Brandon Road Study Area
Brandon Road Lock and Dam was identified during the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) as the only single location that could address upstream transfer of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) from the Mississippi River through all Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) pathways. Implementation of technologies at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam was included in three out of six structural alternatives presented in the GLMRIS Report.
The Brandon Road Lock and Dam site is located south (downstream) of the confluence of the Des Plaines River and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC). Previous investigations have indicated that a potential hydrologic bypass can occur during periods of high precipitation from the Des Plaines River to the CSSC. A one-way control point at the Brandon Road site would minimize the likelihood of bypass of Mississippi River ANS into the Great Lakes basin during flood events.
A project at the Brandon Road site is likely to minimize a number of previously identified adverse impacts to existing waterway uses and users, such as increased potential for flooding or degradation of water quality. These impacts contributed significantly to the lengthy timeframes and significant costs of the structural alternatives presented by the GLMRIS Report.
The physical configuration of the Brandon Road Dam prevents the upstream transfer of Mississippi River ANS. There is a minimum 25-foot difference in water elevation from the downstream side of the dam to the upstream side, which effectively limits upstream transfer. Operation of the lock at this location currently provides the only known aquatic pathway that allows transfer of Mississippi River ANS to the Great Lakes through the CAWS.
Public Meetings
USACE hosted public meetings to discuss the contents of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study – Brandon Road Draft Integrated Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement – Will County, Illinois (Draft GLMRIS-BR Report) and receive oral and written comments from the public. All four meetings were also available to the public via phone and web conference and Facebook Live. Comments on the Draft GLMRIS-BR Report were received from August 7, 2017, through December 8, 2017.
Public Meeting Materials
GLMRIS Brandon Road Study Public Meeting Presentation Slides September 2017 3.4 MB
Overview of Navigation Economics Analysis 200 KB
Banners
Brandon Road 601 KB
Tentatively Selected Plan 2.6 MB
ANS Controls 2.2 MB
Safeguarding Economic Interests in Inland Waterways and Great Lakes Basin 391 KB
Consequences of Asian Carp Establishment in Great Lakes Basin 1.0 MB
Public Meeting Dates and Locations:
- Chicago, IL – September 11, 2017. Transcript 211 KB
- Muskegon, MI – September 14, 2017. Transcript 211 KB
- Joliet, IL – September 18, 2017. Transcript 210 KB
- New Orleans, LA – December 5, 2017. Transcript 206 KB
2014 NEPA Scoping
GLMRIS - Brandon Road, EIS, Scoping Summary Report 1.2 MB.
The Brandon Road Scoping Summary Report was used by the GLMRIS team to assess topics of interest in order to refine the scope of GLMRIS to focus on significant issues, as well as eliminate issues that are not significant from further detailed study.
Collaboration
As strategic control of ANS is a shared responsibility among federal, state, regional and public stakeholders, the GLMRIS Team will continue to collaborate with agency and nongovernmental partners to support an integrated management approach to control Mississippi River ANS transfer into the Great Lakes. In order to achieve the maximum effectiveness of an ANS control program, nonstructural measures, including biological, educational, and management controls, must be incorporated into any technological solution. This management strategy requires the close coordination of a variety of local, state and federal agencies to implement actions commensurate with their resources and authorities, toward achieving a comprehensive ANS solution.
Public Scoping
USACE hosted three NEPA public scoping meetings for the GLMRIS-Brandon Road to allow stakeholders to learn more about the upcoming effort and provide comment on the proposed activities involving the Brandon Road site.
USACE sought input on GLMRIS - Brandon Road from potentially affected federal agencies, Native American tribes, state agencies, local governments and non-governmental organizations, stakeholders, and the general public. Comments on Brandon Road scoping were accepted from November 17, 2014, through January 30, 2015.
Public Scoping Meetings Dates and Locations:
- Lemont, IL – December 6, 2014. Transcript 313 KB
- Chicago, IL – December 9, 2014. Transcript 362 KB
- New Orleans, LA – January 8, 2015 Transcript 499 KB