The US Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District (District), request public review of the draft Master Plan with Integrated Environmental Assessment (EA) for Farm Creek Reservoirs. The District is interested in your review and comments regarding the project analysis and preferred alternative for this project. The draft document along with associated appendices can be found at the following link: Farm Creek Flood Control Project - Farmdale and Fondulac Master Plan
The draft Master Plan with integrated EA is available for public review from July 16, 2026 to August 15, 2026.
Comments may be submitted via email to: CEMVR_Planning@usace.army.mil, or by writing to the address below with the title of the Project. To request a hard copy, write to the address below, or use the above email.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District
Attn: Hoffmann (PD)
Clock Tower Building
P.O. Box 2004
Rock Island, IL 61204-2004
PROJECT INFORMATION
Farm Creek Reservoir does not currently have a compliant Master Plan as required by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulation. This Master Plan would guide the development, administration, maintenance, preservation, enhancement, and management of all natural, cultural, and recreational resources of Farmdale and Fondulac Reservoirs. This plan is based on regional and local needs, resource capabilities, suitability, and expressed public interests consistent with authorized project purposes, pertinent legislation, and regulations. It provides consistency with national objectives, Corps policy, and other state and regional goals and programs.
It is important to note that the Master Plan is not a plan for navigation (locks, dams and associated infrastructure for commercial barge traffic), flood risk management (such as levees in the PL84-99 Program), or water level management which have all been addressed in other guidance documents.
PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES
The planning team worked on varying options that would meet the purpose and need while addressing agency and public suggestions and developed the following three alternatives that focused on varying percentages of land classification:
- Alternative 1: No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, a Master Plan would not be developed for the Farmdale and Fondulac Reservoir project. Land use classifications would not be designated for the project area, and any ongoing or future management decisions or actions would be made on a case-by-case basis, depending on circumstances, conditions, and funding priorities. Any future proposals for major changes in the operation or management of project facilities and lands would not be guided by an established Master Plan but would still be subject to Federal and state laws and regulations, as well as any existing management agreements or land use plans that are independent of the Master Planning process. Alternative 1 would not fulfill the purpose and need for development of a Master Plan for management of project area lands and facilities.
- Alternative 2: Classify Project Lands with an Emphasis on Project Operations and Low-Density Recreation Use with Less Emphasis on Vegetation Management. This alternative would classify a majority of project lands for Low-Density Recreation use. The remaining project lands would be designated as Project Operations, ESA, and Vegetation Management.
- Alternative 3: Classify Project Lands with an Emphasis on Project Operations and Vegetation Management while Providing for Low-Density Recreation Use (Preferred Alternative). This alternative would classify project lands to reflect current management practices while responding to agency and public comments received during the scoping phase. This would include classifying all lands acquired for Farmdale and Fondulac to either Project Operations, Environmental Sensitive Area (ESA), or Multiple Recourse Managed Lands, to provide for current and future development and resource management.