Comprehensive plan for reclaiming overflow lands in the Kaskaskia River Valley — a detailed engineering study that presents how levees, ditches, pumping plants, and gravity outlets could protect Illinois lands from floodwater.
The work lays out an integrated approach to drainage that ties physical features to jurisdictional realities, costs, and long‑term land use.
This edition, prepared under the Rivers and Lakes Commission and written by Jacob A. Harman, C.E., compiles years of data, maps, and analyses. It explains how main channels and tributaries can be adjusted to reduce flood peaks and duration, and how lands can be grouped into drainage units with reliable outlets. The publication also discusses cost, construction methods, and the role of drainage laws in coordinating large-scale reclamation.
- Learn how the proposed routes, cut‑offs, and floodways are designed to fit the valley’s landscape.
- See how levee and ditch systems are planned to protect bottom lands from overflow.
- Review the reasoning for gravity outlets versus pumping plants and the associated cost implications.
- Discover the scope of the project, including benefits, implementation steps, and governance considerations.
Ideal for readers of historical engineering studies, public works planning, and Illinois drainage policy.