Former U.S. Rep.
Pete Visclosky reflected Monday on the completion of the Little Calumet River Flood Control and Reduction Project, which has been nearly 30 years in the making. “We will not have anyone else lose their life because the Little Cal flooded. I would anticipate we’re not going to have any more property damage because the Little Cal did not flood,” Visclosky said.
The Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission will continue its work, Visclosky said, through efforts like creating a collaborative to preserve the wetlands around the basin. “This is not the end. This is just the completion of the first staff,” Visclosky said.
“The commission understands if you do this next part well Northwest Indiana can be a place of great beauty, environmental significance and inviting to investment and job growth.” The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission and elected officials Monday commemorated the completion of the Little Calumet River Flood Control and Recreation Project. Following major flooding in the late 1930s, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers began working on preventing flooding on the Little Calumet River, said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District Commander Col.
Kenneth Rockwell. With the Flood Control Act of 1941, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers evaluated flood control measures and created a comprehensive plan, Rockwell said. The plan was presented to Congress in 1976, he said. Congress authorized the plan.