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Little Calumet River
Flood Control and Recreation Project

Project Manager: Natalie Mills

Introduction:
 
Welcome to the Chicago District's web site for the Little Calumet River Flood Control and Recreation Project. The project includes flood control and recreation benefits along the Little Calumet River in Northwest Indiana. This project will provide a 200-year level of Flood protection. The Congress authorized the Little Calumet River project in the 1986 Water Resources Development Act. The project was authorized "... In accordance with plan 3A contained in the Report of the District Engineer, dated July 2, 1984." The authorized project consists of replacing and expanding existing levees and floodwalls, rehabilitation of existing pump stations, a flow control structure, nonstructural floodproofing, and a flood warning system for flood damage reduction and recreation features. The Local Cooperation Agreement (LCA) with the non-Federal sponsor, the Little Calumet River Basin Develeopment Commission (LCRBDC), was executed on August 16, 1990.This project will protect more than 9,500 homes and businesses in Gary, Griffith, Hammond, Highland and Munster, preventing nearly $11 million in average annual flood damage. Construction began in 1990 and the flood protection features are expected to be completed in 2011 and the entire project will be complete by 2015.

Project Description:

This project is authorized for flood control and recreation which includes constructing 22 miles of levees and floodwalls, installing a control structure at Hart Ditch, building almost 17 miles of hiking trails and preserving over 550 acres of wetland. The project also involves relocating seven miles of river channel to allow better water flow, modifying highway bridges to permit unobstructed flow of water and installing a flood warning system. The project will protect more than 9,500 homes and businesses in Gary, Griffith, Hammond, Highland and Munster, preventing nearly $11 million in average annual flood damage.

Costs:

Current Status:

The project is currently in the construction phase. Approximately 95 percent of the total project is complete. The project is divided into two sections. The East Reach, which is mainly in Gary, Ind., extends from Cline Avenue to I-65. The west reach extends from the Illinois/Indiana state line to Cline Avenue. The construction of the project is divided into eight geographical stages, totaling over 39 construction contracts. To date, 31 of the contracts have been awarded and 29 of these contracts are completed, including four contracts for demolition of structures, twenty levee contracts, a recreation contract on the East Reach, one in project wetland mitigation contract,  and two landscaping contract. In addition, four Pump Station contracts were completed to rehabilitate existing pump stations in Hammond, Munster and Highland along the river. Construction of all the levees and floodwalls along the Little Calumet River have been completed from I-65 to the Illinois/Indiana state line.  Only minor punch list items need to be completed on the Stage VII and VIII contracts before completion and turn over to the local sponsorConstruction still needs to be completed: Stage VIII Southmoor area, Tiebacks levees in Munster Hammond and Gary, Recreation 2, Hobart Masch Wetland mitigation, Channel clean up, and 27 & Chase Pump Station in Gary.