November 19, 2003
For Immediate Release

Kirk Announces Over $2.1 Million in Funding for Waukegan Harbor
Funding for Des Plaines River, Chicago’s Sanitary and Ship Canal Barrier and Libertyville’s Butler Lake also included in Energy & Water Appropriations

Waukegan, IL - U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park) announced Wednesday that Waukegan Harbor will receive over $2.1 million in funding for operational costs and maintenance. Included in the funding is $175,000 for dredge work to be done on the inner harbor. Dredging of the harbor is critical to the environmental cleanup of the harbor as well as Waukegan’s economy. Dredging of the harbor has not been done in 30 years due to PCB contamination.

“No single project is more important than the dredging of Waukegan Harbor,” said Congressman Kirk. “I am pleased Congress answered my request for these funds. Once completed, economic development of the harbor will vastly improve the incomes and futures of over 100,000 Americans living in the Waukegan area.”

The remaining funds will be used for ongoing dredging of the outer harbor. The dredging is needed to remove rapid shoaling that occurs at the harbor entrance which would prevent ships from entering Waukegan’s outer harbor.

Major funding for the Des Plaines River and Libertyville’s Butler Lake was also included in the 2004 Energy and Water appropriations at the request of Congressman Kirk. Over $528,000 dollars will be added to the ongoing flood damage protection project currently under construction on various parts of the Des Plaines River.

The Army Corp of Engineers will receive funding to complete its construction project at Butler Lake. Congressman Kirk’s letter to the Energy & Water Subcommittee last spring asked that language be included in the House Report asking the Army Corp of Engineers complete its project at Butler Lake that was authorized in legislation back in 1996. Kirk was surprised to learn the language he requested to be put into the House report was turned into $700,000 in approved funding for Butler Lake

“This project has languished almost eight years and the low water levels at Butler Lake are having an adverse effect on water quality and the natural self-sustaining ecosystem of the lake,” said Kirk. “I am pleased the Energy & Water Subcommittee provided the funds necessary for the Army Corp of Engineers to complete this project. Butler Lake should be a recreational haven for residents of Libertyville and Lake County.”

Protecting Lake Michigan from pollution and invasive species has been a top priority of Congressman Kirk. At his request, $21 million was approved to continue construction and maintenance of the McCook and Thornton Reservoir projects (Deep Tunnel) which have been extremely effective in achieving its goals of eliminating 86% of combined sewage pollution in the Chicagoland area.

Over $1.5 million was approved to continue construction of a permanent barrier wall in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal which is intended to prevent the movement of invasive aquatic nuisance species between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. Part of the funding will be used to continue work on a secondary barrier wall as well.

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