Recommendations in the Corridor (recommendations 1-6)
1) Encourage beneficial use of sediments through three options for use of dredge material:
- - establish discharge ports through levees at intervals determined by the Corps of Engineers and interested levee districts (internal sediment basins could be cash rented and farmed in 1-2 years).
- - use dredge spoil to strengthen and increase the internal/external thickness of levees along the Illinois River.
- - create new islands and/or increase the topographic diversity of existing islands; floodplain plant communities.
2) Implement backwater lake and side channel sediment management measures at selected locations:
- - determine which lakes are priorities in terms of local support, ecological diversity of the corridor; the past and future uses of the lake, as well as the amount, type, and quality of sediment present.
- - review current lake management programs; develop appropriate sediment removal and disposal techniques.
- -reduce sediment inflow into the priority lakes from the Illinois River and tributaries
- -restore wetlands along shorelines for stabilization and wildlife habitat.
3) Assess the feasibility of implementing a temporary drawdown in conjunction with scheduled maintenance of the navigation system to dry out and compact deposited sediments:
- - work with the Corps of Engineers and River Resources Coordinating Teams to identify opportunities within the long-term maintenance program.
- - Involve all stakeholders (navigation, water supply intakes, wastewater treatment sites, marinas, recreational sites, etc.) in the planning of the event, area impacted, timing, duration, and notification.
4) Implement regional strategies to protect, restore, and expand critical habitats through, public and private partnerships, voluntary incentive programs, management agreements and technical assistance.
- - Lower Illinois River/Great Rivers confluence: upland/lowland forests, floodplain.
- - Lower Middle Illinois River: floodplain and riparian areas.
- - Upper Middle Illinois River: forested bluffs, forested and wetland floodplain/riparian.
- - Starved Rock to Headwaters Confluence: partial floodplain habitat.
5) Complete the on-going work to determine the extent of shoreline erosion on the Illinois River due to boat-generated waves and pursue recommended controls or remedies accordingly.
- - conduct field experiments at representative sites on the Illinois River, considering bank composition, river bed material, suspended sediments, traffic characteristics, river stages, and recreational crafts of various sizes, drafts, and speeds.
- - determine the threshold of severe erosion and its relationship to wave characteristics.
- - recommend how site-specific information can be used for system-wide application.
6) Evaluate the need for mandatory safety training and licensing for recreational boat operators on major waterways in the Illinois basin, particularly in relation to commercial barge traffic.
