Lake Zurich gets state grant to fix erosion at Buffalo Creek, an issue worsened by decade-old rain storm

Lake Zurich village trustees have given a green light accepting a state grant to help pay for a stabilization project for Buffalo Creek, a project capped at $518,145 and that comes nearly a decade after severe flooding tore through the creek, creating a new waterway in the process.

Since then, the creek has eroded its new banks and risks flooding a nearby neighborhood.

“The Buffalo Creek streambank, located south of Bristol Trails Park along Stanton Road, is experiencing severe erosion from significant rainfall events with existing timber retaining walls collapsing and the loss of property imminent if the streambank is not stabilized,” said Trustee Marc Spacone said at the May 20 Village Board meeting, reading the resolution.

The project had been planned for years but because of costs, had been on hold. However, Public Works Director Mike Brown said local and state agencies recently awarded the village a grant that will cover most of the cost. So, with that, work is set to begin this year.

Brown addressed the board and reminded them of the severe rain storm of 2013 that created the need for bank stabilization in the first place.

“It was one of the worst rain events I’ve seen in Lake Zurich,” Brown said. “I’ve watched this stream bank move, which is rare. That storm picked this stream bank up and moved it.”

He said over the years the village worked with state and federal agencies in developing a plan to stabilize the creek to prevent severe flooding, but the cost had proven too great until the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Lake County Stormwater Commission agreed to fund the project to near completion.

He told the board the state wanted a “shovel-ready” project that wouldn’t take long to get started and, and with years in the planning, the Buffalo Creek project was nothing if not ready to go.

“They’re going to fund this thing at 90% – maybe more – but it looks like it’ll be a 90%/10% buy-in,” Brown said.

He said it makes financial sense for the village to spend what it needs to now rather than wait on a better deal.

“It’s never cheaper than it is today, and lo and behold it seems to have worked out,” Brown said. “It pays to have it ready to go.”

The village sought bids in March to do the work and, out of six proposals, awarded the contract to Waukengan-based ILM Environments.

As part of the project, flora will be removed from 1,400 feet of streambank and it will be replaced with native species.

Jesse Wright is a freelancer.