Rock Island District / Missions / Navigation / NESP

   Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP)

The Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) is a long-term program of navigation improvements and ecosystem restoration for the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS).

The primary goals of the program are to increase the capacity and improve the reliability of the inland navigation system while restoring, protecting, and enhancing the environment. The primary goal is implementation of an integrated, dual-purpose plan to ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of the UMRS.

Program Status

The Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program received a construction new start and construction general appropriations on Jan. 19, 2022, through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The two projects funded were the Lock 25 1200’ Lock and Lock 22 Fish Passage projects at $732M and $97.1M respectively.

Focus Projects

Lock 25 1200’ Lock (Navigation)

Lock 25 is one of seven 1200’ lock chambers authorized by the program and the first to be funded for construction. Lock 25 received $732M to fully fund the project to completion.

The project scope includes a new 1200’ lock chamber adjacent to the existing 600’ chamber and upstream/downstream approach walls. When complete, the new lock will improve the efficiency and reliability along with adding redundancy at Lock 25. Reference image below for general project layout.  

Lock 25 1200-foot Lock Project Layout
Lock 25 1200-Foot Lock Project

Lock 22 Fish Passage (Ecosystem)

Lock and Dam 22 is one of five fish passage locations on the Mississippi River authorized by the program and the first to be funded for construction. Lock 22 fish passage received $97.1M to fund design and construction of the project.

The project scope includes construction of a 200’-wide rock ramp fishway, an ice/debris barrier, bridge, and stoplogs. When complete, the project will provide the means for fish access to upstream mainstem river and tributary habitats resulting in an increase of size and distribution of native migratory fish populations. Reference the image below for the general project layout.

Lock 22 Fish Passage Project Design
 Lock 22 Fish Passage Project

 

Program Information

Program Elements

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The UMR-IWW ecosystem consists of 2.7 million acres of bottomland forest, islands, backwaters, side channels and wetlands, all of which support more than 300 bird species, 57 mammal species, 45 amphibian and reptile species, 150 fish species, and nearly 50 mussel species. More than 40 percent of North America’s migratory waterfowl and shorebirds depend on the food resources and other life requisites (e.g., shelter, nesting habitats, etc.) that the system provides. These Trust Species and the threatened and endangered species in the region are the focus of considerable federal wildlife management activities. In the middle and southern portions of the basin, the habitat provided by these rivers represents the most important and abundant habitat in the region for many species.

The diversity and abundance of native aquatic plants and animals are seriously threatened by degradation, loss of habitat and the arrival of several exotic species. Ecosystem restoration endeavors have had positive localized influence on species diversity, abundance and their ability to cope with new exotic invaders. The adaptive systemic approach authorized for this program would address these issues in a manner and on a scale necessary to ensure long-term ecological health and sustainability.

 

The 85+ year-old navigation system continues to experience some of the longest lockage delays in the country due to single, undersized 600’ lock chambers (most tows are 1,200 feet in length), and downtime for repair of aged gates and machinery. The existing locks and dams were constructed in the 1930s and 1940s with 600-foot locks. Current lock delays average 4-5 hours. Lack of funding for lock and dam rehabilitation and major maintenance activities in recent years has increased the risk of component failures and lock closures.

The June 2012 Institute for Water Resources report on U.S. Port and Inland Waterway Modernization found that the Upper Mississippi River - Illinois Waterway (UMR-IWW) navigation system has adequate capacity through 2020, but will require maintenance of existing capacity. Although the UMR-IWW tonnage has decreased over the last decade, this trend is expected to reverse due to increased demand for grain exports and enlargement of the Panama Canal. A long-term strategy is essential for maintaining reliable and cost effective inland navigation. Inland navigation is estimated to save $23.74 per ton compared to overland transportation (Planning Center for Expertise for Inland Navigation, 31 January 2012). The estimated savings for the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway based on 2010 tonnage values would be $1.44 billion and $0.86 billion, respectively.

 
The UMR-IWW system is recognized worldwide as a destination for boating, camping, hunting, fishing and numerous other recreational opportunities. There are more than 580 manufacturing facilities, terminals, grain elevators, and docks that ship and receive tonnage in the Upper Mississippi River basin. Additionally, there are hundreds of small and large businesses, water treatment and hydropower facilities, and nuclear plants that depend on the river system for their operational needs.