Completion of Illinois River navigation projects kicks off barge tour of region
View SourceThe completion of three projects to improve navigation on the Illinois River is being celebrated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
A dedication ceremony Tuesday for Alton Pool Islands, Twin Islands and Moore's Towhead projects marked the beginning of the St. Louis District of the corps' annual River Resources Action Team barge trip on the Mississippi River.
The three projects were part of the corps' Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program. Objectives of the program include enhancing geomorphic diversity and reducing erosion; creating and/or improving fish habitat as well as native fish habitat; and increasing side channel diversity.
"[The program] has two components: navigation and ecosystem," said Col. Andy Pannier, St. Louis District commander. "While navigation projects garner a lot of attention, the ecosystem part of the program is equally as important."
The ecosystem part of the St. Louis District's program consists of about 225 projects on the upper Mississippi River and come in many forms including island building, floodplain restoration, water level management, backwater or side channel restoration, spillway, dam and levee modification.
If the project is on federal land, then it 100% federally funded. If non-federal land is included, the cost is split 65% federal and 35% non-federal.
The St. Louis District has hosted the barge trip on the upper Mississippi River since the 1970s. It is an opportunity to discuss environmental issues, compliance and lessons learned from the district’s partners and stakeholders.
