ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS COMPLETED
Project reviews completed from September 15 to October 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 they 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.

• Apple River Canyon State Park
  0004154 - This proposed project will demolish an old farmstead comprised of a two story frame house, two large wood barns / workshops, one large steel storage building, six concrete block silos, and a large steel and concrete feed lot. All salvageable material will be removed and the concrete buried on site. Project was submitted for review on 6-6-00.

• Silver Springs State Fish & Wildlife Area
  0004282 - A portion on a field drainage tile that is located on state property but has historically drained land belonging to an adjacent land owner has broken and requires replacement. Approximately 5-6000 ft. of land that has been planted to brome grass for the past 20 years will be impacted to replace the tile. Project was submitted for review on 6-14-00.

• Ray Norbut State Fish & Wildlife Area
  0006448 - This project involves the repair of a farm access lane washout that was the result of a flash flood. A 50 foot section of the lane will be filled with rock and the lane regraveled. No excavating will be required. Project was submitted for review on 9-1-00.

• Kaskaskia River SF&WA
  0005288 - This project involves vault toilet replacements at two satellite sites of the Kaskaskia River SF&WA. Peabody River King will have two vault toilets installed at the Reed Lake Day Use Area and at the Beaver Lake Boat Ramp. Illinois Caverns will have one new vault toilet place at the site. Other work items include the installation of handicapped parking spaces and concrete sidewalks. Project was submitted for review on 7-21-00.

• Revis Springs Hill Prairie
  0005291 - In an effort to better protect this Nature Preserve a new 3 strand barbed wire fence along the entire property line will be installed. Three heavy duty metal vehicular access gates and five pedestrian access points will be installed at various locations. The existing metal cable system will be removed and a new concrete filled pipe bollard with heavy log-chain connections for a vehicle barrier system will be provided. Project was submitted for review on 8-20-00.

• Clinton Lake State Park
  0006474 - This project involves improvements to the campground at the site. Work items include extending electrical service to all remaining trailer campsites, installation of two new sets of play equipment, construction of a dump station, electrical service to the existing concession building, addition of rock to the camp pads, addition of full utility hook-ups to 18 of the trailer campsites, and the landscaping of the area. Project was submitted for review on 8-15-00.

• Horseshoe Lake (Alexander County)
  0005895 - This project will replace the existing bridge on the causeway to the Island at the site. The existing 16' bridge will be replaced with a concrete box culvert. Project was submitted for review on 8-9-00.

• Chain O' Lakes State Park
  0006569 - This project involves the planting of trees in a 5 acre field currently leased for farm cropping. Project was submitted for review on 9-8-00.

• Volo Bog
  0006570 - This project involves the planting of trees in fields currently leased for farm cropping. The planting will involve a total of 45 acres to be planted within the next 4 years. Ten acres will be planted on each of the first 3 years and 15 acres will be planted on the fourth year. Project was submitted for review on 9-8-00.

• Weldon Springs
  0003296 - This project entails the dredging of the lake bounded by the concession building and the boat ramp. A retention basin will be constructed in a grass field immediately south of the current entrance road. After the deposited material has been decanted and dried it will be spread on the surrounding agricultural fields. Project was submitted for review on 4-25-00.

• Dixon Springs
  0005153 - This project will run new electrical service to the cabin area at the site, eliminating the existing service that is run through the day use area of the park. Approximately 750' of the new line will be run underground. Project was submitted for review on 7-17-00.

• Mermet Lake Fish & Wildlife Area
  0005055 - This project will involve the use of a levee plow to create low levees across old swales that stay wet for most of the year. The area will encompass approximately six acres of old crop ground that has not been farmed in a few years. With the incorporation of a small stop log structure a moist soil management wetland will be created. Project was submitted for review on 7-10-00.

• Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery
  0006461 - This project will provide electric service for the fish rearing ponds. The underground primary will be buried along a field edge, pond borders, and a fire break. The secondary service will be buried under existing pond roads. Project was submitted for review on 8-28-00.

• Jim Edgar Panther Creed SFWA
  0005151 - This project involves the development of a multi-purpose shooting range in the area of the existing visitor center parking lot. Elements include additional parking, firearm target range, clubhouse, archery course, sporting clay course, archery target range, trap, skeet and 5-stand combination fields. In addition, earthen berms, service roads, walkways and trails will be constructed. An existing farm pond will be drained and another one constructed. Project was submitted for review on 7-15-00.

• Lake Murphysboro
  0006466 - This project involves the development of a new District office at the site. The facility will be approximately 2700 sf. in size, will include parking for 6-8 employees with 4-5 public parking spaces, an entrance road, sewer and water lines, electrical service, and sidewalks. The site is located at the intersection of Lake Access Road and Main Park Road near the park entrance. Project was submitted for review on 7-30-00.

• Starved Rock State Park
  0003294 - This project will involve the improvement and stabilization of the River Trail from Eagle's Nest to Owl Canyon. This section of the trail has been severely eroded from flooding and wave action. The river bank will be stabilized with rip-rap and tri-lock. Surface treatments railings, and short platforms around obstacles will follow. Project was submitted for review on 4-20-00.

• Silver Springs State Park
  0005663 - This project involves American Fiber Touch LLC installing a fiber optic cable along the east side of Whitefield Road in the Roads right-of-way. The installation will be open cut utilizing erosion control measures and stabilizing the area immediately after the work is completed. Project was submitted for review on 8-3-00.

• Ferne Clyffe State Park
  0006471 - This project will replace old, unsafe play equipment at the class A campground and at one of the sites picnic shelters. The areas will be no larger than 35' x 67' and include concrete sidewalks and benches. Project was submitted for review on 8-15-00.

• Kickapoo State Park
  0006475 - This project will provide for the installation of one set of the DNR standard play equipment sets. The equipment will require an area of approximately 35' x 60' with a side walk installed to connect the equipment to the existing parking area. Project was submitted for review on 9-7-00.

• Dixon Mounds
  0005075 - This project involves the relocation of a 40' x 26' manufactured home from new property recently acquired at the Museum site to a location in Region 5. In addition, an old wire fence will be removed and the well will be closed and sealed. Project was submitted for review on 6-26-00.

• Big Bend State Fish & Wildlife Area
  0006810 - This project involves the establishment of three shallow wetland excavations of approximately 0.5 to 0.75 acres in size. The areas will range from 6" to 1.5' in depth and have gradual side slopes. The site selected are currently under cultivation. Project was submitted for review on 9-13-00.

• Johnson Sauk Trail State Park
  0006611 - As with Big Bend, this project will construct four shallow wetland areas totaling 2-4 acres of impounded water. Project was submitted for review on 9-13-00.

• Rock Island Trail
  0006613 - The bridge over the Spoon River along this trail has been shown to have moderate deterioration of the wood beams, rusting of the steel beams, and weather checking of the wearing surface. This project will clean and paint all steel members and preserve or replace all distressed wood members. Project was submitted for review on 9-13-00.

• Saline County
  0006784 - This project will repair a small breach (5' long x 4' high x 10' wide) in an existing berm along the Saline River that is allowing a floodplain wetland to go completely dry. A water control structure will be placed in the berm for water level management of the approximately 2 acre sized wetland. Project was submitted for review on 9-14-00.

• Fox Ridge State Park
  0006785 - This project will provide for the construction of one standard 20' x 28' picnic shelter at the site. Other development item will include a 25' x 160' parking area, a sidewalk and a water hydrant. Project was submitted for review on 9-14-00.

• Hamilton County
  0006789 - This project involves the replacement of old, unsafe play equipment at the campground and the Ash Grove Picnic Area at the site. Other items will include sidewalks and benches. Project was submitted for review on 9-19-00.

• Hennepin Canal Parkway
  0006502 - This project involves the Geneseo Telephone Company placing and maintaining a 48" fiber telephone line under the Canal and surrounding property. The line will be at least 10' below the Canal and drainage ditches and be directional bored. Project was submitted for review on 9-11-00.

• Lake Renwick Heron Rookery
  0006573 - Remediation measures undertaken at the site include the excavation of the land bridge peninsula to create an open water area to prohibit mammalian predators from reaching the West Island Group, shoreline protection of the West Island Group utilizing live material and a rock toe for erosion control and potential nesting habitat, construction of artificial nesting structures on the East Island Group, and the planting of tree and shrub species to improve habitat. Project was submitted for review on 9-13-00.

• Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve
  0006469 - This project involves the construction of two more sections of stairway to complete the access stairs to the prairie trail. In addition, CA 6 will be added to the parking lot and new signage will be installed. Project was submitted for review on 8-28-00.

• Beaver Dam State Park
  0006607 - This project involves the complete demolition of the existing concession building at the site. The building, including foundation and footings, will be entirely removed from the site by the contractor. Project was submitted for review on 9-13-00.

• Beaver Dam State Park
  0006608 - This project involves the sale and removal of the site residence house and site clean up. The building, including foundation and footings, will be entirely removed from the site by the contractor. Project was submitted for review on 9-13-00.

• Randolph County Conservation Area
  0005073 - This project will clear a trail 10' wide and 200' in length in order to reroute a section of equestrian trail that is located on a steep slope and has become severely eroded. Tree branches would be trimmed to a height of approximately 12 feet. Project was submitted for review on 6-26-00.

The Department received 13 comment letters concerning the proposed Prairie / Wetland Restoration project at the Green River SF&WA. Twelve of the letters expressed full support of the proposal and agreed with the Departments desire to implement such work. One letter sought information concerning the cost of the undertaking. There were no letters received in opposition to the work.

Based on our feelings of the positive effects this work will have on the habitat at the Green River SF&WA and the positive feedback that was received from the public on this project the Department has made the determination to proceed with the action as planned.

Notice of Significant Action

The Department Received 2 comment letters concerning the proposed Swimming Pool Facility located at Eldon Hazlet State Park. One letter fully supported the proposal and one letter expressed opposition to work of this kind.

Based on the identification of the need for this facility at the site and the extensive work done to study and identify alternatives that would avoid impacts to resources present at the site, the Department has made the determination to proceed with the project as planned.

Appeals

Members of the public may appeal the Department's decision concerning the two projects discussed above within 15 calendar days. Following the appeal period, the Department's final decision will be announced in the next issue of the Environmental Reporter.

Comments or appeals 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