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 The Illinois River Basin has experienced the loss of ecological integrity due to sedimentation of backwaters and side channels, degradation of tributary streams, increased water level fluctuations, reduction of floodplain and tributary connectivity, and other adverse impacts caused by human activities. As a result, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District (Corps), and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) entered into a cost-sharing agreement in August 2000 and, with other agencies, identified opportunities for ecosystem restoration in the Illinois River Basin.
The resulting draft Comprehensive Plan for the Illinois River Basin combined information from both the Illinois River Ecosystem Restoration Study and efforts undertaken through the Illinois River Basin Restoration (Section 519), authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 2000.
The draft Comprehensive Plan provides the overall plan for the restoration of the Illinois River Basin, including system needs and recommendations describing the restoration program, long term resource monitoring, computerized inventory and analysis system, and innovative dredging technologies and beneficial use of dredged material. The study team identified six ecosystem restoration goals and evaluated eight alternatives, including the no action alternative. The plan includes the study team’s final recommendation of Alternative 6.
As of 03/2007 the Final Draft of the Illinois River Basin Restoration Comprehensive Plan is available!
Final Draft Now Available! |
 |
To view the Final Draft of the
Illinois River Basin Restoration Comprehensive Plan,
click here (53.89 MB). |
Final Draft Comprehensive Plan Information
To view the Executive Summary for the Final Draft Comprehensive Plan, click here.
To view the clickable Chapter outline of the Final Draft Comprehensive plan, click here.
To view the Final Draft Comprehensive Plan without Appendices, click here.
To view the Final Draft Comprehensive Plan Appendices, click here.
Critical Restoration Projects
Site Specific Projects - Several site-specific investigations were initiated under the Ecosystem Study and will be completed through under the Illinois River Basin Restoration Program. The initial sixteen project sites are shown on the map below.
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Peoria Riverfront (Upper Island)
- Pekin Lake (North)
- Pekin Lake (south)
- Waubonsie Creek
- McKee Creek
- Kankakee River
- Blackberry Creek
- Iroquois River
- Alton Pool Side Channels & Islands
- LaGrange Pool Side Channels & Islands
- Tenmile Creek
- Yellow River
- Senachwine Creek
- Crow Creek West
- Starved Rock Pool Side Channels & Islands
- Fox River Fish Passage
Points Of Contact for This Program:
Program Manager, US Army Corps of Engineers, Hank DeHaan, 309-794-5853
Program Manager, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Richard Mollahan 217-785-8264 or Debbie Bruce 217-524-4111
ILLINOIS RIVER BASIN RESTORATION
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WITH INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Executive Summary
| 1. Introduction |
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A. |
Study Authority |
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B. |
Description of the Study Area |
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C. |
Study Purpose and Scope * |
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D. |
Study Organization |
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E. |
Relationship Among Corps, Federal, and State Activities |
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F. |
Concise Discussion of Studies, Reports, and Existing Water Projects |
| 2. Study Context and Setting |
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A. |
Need for Action |
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B. |
Significance of Illinois River Basin Ecosystem |
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C. |
Background and History |
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D. |
Existing Conditions |
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E. |
Future Without Project Conditions |
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F. |
Desired Future Conditions |
3. Plan Formulation
This document is broken up into two parts due to it's larger file size. Sections A thru H are in one file and sections I thru L are in the other.
A - H I - L |
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A. |
Description of Study Process |
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B. |
Assessment of Problems, Opportunities, and Constraints |
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C. |
System Formulation Concept |
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D. |
Affected Environment * |
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E. |
Overarching Goal: Ecological Integrity |
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F. |
Goal 1: Sediment Delivery |
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G. |
Goal 2: Backwaters and Side Channels |
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H. |
Goal 3: Aquatic, Floodplains, and Riparian |
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I. |
Goal 4: Connectivity (Fish Passage) |
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J. |
Goal 5: Hydrology and Water Levels |
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K. |
Goal 6: Water and Sediment Quality |
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L. |
System Evaluations |
| 4. Description of Recommended Plan |
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A. |
Component Measures in Restoration Projects |
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B. |
Implementation Through 2011 And 2015 |
5. Environmental Impacts/Effects
System Recommentations |
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A. |
Environmental Impacts of the Selected Alternative * |
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B. |
Socioeconomic Effects Recommended Ecosystem Restoration Alternative 6* |
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C. |
Cumulative Impacts * |
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D. |
Environmental Impacts of the Non-Preferred Alternatives * |
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E. |
Probable Adverse Environmental Impacts which Cannot be Avoided * |
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F. |
Any Irreversible or Irretrievable Commitments of Resources * |
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G. |
Relationship of the Selected Alternative to Land-Use Plans * |
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H. |
Compliance with Environmental Quality Statutes * |
| 6. Plan Implementation |
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A. |
Implementation Overview |
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B. |
Implementation Framework |
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C. |
Technologies and Innovative Approaches Component |
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D. |
Division of Plan Responsibility |
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E. |
Institutional Requirements |
| 7. Summary of Coordination, Public Views, and Comments |
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A. |
Public Views and Comments |
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B. |
NEPA Coordination |
| 8. Conclusions |
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A. |
Preferred Plan and Outputs |
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B. |
Tiered Implementation |
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C. |
Risk and Uncertainity |
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D. |
Areas for Additional Investigation |
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E. |
Role of Other Federal, State and Local Agencies |
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F. |
Potential Amendements to Section 519 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000, Public Law 106-541 |
| 9. Recommendations |
| Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) |
| ACRONYMS |
| GLOSSARY |
| REFERENCES |
| APPENDICES (the entire appendix section - 30MB) |
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A. |
Correspondence |
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B. |
System Ecology |
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C. |
Summary of Hydrology and Hydraulics |
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D. |
Geomorphology, Sediment Delivery, Sediment Removal and Beneficial Use |
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E. |
Cost Engineering |
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F. |
Real Estate Plan |
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G. |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coordination Act Report |
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H. |
Monitoring Program |
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I. |
Cultural History |
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J. |
Distribution List |
| * Denotes sections required for Environmental Assessment/NEPA Compliance |
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