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Stream
Maintenance
This program allows OWR to construct small flood control projects
which have no State capital cost component other than manpower
and equipment. The benefitting community is required to provide
all capital costs associated with the project. Also under
this program, benefits are provided to communities incapable
of maintenance of a stream or existing flood control facility.
OWR provides a one time service to construct or improve an
existing facility, thus providing a community with a project
within their capabilities to maintain, and one which functions
more efficiently and accrues benefits.
Due to current manpower restrictions, OWR participation in
Stream Maintenance activities is very limited.
Stream
Preservation
OWR is the lead agency for the development and coordination
of watershed-wide stream preservation programs for floodwater
management plans in Northeastern Illinois. Stream preservation
consists of periodic reconnaissance, maintenance, removal
of trash and debris, vegetation management, and periodic removal
of sediment deposits by local units of government. The program
is a non-structural effort directed at preserving the existing
flow capacity of designated stream channels.
OWR works with local communities through Memoranda of Understanding
which outline a cooperative approach to stream channels in
a community. A handbook has been prepared which describes
the program.
As in the Stream Maintenance program, prison workers could
be used for the clearing and snagging of streams. The initial
stream preservation project work could possibly be arranged
for the communities by OWR, with the communities making their
own arrangements with Corrections for future stream preservation
assistance.
The program has been undertaken in various Chicago Metro area
watersheds.
Local
Flood Mitigation Program
OWR provides technical assistance to encourage communities
to initiate a variety of flood hazard mitigation activities.
This assistance includes site visits to determine the feasibility
of a flood control project, manuals and training programs
on flood damage prevention and reduction measures, and direct
advice on designing, funding and implementing these measures
at the local level.
Some flood damage reduction measures, such as a flood warning
and flood fighting plan or a floodplain regulations ordinance,
can be funded and implemented completely by the community.
Others, particularly those that involve acquisition of real
estate, can be very expensive and beyond a community’s financial
ability.
When funded by the General Assembly, OWR can assist a community
by implementing certain flood damage reduction projects that
are proposed by a local mitigation plan, such as: acquisition
of real estate, clearing of publicly owned flood prone property
and the restoration of the land to a safe and manageable open
space area, elevating or floodproofing of public structures,
the purchase of equipment such as a flood warning siren, or
the preparation of plans and specifications for eligible projects.
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Awards
2001
Consulting Engineers Council of Illinois Engineering Excellence
Honor Award - The Chicago Inner Harbor Turning Basin Project
Withdrawing
water from one watershed and discharging it to another has
long been an issue in the Great Lakes region. There have
been many court decrees regarding water diversion since
the early 1900's and today Illinois' diversion is limited
to 3,200 cubic feet per second. A number of factors including
above average precipitation, high Lake Michigan water levels,
Chicago Lock operation for navigation, and uncontrolled
leakage through structures separating the Chicago River
from Lake Michigan, resulted in Illinois exceeding the diversion
limit.
The
Illinois Department of Natural Resources hired CTE to design
and supervise construction of a new watertight cutoff wall,
pump station, and four 10-foot x 10-foot sluice gates to
control the most serious area of uncontrolled leakage at
the mouth of the Chicago River in the Chicago River Turning
Basin. The project also included upgrades for power, telephone
service and site drainage, a new service drive and access
road to the facility, as well as the rehabilitation and
upgrade of adjacent public access lakefront facilities.
In
addition to controlling lake water leakage, the new facilities
add value to the Lakefront. The cutoff wall facilitated
construction of a new 450-slip boat marina on the south
side of the wall that greatly increased revenues collected
by the Chicago Park District. The final design was consistent
with the City's unified concept of beautification and its
upgrade of the entire Chicago metropolitan lakefront. The
new cutoff wall offers a panoramic view of the Chicago skyline.
Contributing
to the progress of the engineering profession, a number
of technological innovations were applied in the design
and construction of the new facilities. For the first time
ever, CORE-LOC precast concrete units were used as a unique
baffling system. Compared to other alternatives, this new
application reduced the length of the structure and the
number of sluice gates necessary to convey the allowable
discharge by 50%, and promoted a new technique for similar
projects. In addition, the use of expanding silicon/rubber
sealant and a two-component epoxy for the bolted connections
at the main wall reduced construction time and cost. Special
design of the cutoff wall prevents excessive ice build-up
from affecting the old Coast Guard Station and the access
road during the harsh winter months.
2003
Consulting Engineers Council of Illinois Engineering Excellence
Honor Award - The Reconstruction of Sinnissippi Dam
Because
of the age and extent of deterioration of the original Sinnissippi
Dam, as determined by Collins Engineers, Inc. during an
extensive feasibility study, complete replacement of the
steel tainter gate and rubble fill crib dam facility was
recommended.
Ultimately,
the replacement dam consisted of more than 500 feet of pnuematically
operated hinged-leaf gates with an additional 500 feet of
concrete 0gee spillway.
Innovative
aspects of the design included: heated stainless steel pier
face plate embedments to assist in gate deicing and promote
wintertime gate operation; a system of galvanized steel
stoplogs and stainless steel embedded slots to create bulkheads
for gate dewatering; a galvanized steel access bridge for
crane movements and gate maintenance operations; and a fully
automated gate operating system for 24 hour monitoring and
proper discharge capacity at the Sinnissippi Dam for all
headwater conditions.
Professional
Development Award from both the Illinois Society and National
Society of Professional Engineers
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