The Little Calumet River Basin in northwest Indiana is recognized for its stunning beauty, environmental significance, and potential for driving investment and job creation, as is often highlighted by local members of Congress and regional leaders.
I recently had the honor of attending the “Project Close-Out Ceremony” for the $260 million Little Calumet River Basin Flood Risk Reduction project. Originally authorized by Congress in 1986 with the support of former Indiana Congressman Peter Visclosky, the project faced slow progress until a devastating flood in 2007 tragically claimed several lives. This event catalyzed efforts, but the project stalled again in 2013 due to disagreements between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission (LCRBDC).
In 2015, the LCRBDC, with the support of the Dawson and Associates team, renewed efforts to resolve funding and communication challenges. Over 36 months, our combined efforts documented nearly $8 million in cost-share credits, and within just 15 months, had identified enough credits to restart the project with a positive cost-share balance. Ultimately, the project concluded with a surplus of over $1 million, which was returned to the LCRBDC.
Speaking to me before the ceremony, Commission Chairman William Baker praised Dawson & Associates for its financial and policy expertise on federal funding issues, acknowledging that the project’s successful completion would not have been possible without our assistance. After the ceremony, I spoke with two additional LCRBDC members who echoed this sentiment.
In addition to former Congressman Visclosky, the event was also attended by the current representative of Indiana's 1st Congressional District Congressman Frank Mrvan, USACE Chicago District Commander Col. Kenneth Rockwell, Deputy for Programs and Planning Steven Fischer, and numerous USACE professionals.
In summary, the well-attended ceremony was a fitting tribute to this crucial flood control project, marking the culmination of years of dedicated effort to serve the public good. It was yet another reminder that both vision and perseverance are critical components of success.
Joe Tyler
Senior Advisor
Before joining Dawson & Associates in 2014, Joe spent 40 years with the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), including serving as Director for Military Programs from 2006 to 2009. Joe oversaw the Corps' successful military construction standardization efforts, which included contracting procedures.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dawson & Associates.
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