Officials: Two-state Commission To Help Address River Issues

KANKAKEE, Ill. (AP) — Officials hope a commission with representatives from Indiana and Illinois will help address problems with the Kankakee River, including flooding and sedimentation.

The Kankakee River runs from near South Bend, Indiana, to near Channahon, Illinois, where it meets the Des Plaines River. It’s mostly a shallow stream, containing sand-bottom pools and swampy marsh areas.

Scott Pelath is executive director of the Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission in Indiana. The (Kankakee) Daily Journal reports that the commission invited Illinois representatives to join and Pelath says the interstate partnership on river issues is now very strong.

Commission members and experts discussed issues at a recent Kankakee County board meeting in Illinois, including new ways to prevent flooding, such as rules regulating urban development and farm drainage.