Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 70 - SPECIAL DISTRICTS
70 ILCS 615/ - Chicago Drainage District Act.

(70 ILCS 615/0.01) (from Ch. 42, par. 353.9)
Sec. 0.01.
Short title.
This Act may be cited as the
Chicago Drainage District Act.

(Source: P.A. 86-1324.)
 
(70 ILCS 615/1) (from Ch. 42, par. 354)
Sec. 1.

That the City of Chicago is hereby organized as
a drainage district, and the corporate authorities of such city may
exercise the powers conferred by an act entitled "An Act to vest the
corporate authorities of cities and villages with power to construct,
maintain and keep in repair drains, ditches, levees, dykes and pumping
works for drainage purposes, by special assessment upon the property
benefited thereby," approved June 22, 1885, and are hereby vested with the
further powers hereinafter granted.

(Source: Laws 1887, p. 126.)
 
(70 ILCS 615/2) (from Ch. 42, par. 355)
Sec. 2.

Such corporate authorities may lay out, construct and maintain a
cut-off drain or ditch for the diversion of the flood waters of the Des
Plaines river into Lake Michigan at some point north of the City of
Chicago, for the relief and in aid of the drainage system established or to
be established within said district, the location and route, dimensions and
capacity of such cut-off to be determined by said corporate authorities. If
the location of such cut-off shall occupy a portion of the North Branch of
the Chicago river, said North Branch may be widened and deepened as shall
be required. Such cut-off or diversion may be so constructed and maintained
as to answer the purpose of a drain for the lands through which it shall
pass, and such corporate authorities may allow said lands to be drained
into the same upon such terms and conditions as they may determine:
Provided, such corporate authorities shall not be allowed to interfere with
any right of drainage which the owners of land have or would have, if such
cut-off had not been made.

(Source: Laws 1887, p. 126.)
 
(70 ILCS 615/3) (from Ch. 42, par. 356)
Sec. 3.

No more of the water of the Des Plaines river shall be diverted by
any such cut-off than the excess above the ordinary water mark in said
stream. At the point of diversion there shall be constructed and maintained
such dams and sluices as shall control and regulate the amount of such
diversion at all times. During dry weather no water shall be diverted into
Lake Michigan and during floods no more water shall be allowed to pass said
point of diversion down the river than three thousand (3,000) cubic feet
per second.

(Source: Laws 1887, p. 126.)
 
(70 ILCS 615/4) (from Ch. 42, par. 357)
Sec. 4.

Such corporate authorities may construct and maintain, if the same
shall be found desirable and expedient, a dam across what is known as the
Mud Lake Valley on or near the west line of sections 6 and 7, township 38
north, range 13, east of the third principal meridian, of such dimensions
and elevation as may be determined upon.

(Source: Laws 1887, p. 126.)
 
(70 ILCS 615/5) (from Ch. 42, par. 358)
Sec. 5.

Such corporate authorities may acquire by purchase, gift,
condemnation or otherwise all the real and personal property, rights of way
and easements within or without the district necessary for the construction
and maintenance of the works hereby authorized, and shall have the same
control and jurisdiction of the property without as of that within the
district. They shall have the right to construct the cut-off herein
authorized, across, under, over, along, or upon any water course, street,
highway, public ground, railroad or turnpike which the route of the same
may intersect or touch; but shall not interrupt the use thereof longer nor
to a greater extent than shall be necessary for the purpose.

(Source: Laws 1887, p. 126.)
 
(70 ILCS 615/6) (from Ch. 42, par. 359)
Sec. 6. Whenever it shall be necessary to take or damage private property,
for any purpose contemplated by this Act, whether within or without said
drainage district, the compensation therefor may be ascertained and the
proceedings for the condemnation thereof may be had in the manner provided
in the Eminent Domain Act, and the cost of
constructing and maintaining the improvements herein provided for may be
defrayed by special assessment upon the property benefited thereby within
such district only, said assessments to be levied and collected as provided
in
Article 9 of an Act entitled "An Act to provide for the incorporation
of cities and villages", approved April 10, 1872.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
(70 ILCS 615/7)
Sec. 7. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

Structure Illinois Compiled Statutes