Chouteau Island Master Plan Is Now Complete Is Accessed from Missouri Via the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, Proposed Ecosystem Restoration
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Completed for Chouteau Island Coordination Team (CICT) and the St. Louis District Corps of Engineers In conjunction with Southwestern Illinois Resource Conservation & Development, Inc. December 20 0 2 Parsons in association with The Rivers Studio Acknowledgements Chouteau Island Coordination Team (CICT) The Trust For Public Land St. Louis 2004 Larry Levin, St. Louis Office Director Honorable John C. Danforth, Former United States City of Madison, Illinois Mike Fries, Consultant Senator - Missouri, Chair Honorable John Hamm III, Mayor Peter Sortino, President Steve Hampsey, Alderman U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District Patrick E. O’Donnell, Project Manager Metro-East Park & Recreation District Confluence Greenway Michelle Brown, Project Manager Laura Cohen, Project Director Kenneth Dalrymple, Biologist Metropolitan Park & Recreation District John Hoal, Planning Design Consultant (H3 Studio) Brian Markert, Project Manager Laura Lyon, Planning Design Consultant (H3 Studio) Karen Watwood, Rivers Project Office - Riverlands Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Ralph Rollins, (Greenway Network) Recreation/Visitor Assistance Manager Chris Cahnovsky, Environmental Protection John Cannon, Rivers Project Office - Riverlands Specialist Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Biologist Todd Strole, Region IV Resource Manager Missouri Department of Natural Resources Dick Westfall, Supervisor, Greenways & Trails Mary Donze, Division of State Parks Section Contributors to the Master Plan Ray Coleman, Horseshoe Lake State Park U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Site Superintendent Honorable George H. Ryan, Governor of Illinois Dick Steinbach, Refuge Manager Diane Tecic, Region IV Natural Heritage Biologist Michael Louie, Peace Corps Fellow, Division of Honorable Jerry Costello, Congressman - Illinois, Waste Management Corporation Planning United States House of Representatives Joe Durako, Division Vice President, St. Louis RDF’s Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Honorable Christopher Bond, United States Brad Winn, Site Manager, Lewis & Clark Senator - Missouri U.S. Environmental Protection Agency State Historic Site Thomas Glatzel, Environmental Protection Honorable Evelyn Bowles, Illinois State Senator, Retired Specialist National Park Service Diana Allen, Conservation Planner, Rivers, Trails & Honorable William H. Haine, Illinois State Senator Conservation Assistance Program The Chouteau Island Coordination Team would like to Honorable James Clayborne, Illinois State Senator acknowledge the many federal, state and local officials, Southwestern Illinois Resource, Conservation & agencies, coalition groups and members of the general public Development, Inc. Honorable Frank Watson, Illinois State Senator for their support, cooperation and valuable information in Ed Weilbacher, Coordinator the development of the Master Plan for Chouteau Island. Dave Polivick, Chouteau Island Project Manager Honorable Steve Davis, Illinois State Representative GIS Resource Center Honorable Thomas Holbrook, Illinois State Trailnet, Inc. Representative Ted Curtis, Executive Director Dan Cross, Project Manager Madison County, Illinois, Rudy Papa, Chairman, Retired Peter Clarkson, Project Manager Master Plan C houteau Island The Confluence Greenway : A Conservation Heritage and Recreation Corridor Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY APPENDICES (Appendices Under Separate Cover) Appendix D - Resource Suitability D.1 Description of the Process SECTION 1 – Introduction Appendix A - Project Context D.2 Habitat and Natural Resource Enhancement D.3 Resource Interpretation 1.1 Project Context A.1 Influencing Factors D.4 Passive Recreation 1.2 Master Plan History A.2 Interpretive Potentials D.5 Active Recreation 1.3 Chouteau Island Coordination Team D.6 Development 1.4 Project Description Appendix B - Plan Coordination and Input 1.5 Purpose Appendix E - Program Statement Development B.1 Initial Public Input SECTION 2 – Planning Framework B.2 Key Stakeholder Interviews E.1 Introduction B.3 Interview Responses E.2 Program Statement Development 2.1 Introduction B.4 Chouteau Island Coordination Team (CICT) E.3 Concept Diagrams 2.2 Vision Statement B.5 Public Input 2.3 Planning Goals Appendix F - Cost Estimate Detail 2.4 Planning Principles 2.5 Resource Evaluation Appendix C – Resource Evaluation 2.6 Resource Key Facts 2.7 Resource Suitability C.1 Introduction C.2 Soils and Geology SECTION 3 – Master Plan C.3 Flood Character C.4 Wetlands 3.1 Introduction C.5 Habitat and Land Cover 3.2 Program Statement Development C.6 Threatened and Endangered Species 3.3 Program Statement C.7 Land Ownership 3.4 Program Statement Decisions C.8 Zoning 3.5 Concept Diagram Formulation C.9 Utility Information 3.6 Master Plan Description C.10 Access and Circulation C.11 Cultural and Historic Data SECTION 4 - Implementation Plan C.12 Views and Visual Quality 4.1 Priority Projects 4.2 Cost Estimate Summary The continuing efforts to preserve and enhance Chouteau Island will stand out over time as one of this region’s most important conservation and recreation efforts, forever preserving and protecting open space for future generations in the heart of our urban community. Master Plan C houteau Island The Confluence Greenway : A Conservation Heritage and Recreation Corridor Executive Summary A rare and historic opportunity exists in the Bridge. The 10 miles of Mississippi River that borders the Master Plan include primitive and tent camping, hunting, fishing, Saint Louis metropolitan area to return Chouteau Island complex to the west is the only natural stretch a boat ramp, dock landings for visitor excursion boats, 5,500 acres of land to the general public of river without barge traffic between St. Paul and New Orleans. canoeing, picnicking, birding and a host of other outdoor for conservation and recreation use. This The Mississippi River here contains some of the cleanest educational and recreational activities. A visitor center has vision to create one of the largest water in the river system as evedanced by a high quality fish been proposed that would be a re-creation of the original toll conservation and recreational areas in community. The island complex is rich in cultural and historical booth on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. The $2.4 million southwestern Illinois is now underway and resources as well. Lewis & Clark camped on the southern tip Toll Booth Visitor Center would be located at the Illinois includes a diverse mix of outdoor recreation of Gabaret Island, December 11, 1803, the night before entrance to the bridge and provide meeting rooms, offices, opportunities and expansive restorations of establishing their winter camp at Wood River. restrooms, concessions, parking, and serve as a trail head to wetlands, woodlands and prairies. Thanks the network of trails on the island. to the assistance and tremendous support Chouteau Island is accessed from Illinois by the Canal Bridge, from the local community as well as the region, the successful a vehicular bridge that crosses the Chain of Rocks Canal. It The Master Plan for Chouteau Island includes 2,455 acres of preparation of the Chouteau Island Master Plan is now complete is accessed from Missouri via the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, proposed ecosystem restoration. The ecosystem restoration and presented herein. This cultural, conservation, recreation a former vehicular bridge associated with historic U.S. Route improvements consist of 670 acres of native grasslands and interpretive opportunity has been embraced and guided 66 that was recently renovated and dedicated for bike and restoration; the conversion of 880 acres of agricultural fields into reality by numerous stakeholders, citizens and the pedestrian use only. Presently, this is the only bridge spanning and open space to woodlands; the reestablishment of 3 miles Chouteau Island Coordination Team (CICT). The CICT is a the Mississippi River and the second largest bridge in the of Chouteau and Gabaret Sloughs; and approximately 430 collaboration of local, state and federal agencies and non- United States dedicated to pedestrian and bike traffic only. acres of restored wetlands. These restoration projects will profit organizations, with a common interest in the future of provide enhanced habitat, additional natural water purification, Chouteau Island. Formed in 2000 with a vision to make the Over 60% of the island complex is in public ownership. soil stabilization, increase recreation opportunities, create living Chouteau Island project a reality, the CICT has been dedicated Presently, the Army Corps of Engineers owns 1,300 acres, classrooms, increase interpretive learning, enhance biodiversity to creating a master plan and implementing the long-term and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources now owns and improve views and vistas. Currently, the COE and IDNR management and operation of Chouteau Island. 2,200 acres. Soon, the City of Madison, Illinois, will own are preparing plans to restore 245 acres on Chouteau Island. 780 acres. The last project of comparable size was in 1932, The restoration will include the establishment of prairie grass The area known as Chouteau Island is actually comprised of when 8,000 acres were dedicated to the public, establishing and tree plantings that will create higher quality habitat, stabilize three islands, Mosenthein, Gabaret and Chouteau, which totals Pere Marquette State Park, in Grafton, Illinois. soil conditions and improve visual quality on Chouteau Island. 5,500 acres of land. Chouteau Island is located within the