Location
Brandon Road Lock and Dam, Joliet, Illinois, Des Plaines River
Description
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has evaluated potential control options and technologies at Brandon Road Lock and Dam to prevent the upstream Interbasin transfer of Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) while minimizing impacts to Illinois Waterway uses and users. This effort has identified a recommended plan. Implementation of the recommended plan was approved in WRDA 2020.
Background
The Chief’s Report recommending a National Ecosystem Restoration (NER) Plan was signed on May 23, 2019 and sent to Congress. The NER Plan is a federal risk management plan including a layered system of structural controls and non-structural measures. The NER plan includes managing the waterway below Brandon Road as a ‘population reduction zone’ where monitoring and overfishing would occur. Non-structural measures implemented primarily by other federal agencies including USFWS & USGS can begin upon appropriation. Non-structural measures include public education and outreach, nonstructural monitoring, integrated pest management, pesticides, manual or mechanical removal, research and development and two boat launches. The Corps structural plan includes a new control point at Brandon Road Lock and Dam in addition to the control point that is already provided by the electric dispersal barrier at Romeoville, Illinois. The new structural control point would include the Technology Alternative Acoustic Fish Deterrent with Electric Barrier, which includes, acoustic fish deterrent, bubble curtain, an engineered channel, an electric barrier, and flushing lock.
This NER plan alternative was selected because it meets the project objective by reducing the risk of Mississippi River Basin aquatic nuisance species establishment in the Great Lakes Basin to the maximum extent possible and provides for continued navigation and minimization of impacts to other waterway users and uses. Total Estimated project cost of the NER Plan is $858,047,000. Construction is cost shared 80/20 and can be broken into phases.
Status
The Corps of Engineers and the State of Illinois signed a design agreement to complete Pre-Construction Engineering and Design (PED) for the Brandon Road Project on December 29th, 2020. Illinois coordinated a third-party agreement with Michigan to cost share and collaborate the Non-Federal portion of the project. Cost sharing for design is 65/35 Federal/Non-federal. Design is estimated to take three to four years to complete, subject to the availability of funds.
Additional Information
Construction of the project was authorized in WRDA 2020. Construction can begin when the following are complete: a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) is signed, design to award the first contract is complete, construction funds are appropriated by the Government and non-federal sponsor, and real estate is acquired. Cost sharing for construction is 80/20 Federal/Non-federal per WRDA 2020. Construction is estimated to take 6 to 8 years to complete however the timeline for structural implementation will be further developed in the design phase. OMRR&R is cost shared 80/20 Federal/Non-federal per WRDA 2018.
Completed Activities
- ASA(CW) approval guidance - 9/29/2014
- DCG-CEO Approval of 3x3x3 Exemption - 4/6/2015
- Alternatives Milestone - 6/15/2015
- Tentatively Selected Plan Milestone - 12/7/2016
- Release Draft Report for Public Review - 8/7/2017
- Completion of Public Review – 12/8/2017
- Agency Decision Milestone – 4/5/2018
- District Quality Control Review – 6/25/2018
- Agency Technical Review of Draft Report – 7/18/2018
- Senior Leaders Review Board Milestone – 10/12/ 2018
- State & Agency Review Completed – 2/22/2019
- Chief’s Report Milestone – 5/23/2019
- Signed Design Agreement – 12/29/2020
Authority
Construction Authorized Section 401 WRDA 2020
Summarized Costs*
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PED Estimate
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Estimated Fed Cost
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$18,749,250
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Estimated Non-Fed Cost
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$10,095,750
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Estimated Total Project Cost
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$28,845,000
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Allocations Prior to FY 2022
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$3,900,000
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FY 2021 Allocation
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$3,800,000
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FY 2022 Allocation
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TBD
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FY 2022 President’s Budget
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$4,940,000
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FY 2022 Total Capability
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$4,940,000
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Major Work Item Prior Fiscal Year
FY 2021: Initiated Topographical, Boundary, Utilities Surveys, bathymetry, Physical Modeling Flushing Lock, Physical Modeling Downstream Channel, Shallow Electric Barrier Research, (Stray Current Numeric Model for Insulation Termination & Channel Length Shortening), Acoustic Deterrent Research, Bubble Curtain Research, Two Value Based Design Charrettes & 1 Design Charrette, Project Charter and Project Management Plan.
Major Work Item Current Year
FY 2022: Complete Phase II HTRW Investigation, Geotechnical Exploration, Physical Modeling of the Downstream Channel, Acoustic Deterrent Research, Bubble Curtain Research, ANS Control Research/Testing & ANS Control Interaction Studies, Concept Study Engineered Channel Wall & Floor, Shallow Electric Barrier Research, (Stray Current Numeric Model for Insulation Termination & Channel Length Shortening) and continue Physical Modeling of the Flushing Lock.