The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District (District), requests your review of the Environmental Assessment titled, Burlington Island Light, Near Burlington, Iowa, Pool 19, Mississippi River, River Miles 398.1 – 397.2, Des Moines County, Iowa, dated November 2024. The Rock Island District is interested in your review and comments regarding the alternative analysis and project outcomes. The District is also letting the public know how the District plans to meet its environmental compliance requirements.
The public is invited to submit comments regarding the alternative analysis and proposed alternative for this project from June 17, 2025 through July 17, 2025.
Comments can be submitted via this online through email at: CEMVR_Planning@usace.army.mil, or by writing to the address below. To request a paper copy or CD, contact the District’s Environmental Planning Branch at 309-794-5231, email CEMVR_Planning@usace.army.mil, or write to:
Address:
US Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District
Attn: Meden (PD-P)
Clock Tower Building
P. O. Box 2004
Rock Island, IL 61204-2004
Project Information
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District (District) proposes to reduce Mississippi River navigation channel dredging by repairing and elevating one of the wing dams at Burlington Island Light. The District proposes to construct this structure between River Miles (RM) 397.2 – 398.1 in Pool 19 of the Mississippi River, near Burlington, Iowa, Des Moines County, Iowa.
The Corps of Engineers’ goal for navigation is, “To provide an unrestricted state of art, environmentally sustainable, and cost-effective navigation system.” To meet this goal, the District’s objectives for this project are:
- Provide for commercial navigation on the Mississippi River whereby the District maintains the 9-foot navigation channel in a cost efficient manner. Reduced dredging would result in the District’s reducing their channel maintenance and operating cost.
- Reduce the environmental impact of placing dredged material in sensitive backwater, bottomland, or upland habitats.
- Create habitat diversity in the main channel border.
Alternatives Considered
Alternative 1. No Action
Alternative 3+0. Modify Wing Dam Elevation to Flat Pool (RM 397.3R)
Alternative 3+3. Modify Wing Dam Elevation to Three Feet Above Flat Pool (RM 397.3R)
Preferred Alternatives
Alternative 3+0 and Alternative 3+3 are the preferred alternatives carried forward. The District would implement these Alternatives in a phased approach. First Phase, Alternative 3+0 would be constructed and evaluated. If shear strength of Alternative 3+0 is not enough, then Phase 2 of the project would go into place where Alternative 3+3 would be implemented. Proposed work includes adding rock to the wing dam to restore the original design height or raise the wing dam to flat pool height. Work would be performed via floating plant.
The design for Alternative 3+0 includes bank armoring of a tie-in 100 ft upstream, and a 50 ft downstream tie-in. Approximately 170 TN of bedding stone, and approximately 14,000 TN of riprap for wing dam and tie-ins would be needed. The tie-ins would be completed prior to wing dam construction and would be built to the same elevation as the wing dam. For Alternative 3+3, placement would include an additional estimated 7,600 TN of riprap for the wing dam and an additional 2,400 TN for the tie-ins.
Depending on river stage at time of construction, as well as time since construction of Alternative 3+0, access re-dredging may be required. Dredged material placement is anticipated to be as described for Alternative 3+0.
Click the links below to access the project figures and documents.