Durbin, Duckworth, Members Of Illinois Delegation Request $25 Million In Reimbursements For MWRD’s Work On The Thornton Reservoir

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), Jesus G. “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL-04), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle urging the Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to include $25 million in construction funds in its Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Work Plan to reimburse the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago for the work it has completed on the design and construction of the Thornton Composite Reservoir.
“We are writing to request that you include $25 million in Construction funds in the Army Corps of Engineers’ Fiscal Year 2026 Work Plan to reimburse the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for design and construction work conducted on the Thornton Composite Reservoir,”the lawmakers wrote.
In 2009, MWRD executed an amendment to its Project Cooperation Agreement with the Army Corps for the design and construction of the Thornton Composite Reservoir, enabling MWRD to work on the project while being eligible for federal reimbursement. Despite the reservoir being in service since 2015 and providing an estimated $660 million in flood reduction benefits to 14 communities, the Army Corps still owes MWRD approximately $200 million in reimbursements.
“Currently, the Army Corps of Engineers owes MWRD approximately $200 million in reimbursements for the cost of designing and constructing the Thornton Reservoir, which is needed to support flood-prone communities struggling to build resilient infrastructure. Cook County experienced significant flooding during storm events in 2023, 2024, and 2025, leading to three disaster declarations. These reimbursement funds would be used to advance shovel-ready projects to address flood damages in the Chicagoland area,”the lawmakers wrote.
“Not only will this flood protection work help communities be more resilient, it also will help boost economic development. Including a $25 million reimbursement in the FY 2026 Army Corps of Engineers’ Work Plan will ensure that MWRD can reinvest in these communities to mitigate flooding and create a strong economic base,”the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers concluded their letter by emphasizing the necessity of including the reimbursement funds in the FY26 Work Plan to support flood protection projects across the state.
“These funds are needed to provide community flood protection for projects currently in design, including projects in Maine Township, Park Ridge, the City of Harvey, Bremen Township, Midlothian, Crestwood, and Oak Lawn. FY 2026 funding would build on the $20 million in the FY 2024 Army Corps of Engineers Work Plan; the $7.2 million reimbursement to MWRD in theInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Construction Spend Plan, Summer 2023 Addendum; and the $12 million in the FY 2022 Army Corps of Engineers Work Plan, allowing MWRD to focus on completing critical projects, including the Robbins Flood Protection Project,”the lawmakers wrote.
“As the Army Corps determines how to best address its flood damage reduction obligations and meet its commitments to its partners, we strongly urge you to include $25 million in Construction funds for the reimbursement owed to MWRD in the FY 2026 Work Plan to help create a better future for our constituents,”the lawmakers concluded their letter.
Durbin has previously secured additional reimbursements from the Corps for MWRD’s work on Thornton Reservoir. In Fiscal Year 2022, Durbin secured $12 million in reimbursement funds in the Army Corps’ FY22 Work Plan. The following year, Durbin secured $7.2 million in theInfrastructure Investment and Jobs ActConstruction Spend Plan for the project. In Fiscal Year 2024, Durbin also secured $20 million in the Army Corps’ work plan for reimbursement.
A copy of the letter is availablehereand below:
December 19, 2025
Dear Assistant Secretary Telle:
We are writing to request that you include $25 million in Construction funds in the Army Corps of Engineers’ (Army Corps) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Work Plan to reimburse the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago for design and construction work conducted on the Thornton Composite Reservoir.
In 2009, MWRD executed an amendment to its Project Cooperation Agreement with the Army Corps for the design and construction of the Thornton Composite Reservoir. This enabled MWRD to design and construct the Thornton Composite Reservoir project and allowed it to be eligible for federal reimbursement. The reservoir was put into service in 2015 and has provided an estimated $660 million in flood reduction benefits to 14 communities over the last 10 years, protecting more than 35,000 structures from flooding.
Currently, the Army Corps of Engineers owes MWRD approximately $200 million in reimbursements for the cost of designing and constructing the Thornton Reservoir, which is needed to support flood-prone communities struggling to build resilient infrastructure. Cook County experienced significant flooding during storm events in 2023, 2024, and 2025, leading to three disaster declarations. These reimbursement funds would be used to advance shovel-ready projects to address flood damages in the Chicagoland area. Not only will this flood protection work help communities be more resilient, it also will help boost economic development. Including a $25 million reimbursement in the FY 2026 Army Corps of Engineers’ Work Plan will ensure that MWRD can reinvest in these communities to mitigate flooding and create a strong economic base.
These funds are needed to provide community flood protection for projects currently in design, including projects in Maine Township, Park Ridge, the City of Harvey, Bremen Township, Midlothian, Crestwood, and Oak Lawn. FY 2026 funding would build on the $20 million in the FY 2024 Army Corps of Engineers Work Plan; the $7.2 million reimbursement to MWRD in theInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’sConstruction Spend Plan, Summer 2023 Addendum; and the $12 million in the FY 2022 Army Corps of Engineers Work Plan, allowing MWRD to focus on completing critical projects, including the Robbins Flood Protection Project.
As the Army Corps determines how to best address its flood damage reduction obligations and meet its commitments to its partners, we strongly urge you to include $25 million in Construction funds for the reimbursement owed to MWRD in the FY 2026 Work Plan to help create a better future for our constituents.
Thank you for your consideration of our important request.
Sincerely,
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