Not exactly copying Ottawa, Utica will re-water part of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. Mayor David Stewart says it’ll be tested on a short stretch before a long stretch is done.
He talked about that at the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce State of the Cities luncheon with five mayors at Grand Bear Resort yesterday.
Ottawa’s canal re-watering has been troubled. Algae and weeds were out of control within a few months of the canal being filled, despite attempts to design it so water would flow enough to avoid problems. A wall separating a walking path from the water leaked. Some Ottawa city commissioner candidates said at a candidate forum last week, the canal needs to be drained and all the problems need to be solved before it’s filled again.