RANDOLPH COUNTY, Ill. – Officials in southern Illinois are raising concerns over an expanding scour hole that presents a serious threat to the Stringtown Levee.
An Illinois state representative held a town hall Tuesday night in Prairie du Rocher to update residents on the situation and hear their concerns.
A local emergency management official said the scour hole is the result of an undercurrent from the Mississippi, which is cutting away at clay underground and forging a growing body of water above ground.
The levee along the Mississippi River protects large portions of land in both Monroe and Randolph counties. Officials say the integrity of the levee is critical to protecting lives, livelihoods, and economic interests in the area. And they fear politics may be getting in the way of fixing this growing problem.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency provided FOX 2 with a statement Tuesday night regarding the scour hole:
“The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) continues to work closely with Monroe County officials to address concerns regarding the local levee conditions. Our team has supported the county in submitting a hazard mitigation grant application to FEMA, which is currently pending, to help fund critical levee repairs and improvements.”
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