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Peoria Riverfront Development, Illinois (Ecosystem Restoration)

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Peoria Riverfront Development, Illinois (Ecosystem Restoration) PEORIA RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT, ILLINOIS (ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION) FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT MAIN REPORT MARCH 2003 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY ROCK ISLAND DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS CLOCK TOWER BUILDING - P.O. BOX 2004 ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS 61204-2004 REPLY TO ATTENTION OF http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil CEMVR-PM-M PEORIA RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT, ILLINOIS (ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION) FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT MAIN REPORT MARCH 2003 Executive Summary he Peoria Riverfront Development (Ecosystem Restoration) Project area includes Lower Peoria Lake. The area lies within Peoria and Tazewell Counties, Illinois, and includes TIllinois River Miles 162-167. The project is related to the Peoria Riverfront Development Project, a public and private cooperative effort that also includes revitalization of the City’s downtown area. Development includes a visitor’s center, city park, residential redevelopment, community center, riverboat landing, sports complex, entertainment centers, and retail development. The region has begun to reclaim its abandoned industrial riverfront, with the understanding that a healthy, attractive, and sustainable environment must be present. The Illinois River is a symbol of the region’s economic, social, and cultural history, as well as its future. Therefore, ecosystem restoration in Peoria Lake is a vital component to an overall effort and vision to develop the Peoria Riverfront in an ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable manner. This Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study was conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (Non-Federal Sponsor) to investigate the Federal and State interest in ecosystem restoration within Peoria Lake. In support of this resource vision, several regulatory efforts on the part of the cities and counties to address the sedimentation issue affecting the Illinois River have been adopted. Further, intergovernmental coordination among cities, counties, and non-governmental organizations related to the Illinois River ecosystem has resulted in several ongoing efforts to protect, restore, and enhance the resources present in Peoria Lake and its tributaries. Specific authority to conduct the Peoria Riverfront Development Study is contained in Resolution 2500 of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, adopted May 9, 1996. Additional authority is contained in Section 216 of the 1970 Flood Control Act and Section 519 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2000, which authorized restoration of the Illinois River Basin. The principal goal of the Recommended Plan is to enhance aquatic habitat through the restoration of depth diversity in Peoria Lake, with ancillary benefits to recreational boating and fishing. Peoria Lake, the largest bottomland lake in the Illinois River Valley, exhibits loss of depth similar to other Illinois River backwater lakes. The 60 backwater lakes along the Illinois River have average volumetric losses of 70% since 1903. Loss of aquatic habitat due to sedimentation is the greatest threat to the healthy function of the Illinois River, and Peoria Lake specifically. Opportunities were explored to address these conditions, especially those that relate to the downtown Peoria Riverfront Development Project. Goals to achieve aquatic habitat restoration include: (1) restored depth diversity; (2) increased structure for aquatic organisms; (3) increased habitat diversity; (4) improved habitat value for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds; i (5) improved water quality; (6) sustainable project features; (7) reduced sediment delivery to Peoria Lake from tributary streams; and (8) riparian and wetland habitat restoration along tributary streams. Of these goals, the recommended plan does not substantially address project goals (7) and (8). Further study efforts are warranted to address the significant sedimentation delivery problem to the Illinois River at Peoria Lake. MEASURES FOR PEORIA LAKE The following restoration measures for Peoria Lake were considered in detail to achieve project goals and objectives: 1. No Federal action. 2. Dredging to create aquatic habitat and a small island (9-acre island and 17 acres dredged) upstream of the McClugage Bridge (U.S. Highways 24 and 150). 3. Dredging to create aquatic habitat and a mid-sized island (21-acre island and 55 acres dredged) upstream of the McClugage Bridge (U.S. Highways 24 and 150). 4. Dredging to create aquatic habitat and two islands with a flowing side channel (17- and 37-acre islands and 144 acres dredged) downstream of the McClugage Bridge (U.S. Highways 24 and 150). 5. Dredging to create aquatic habitat and a large island (46-acre island and 99 acres dredged) downstream of the McClugage Bridge (U.S. Highways 24 and 150). MEASURES FOR FARM CREEK Efforts were also undertaken to plan and evaluate upland restoration measures that could address the goals of sediment delivery to Peoria Lake and restoration of riparian and wetland habitats. Evaluations were conducted as part of this study that identified a site near Washington, Illinois in the Farm Creek Watershed. Alternatives were developed and analyses leading to selection of a recommended plan were completed. Following release of the public review draft of this report, results from a Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste (HTRW) Phase IIA Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) concluded that the project site for the recommended plan for tributary watershed restoration had contamination issues. Therefore, consistent with Corps of Engineers policy, the study team, in consultation with the Sponsor, decided to eliminate this element from the study’s overall recommended plan. However, all data, plan formulation, design, and cost information have been included in Appendix (K) for the tributary watershed restoration portion of the project. Information originally included in the other appendices regarding tributary watershed restoration is included in additional sub-appendices to Appendix K. Cleanup of the project site by the City of Washington, Illinois, could allow for project completion under Section 206 and or Section 519 authorities. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Secretary of the Army for Civil Works approve the proposed project to include constructing in Peoria Lake the mid-sized upper island and two lower islands with a flowing side channel. The recommended plan will create 75 acres of terrestrial habitat (islands) and restore depth diversity to nearly 200 acres of Peoria Lake. ii The current working estimated cost of the Recommended Plan is $15,182,000. This total estimated project cost includes construction of the project features; planning, engineering, and design; construction management; real estate; and monitoring. Implementation would be cost shared 65% by the Federal Government and 35% by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (ILDNR), the Non-Federal Sponsor. The Federal contribution is estimated at $9,867,774 and the non-Federal contribution is estimated at $5,313,417. It is the ILDNR’s responsibility to provide the real estate and conduct operation and maintenance. The operation and maintenance of these features is estimated to cost $11,340 annually. iii Contents Section 1 - Introduction Authority ................................................................................................................................... 1-1 Study Purpose and Scope .......................................................................................................... 1-2 Organization of Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment ......................................... 1-3 Study Area................................................................................................................................. 1-4 Background and History............................................................................................................ 1-5 Reconnaissance Study ............................................................................................................... 1-8 Concise Discussion of Studies, Reports, and Existing Water Projects...................................... 1-9 Section 2 - Plan Formulation Description of the Study Process............................................................................................... 2-1 Peoria Lake Restoration............................................................................................................. 2-2 *Inventory of Resource Conditions ................................................................................. 2-2 Existing Conditions................................................................................................ 2-2 Future Without-Project Conditions........................................................................ 2-17 Tributary Watershed Restoration............................................................................................... 2- 18 Assessment of Problems, Opportunities, and Constraints ......................................................... 2-19 Problem............................................................................................................................ 2-19 Goals and Opportunities .................................................................................................. 2-19 Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 2-20 Constraints ......................................................................................................................
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