Location
The southernmost portion of Pool 21, Mississippi River between River Miles 332.0 and 327.0, Adams County, Illinois.
Description
The Quincy Bay Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project, part of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration program, is a backwater lake complex measuring approximately 4 miles long with a maximum width of 2 miles and includes interconnected channels, small bays, bottomland forest, a small boat harbor, and a Cut Through Channel. Based on its authority, the UMRR program can restore impacted natural habitats within the bay, but cannot address the ongoing issues with the small boat harbor and maintenance of its 5’ depth. Quincy Bay is one of the largest natural bays in the Upper Mississippi River, providing habitat for a variety of native fish and wildlife species, including resident and migratory birds, bald eagles, multiple species of bats, waterfowl, and many species of fish. Existing floodplain forests are dominated by silver maple and remnant patches of emergent aquatic vegetation remain.
The District proposes to rehabilitate and enhance the Project area through construction measures that will maintain, enhance, and restore quality habitat for native and desirable plant, animal, and fish species. The Project also proposes to maintain, enhance, restore, and emulate natural river processes, structures, and functions for a resilient and sustainable ecosystem. The need for rehabilitation and enhancement of the site is based on the following factors:
- Reduce sediment deposition and sediment input in the Study area to maintain connectivity and quality of secondary and tertiary channel habitat for riverine dependent species of native fish;
- Increase backwater habitat quantity and quality for native fish species;
- Increase abundance of emergent aquatic vegetation, rooted floating leaved, and submerged aquatic vegetation within the Study area to maintain, establish, and expand diverse aquatic vegetation within the Study area to maintain, establish, and expand diverse aquatic vegetation beds; and
- Enhance and restore areal coverage of floodplain forest vegetation and habitat to support a diverse forest composition.
Potential enhancement measures include:
- Cut Through Channel modification structure with river training structures
- Cedar Creek modification and stabilization
- Vegetated overflow structures
- Aquatic vegetation plantings with river training structures
- Dredging for overwintering habitat
- Dredging for sediment reduction
- Pothole wetland enhancement
- Timber Stand Improvement
Background
The construction of Lock & Dam 21 (1938), a railroad bridge (late 1950s), levees and the opening of a small-boat access channel across Bay Island (1969) resulted in changes to water flow patterns and sediment accumulation in the Middle and Upper Bay. Those features, along with the naturally occurring sedimentation from Mississippi River flooding and tributary streams, have resulted in shallower waters in Quincy Bay and a higher flood frequency and duration over the past several years. This increased sedimentation and loss of connectivity has resulted in significant degradation of deep-water habitat and fragmentation of fish, wildlife, and migratory bird habitat.
The Project was submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Interagency Committee on Oct. 15, 2019, and endorsed by the River Resources Coordinating Team on November 21, 2019. This fact sheet was endorsed by the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Coordinating Committee on Feb. 26, 2020, with Mississippi Valley Division approval on October 13, 2020.
Status
The feasibility study was initiated in August 2021 and is scheduled for completion in Fall 2024.
Additional Information
Authority
Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) of 1986 under Section 1103 (33 U.S.C 2201 et seq.; P.L. 99-662, 1986)
CG- Construction General
Summarized Project Costs
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Estimated Federal Cost
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$25,000,000
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Estimated Non-Federal Cost
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$0
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Estimated Total Project Cost
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$25,000,000
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Allocations Prior to FY 2024
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$1,309,133
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FY 2024 Allocation
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$700,000
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FY 2025 President’s Budget
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$1,450,000
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FY 2025 Total Capability
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$1,450,000
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Major Work Item Current Year
FY 2024: The Project moved forward with the feasibility report and pre-project monitoring.
Major Work Item Next Fiscal Year
FY 2025: If funded, the feasibility report will be finalized, and the design of Stage I will start.