RED BUD, Illinois – A scour hole discovered in 2010 has grown in size and now poses an immediate threat to the Stringtown Levee system in Monroe County’s Bottoms region. Representative David Friess is urging Governor JB Pritzker to intervene directly by directing the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) to immediately deploy resources and secure the funding necessary to address this critical infrastructure emergency.
On August 12, 2025, Representative Friess, along with State Senator Terri Bryant, formally submitted a letter to Governor Pritzker urging the agency to address this rising crisis before it causes catastrophic flooding. The letter calls on Governor Pritzker to provide immediate state funding and his collaboration with state and local officials on this serious matter.
“A failure at this location will be disastrous,” said Rep. Friess. “It will threaten Monroe, Randolph, and nearby counties. Lives, homes, and farms will be in immediate danger. This is no longer a question of if the levee will fail, but when. The Governor has the authority to direct IEMA to act and to secure the necessary funding–we need him to do both, and to do it now.”
The scour hole, identified more than a decade ago, has grown to more than 15 feet deep and is dangerously close to the levee’s base. If the levee fails, more than 45,000 acres and over 500 homes could flood, causing an estimated $150M to $300M in damage. Repairing the scour hole now is estimated to cost $3M to $5M–a small fraction of the potential disaster cost.
Rep. Friess and his office are working closely with Monroe County Emergency Management, local officials, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and federal partners to coordinate response efforts and push for immediate federal support.
If residents have questions or concerns about the levee situation, they are encouraged to contact their elected officials. You can also reach Rep. Friess’ district office directly at 618-282-7284.
