CHICAGO (CBS) — If the Lake Michigan water level drops six inches, the locks in and out of the Chicago River will have to be closed to keep polluted water out, federal officials said on Monday.
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Durbin held a wake up call by the lake, which is 28 inches below average and only two inches above its 1960 low point.
Army Engineer Col. James Schreiner said if the level continues dropping, locks might have to be closed to keep polluted water from the lake.
“If the lake level reduces another six inches, we would be looking to that potential decision to be made,” he said.
Durbin says costs of increasingly bad weather can only rise, citing the $60 billion to $80 billion in federal money to help New York and New Jersey residents recover from Hurricane Sandy.
Durbin’s overall point is Congress has to get serious about combating climate change.
