ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS COMPLETED

Project reviews completed from December 15 to January 15 are listed below. These projects have been screened through the internal environmental review process for potential impacts on wetlands, threatened and endangered species, and cultural and archaeological resources, etc. Through the review process it was determined that environmental impacts have been kept to a minimum and mitigated as necessary and that the projects do not meet the criteria for significant actions as defined in the environmental review process and may proceed. All of these projects are in compliance with the Endangered Species Protection Act, Natural Areas Preservation Act, Interagency Wetlands Policy Act, and cultural resource statutes.

• Sangchris Lake State Park
  9903861 - This project involves the reclamation of portions of the West Boat Dock day use area. Work activities will include the re-utilization of the shelter, parking lot, and restroom and water facilities. Autumn olive and other undesirable vegetation will also be cleared and the equestrian trail will be extended to Route 104. Project was submitted for review on 11-21-99.

• I&M Canal
  9903571 - This project entails the installation of an eight inch natural gas liquids pipeline under the canal. The pipeline will be installed by the directional drilling method. Project was submitted for review on 11-9-99.

• Wolf Creek
  9904709 - This project will involve the construction of a four acre wetland site adjacent to the Wolf Creek sewage treatment plant. The wetland will use the effluent water from the sewage lagoon. Upon completion the wetland will be used as a study guide for the EPA and the NRCS, a nursery for wetland plants, and as an outdoor learning center. Project was submitted for review on 12-20-99.

• Kaskaskia River Fish & Wildlife Area
  9904087 - This project provides for the spoil removal and reforestation of 8-10 acres of land at the Route 154 day use area at the site. Several hundred native trees will be planted along a corridor 100' wide and 1000' long. Project was submitted for review on 11-29-99.

• Red Wing Slough
  9902930 - This project involves the modification of the water control structure that controls the wetland basin. It is anticipated that by the temporary lowering of existing water levels at the slough an additional 40 acres of substrate will be exposed for emergent vegetation. This will result in 114 total acres of emergent vegetation at the site. Project was submitted for review on 10-28-99.

• Sanganois State Fish & Wildlife Area
  60926 - This project addresses the ADA compliance plan at the site. Work items include the installation of accessible parking, ramps, hardware, blinds, and fishing sites. Project was submitted for review on 12-9-98.

  Woodyard State Natural Area
  9904702 - Under this project the existing township road will be upgraded with an A-3 oil and chip surface from the point 3/4 mile west of the site to the eastern terminus of the road at the site staff residence. The work will also include drainage improvements and both horizontal and vertical alignment improvements, seeding and relocation of utility lines. Project was submitted for review on 12-14-99.

• Lake Le Aqua-Na State Park
  9903577 - This project involves the stabilization of an eroding streambank along Waddams Creek in the park. The stabilization will consist of the placement of riprap by track hoe along the toe of the bank for a distance of 200' and keyed 4-5' into the bank at the upper and lower ends and at the midpoint. Project was submitted for review on 11-15-99.

Carlyle Lake (Eldon Hazlet State Park)
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has proposed to expand the existing cabin facilities located at Eldon Hazlet State Park. The existing cabins, erected in 1998, and consisting of 6 single and 3 duplex units have been well received by the public and significantly contribute to the over all experience of visitors to this park system. It is proposed that the new units (10-12) will be located in the same general area as the existing cabins and together will serve as a contiguous maintained cabin area (see attached general location map). Each unit will be 1 « stories in height and have a covered entrance, main level bedroom, loft bedroom, living room, kitchenette with appliances, bath, covered rear porch, and mechanical space. Specific cabin locations have not been selected, but will be based on field assessments that identify wetlands and eastern massasauga habitat. Adverse impact to these two resources will be avoided. Work items that will be included with the addition of the new units will include sidewalks, additional road work, utility runs and hook ups, concrete dumpster, propane tank pads and possible shoreline stabilization.

The ecological setting of the existing and proposed units can be described as upland forest bisected by a slough that drains to Dempsey Cove and situated along and near the Carlyle Lake shoreline at the park. The area is extensively used by visitors and cabin guests through out most of the spring, summer, and fall months.

WETLAND RESOURCES
The narrow band of lake shoreline and the slough mentioned above are the only wetland resources identified in the project area. The Department has taken precautions, in its planning for the cabin placement, to avoid these areas and impacts to this resource. Any unavoidable impacts will be mitigated at established ratios in accordance with the Illinois Wetland Policy Act.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE
A phase I archaeological survey of the area has been performed and it was determined that there will be no archaeological or cultural resource impacts associated with the proposal.

THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
Since the installation of the original cabin units, the Department has become aware of the fact that the state endangered eastern massasauga rattlesnake utilizes this area through out the spring, summer, and fall months. In general, two seasonal migrations occur with the massasauga in this area. During the winter months the snake utilizes crayfish burrows in the low lying areas and along the lake's shoreline for hibernation. During the spring the species will emerge from the borrows and move to higher elevations around the lake that provide the needed summer foraging habitat. In the fall the species will again return to the lower elevations and shoreline areas to occupy the crayfish burrows for the winter hibernation. Survey work is currently underway by the Illinois Natural History Survey using radio telemetry to study of the movements of this species, not only at the cabin site but the Carlyle Lake area in general, to gain a better understanding of the seasonal movements of the massasauga and its essential habitat areas at the lake. Besides the seasonal scheduling of activities that could possibly result in impacts to the snake, a set of protocols have been developed that would address any work that would be undertaken, not only with this proposal but all activities that are proposed on state lands at Carlyle Lake. The protocol items address the steps that should be taken in the event that a massasauga rattlesnake is encountered by either work crews or the public. These items include the termination of all activities at the sighting location, a list of qualified people to contact to report the encounter, marking of the sighting area and the filing of a "massasauga data sheet" in cooperation with the contact person. The contact people are qualified to handle these snakes and will insure that all required information will be obtained and recorded.

The Department is inviting comments and any questions from the public on this proposal. Comments or questions may be sent to:

Mr. Kenneth L. Litchfield, CERP Program Manager
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Realty and Environmental Planning
524 S. Second Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Phone: (217) 785-5500

All comments must be received by the close of business on Wednesday, March 15, 2000.

Questions and Comments

All questions and comments about the environmental review process or this newsletter should be directed to:

Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Div. of Natural Resource Review & Coordination
524 S. Second Street,
Springfield, IL 62701
Phone: 217/785-5500

All public meetings conducted by the Department of Natural Resources will be accessible to persons with disabilities in compliance with Executive Order No. 5 and pertinent state and federal laws, upon notification of the anticipated attendance. Handicapped persons planning to attend and needing special accommodations should inform the Department of Natural Resources at least five days prior to the meeting by telephoning or writing the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resource Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone (217) 782-7616.

Department of Natural Resources information is available to the hearing impaired by calling DNR's Telecommunications Device for the Deaf: 217/782-9175. The Ameritech Relay Number is 800/526-0844. Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois. 362-6/97