0 Occurrences 2 Occurrences 7 Occurrences 17 Occurrences 
MESD / Chain of Rocks East Levee System Location
City, County, and State of the levee system. Determined by the levee alignment location not the leveed area.
Madison, Madison County, Illinois
System ID
Unique identifier code for the levee system using 10 or 12 numbers in length.
5605300001
Operation and Maintenance Organization
Entity responsible for day-to-day management of the levee.
USACE - St Louis DistrictMetro East Sanitary District
Floodplain Management
Entities responsible for regulating activities that occur in areas prone to flooding.
FEMA Region 5
Oversight Organization
Entity responsible for oversight of the levee and ensuring it is maintained.
USACE - St Louis District
Last Assesment Date Last Risk Assessment or Formal Inspection.
9/29/2017
Data Last Updated Date any of this information for the system has been updated.
4/9/2025
Levee Length
Combine length of all the levee system features including the embankments, floodwalls, closures where they exist for this system.
35.097 Miles Average Levee Height
The average height of the levee system. The levee profile viewer on the mapping window will show the actual levee height values for the length of the levee if available.
18 Feet Year Levee Constructed Year levee system was fully completed as a flood reduction project.
1957 Summary
General text description of the levee system with a summary of why the levee is there, and the benefits it provides.
The MESD/Chain of Rocks East Levee System, formally known as the East St. Louis and Vicinity Flood Protection Project, is located in Madison and St. Clair Counties, Illinois. The project, originally completed in 1957, reduces the risk of flooding from the Mississippi River to the communities of East St. Louis, Cahokia, Sauget, Madison, Brooklyn, Venice, Fairmont City, and Granite City and many heavy and light industries, airports, transportation hubs, hospitals and numerous Superfund sites. The levee system has undergone several major modifications, including most recently projects to correct underseepage deficiencies. The system is 35.07 miles in length and consists of two segments: the Metro East Sanitary District (MESD) levee, operated by local interests, and the Chain of Rocks East levee, operated by USACE. Together these two levee segments provide benefits to approximately 126,735 people that work or live behind the levee, with $8.68 billion in land and property value.
Performance & Condition
General text description of the historical and anticipated performance of the levee, the people and property benefitting from the levee and who may be at risk of flooding, and actions to address areas of concern.
The East St. Louis levee system has prevented the community from flooding during numerous major flood events, however these events have also exposed vulnerabilities in the system, and there is a possibility that in any given year floodwaters could overtop or breach the levee. A levee failure could result in flooding of depths up to 45 feet, significant loss of life, and extensive economic damage. Due to the heavily industrialized and populated region, the consequences of failure are high. Therefore, partnerships with the local sponsor, local community and USACE to implement flood risk management activities are essential.
Flooding Hazard
Historic Loading by Percentage of Height
Representative loading associated with historical flood information as a percentage of the levee height or overtopping.
Representative loading associated with historical flood information as a percentage of the levee height or overtopping.
0 Occurrences 2 Occurrences 7 Occurrences 17 Occurrences