$195,500 in Funding Awarded to Monmouth, Illinois, to Address Storm Water Runoff
Illinois EPA Director John Kim announced the city of Monmouth, in partnership with Monmouth-Roseville District 238, will receive $195,500 in Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunity funding.
The funding will be used to implement a Bioretention Basin Retrofit project in the high school parking lot, reported a news release from Illinois EPA.
“Protecting Illinois communities and businesses from persistent flooding and water damage is a top priority for my administration which is why the Rebuild Illinois capital plan has funding specifically dedicated to green infrastructure initiatives,” said Pritzker in the news release. “Through the Bioretention Basin Retrofit project, the residents of Monmouth will have increased protection against excess storm water and peace of mind that their homes and families are safe.”
The project received funding through Gov. JB Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan. It will retrofit the existing 2.8-acre high school parking lot with four bioretention basins to capture storm water runoff, according to Illinois EPA.
This project was identified by the community for a green infrastructure retrofit due to the large stretch of impervious surface, as well as its ability to benefit from water quality improvement and groundwater infiltration.
The project will channel rainfall and snowmelt from the parking lot into its bioretention basins, and the basins keep the rainwater close to where it falls, according to Illinois EPA. The total project budget is $230,000, with Illinois EPA providing $195,500 in grant funds and the city providing $34,500 in matching funds.
“This will be the first major green infrastructure project for the city and will set the stage for them to identify additional projects in association with ongoing street improvement projects,” said Kim in the news release. “The city proposed to retrofit the parking lot instead of a total replacement. The retrofit will cost less and still provide the needed benefits to help protect the local residential and downtown area and nearby Markham Creek.”