Project Sponsors

Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission

Current Status

Construction of structural flood protection elements was completed in 2017.

The final contract, In Project Mitigation, will be completed in FY23.  Remaining non-federal sponsor real estate and project administration credits will be reviewed and applied.  The project will be closed out in FY24. 

Project Description and Background

This project addresses overbank flooding and includes constructing 22 miles of levees and floodwalls, installing a control structure at Hart Ditch, relocating seven miles of river channel, modifying highway bridges to improve conveyance, rehabilitating four interior drainage pump stations, installing a flood warning system, building 17 miles of hiking trails and 385 acres of wetland mitigation. The structural flood protection features were constructed in two segments across eight geographical stages: East Reach extends from Cline Avenue to I-65 primarily encompasses the City of Gary and West Reach extends from the Illinois/Indiana State line to Cline Avenue and encompasses the communities of Griffith, Hammond, Highland, and Muster. The project protects more than 9,500 homes and businesses, preventing over $11 million flood damages annually.

Project Authorization

Sec 401(a), Water Resources Development Act of 1986, as amended

Project Manager

Imad Samara

Project Location

Gary, Griffith, Hammond, Highland and Munster, Lake County, Indiana

Project Area / Photos

Click map to enlarge.