June 2014 for Lake Ellyn Flood Relief?

At least some flood relief should be on the way for people affected by the perpetual flooding around Lake Ellyn during storms, the Daily Herald reports, with a project designed to increase the lake’s exit flow slated to be completed in June 2014.

According to the paper, the Village intends to implement the suggestion of consulting firm RHMG Engineers to lengthen the lake’s weir and widen the opening in order to increase discharge into Perry’s Pond and the DuPage River from 37 cubic feet per second to 61.4 cubic feet per second (40 million gallons/day.)

Several other measures are also planned, the Herald reports, though anything would have to go through a permitting process, such as getting the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to sign off on a revised dam permit.

"[That] might be the controlling factor of when we can make physical changes to the structure," Village engineer Bob Minix told the paper. "The more we can increase the discharge of Lake Ellyn, the more benefits we think there are."

According to the Chicago Tribune, Village trustees have agreed to pay RHMG Engineers $59,000 for the necessary engineering designs for the discharge increase project, along with related improvements.

"We're doing everything we can as quickly as we can," Village President Alex Demos told the paper. "You don't see a meeting go by that this isn't being addressed."

Glen Ellyn is also petitioning DuPage County to increase their allowed discharge rate even more than the 40 million gallons per day, the Suburban Life reports.