CHAMPAIGN, Ill., 1/27/2023: Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) crews are starting to collect data within the Embarras River watershed as part of a multiple-phase hydrologic and hydraulic study to help local communities identify areas of high flood risk for flood mitigation planning. Results from the new study will be used to update the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), which typically depict the 1 percent and 0.2 percent annual-chance floodplains.
ISWS, a part of the Prairie Research Institute, is working collaboratively on the project with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources-Office of Water Resources (IDNR-OWR) and FEMA.
The first phase of the project, data collection, is anticipated to begin in February 2023 and be completed in fall 2023. In this phase, surveyors will conduct detailed channel and bridge surveys of the Embarras River mainstem in the following counties and their respective communities: Champaign County (Champaign), Douglas County (Villa Grove, Camargo), Coles County (Charleston and Oakland), Cumberland County (Greenup and Jewett), Jasper County (Newton and Sainte Marie), Richland County, Crawford County, and Lawrence County (Lawrenceville). Most of the survey work will be performed in the rural areas of each county.
Residents should be aware of the periodic presence of survey crews in the area. Surveys will be completed as stream conditions and weather allow.
Questions about the study can be directed to Aaron Thomas, P.E., CFM, at the Illinois State Water Survey (abthomas@illinois.edu), 217-333-7832.
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Media Contacts: Aaron Thomas, 217-333-7832, abthomas@illinois.edu
