Rep. Schneider Announces Federal Grant for Waukegan Sustainable Shoreline Project

Today, U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (IL-10) announced the award of a $375,000 federal grant to the City of Waukegan to help filter and reduce stormwater discharge into Lake Michigan.

Awarded as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Great Lakes National Program Grant, the funds will be used to construct vegetated drainage systems (also known as bioswales) at the parking lot adjacent to Waukegan Beach. The project will reduce discharge into Lake Michigan of 1.1 million gallons of annual untreated stormwater, and the associated sediments and other contaminants it carries. The new system is also expected to decrease closures of the beach.

"Protecting our Great Lakes and conserving this resource for the next generation is critical both for surrounding communities and our planet as a whole," said Schneider. "This project is a step toward reducing damaging run-off into Lake Michigan, while also improving quality of life in the Waukegan by increasing beach access. I applaud the City of Waukegan for its selection for this federal grant, and will continue to work to preserve funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and other environmental efforts."

The grant is awarded in support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). President Trump's budget proposed entirely eliminating the $300 million annually dedicated to the program. Rep. Schneider joined a bipartisan group of members in a letter urging the preservation of full funding for the initiative.

More information about the Great Lakes funding is available on the EPA website.

For a monthly update on federal grants to the Tenth District, please subscribe to Rep. Schneider's Grants Newsletter.