The year 2025 ended on a high note for residents of Fults, Prairie du Rocher, and the surrounding communities as the long-standing scour hole near the Stringtown Levee was successfully repaired. I became aware of the rapidly deteriorating situation early last year, when reports indicated the scour hole posed a serious risk of levee failure, potentially threatening homes, farms, and historic sites in southern Monroe County.
Since then, I have fought alongside local officials to protect residents. I held multiple meetings with local, state, and federal leaders to coordinate a response and ensure the community had the support it needed. I also hosted a town hall to keep constituents informed about the risks and the steps being taken to secure the levee. Additionally, I filed legislation to safeguard the land, laying the groundwork for long-term protections and ensuring southern Illinois has a stronger, more resilient levee system moving forward.
While this repair was a critical first step, the work isn’t finished. I remain committed to fighting for long-term, permanent solutions and legislative measures to ensure Southern Illinois communities are never left vulnerable to a similar threat again.
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