema-r5-environmental@fema.dhs.gov
Phone: 312-408-5549
Comments must be received within 15 days from the date of this notice.