Project reviews completed from August 15 to September 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. These projects do not meet the criteria for significant actions as defined in the environmental review process and may proceed.
47813 - This project involves the IDOT upgrading Gridley Road and County Highway 11, South within the park. The existing roads are presently gravel and will be widened with asphalt applied. New ditch work will also be associated with the project. Project was submitted for review on 10-14-97.
56637 - GTE has requested the Department for a license agreement to allow them to install approximately 90' of new underground telephone cable at the park. The cable will be installed near the existing churches and will run across aggregate roadways and turf areas. No tree removal will be required for this project. Project was submitted for review on 7-23-98.
56160 - This project will construct a parking lot at the intersection of Armstrong/Cemetery Road and the Canal in Morris. The lot will be approximately 80' in length by 40' in width and have a gravel base with an asphalt overlay. Project was submitted for review on 7-13-98.
North Point Marina
56089 - This project involves the construction of a 180' x 280' heated storage building for indoor boat storage within an existing parking lot at the marinas northwest area. The building will have a metal roof, metal siding, and a concrete floor. Natural gas and water will be extended to the new building. Also an aggregate surfaced parking lot will be expanded west of IDNR maintenance building. Project was submitted for review on 7-10-98.
. 56640 - Approximately 800' of the McGee Creed levee is experiencing sever erosion of its slopes. This project will construct a second embankment to protect the waterfowl area. The existing embankment will be used as a buffer for the new levee. The new levee will tie into the existing once the deteriorated portions have been passed. Two spillways will be constructed and riprap added for stability. Borrow will be taken from adjacent farm fields. Project was submitted for review on 7-29-98.
47155 - This project involves the demolition of an abandoned farm house that is in very poor condition and is unsafe. The house will be torn down and the existing basement filled in with material from around the old home site. Project was submitted for review on 10-15-97.
56639 - This project involves the construction and new installation of an interpretive sign for three byway trails within the park. The trails served by the sign will be The Scenic Byway, Civil War Heritage Trial, and the Ohio River Route. Project was submitted for review on 7-27-98.
55797 - This project will construct two new vault toilet buildings at the picnic area and the campground within the site. The buildings are 12' x 18' in size and concrete sidewalks will lead to nearby parking or roadways. Project was submitted for review on 6-29-98.
56281- Under this project a new standard 24' x 30' shelter will be erected at Camp Quest. One new camp pad will also be constructed. Only minor grading and clearing will be required for the project. The electrical service to the area will also be upgraded and overhead lines will be buried. A new transformer and meter panel will be added adjacent to the parking lot. Project was submitted for review on 7-17-98.
56285 - With this project a new dining room addition will be constructed onto the existing dining room wing at the lodge. Project was submitted for review on 7-20-98.
55799 - To prevent further erosion of the ditches within the park matting, will be placed in the bottom of them and riprap added as needed for stabilization. Rills will be eliminated to achieve proper grade and the soil taken from the ditches will be placed on adjoining hillsides. Project was submitted for review on 7-2-98.
57036 - This project consists of a variety of ADA compliance objectives within the site. Public use areas served by this will include shelters, trails, picnic and campgrounds, archery range, dove hunting fields, model airplane field, and horse rental area. Project was submitted for review on 8-12-98.
57280 - This project involves the demolition of the existing garage and storage building that were built in 1947 and 1950. A replacement garage will be built in the same location as the existing. Project was submitted for review on 8-18-98.
57034 - This project involves the construction of a 10' x 20' cabin within the site. Project was submitted for review on 8-12-98.
57035 - Same as above.
57032 - This project will replace the overhead electrical service to the site. The lines to be buried are located along the 5th street entrance to the site residence and visitor center and along the abandoned railroad to the campground. Project was submitted on 8-5-98.
57033 - This project involves the demolition of two existing single unit vault toilet buildings in a day use area and the new construction of a IDNR standard vault toilet building between the existing building and a picnic shelter. Project was submitted for review on 8-5-98.
56159 - This project will furnish and install an operational multrum toilet complete with fans, pump, screens and solar panels at a trail campsite along the canal. Project was submitted for review on 7-13-98.
57272 - Discovery of six gravestones in a location where no pioneer cemetery is known to exist has raised questions about criminal activity. Conservation police want to conduct an investigative excavation to determine if actual burials have occurred. Some clearing for equipment access is necessary. Project was submitted for review on 8-17-98.
57025 - This project involves the construction of a new 30' x 80' pole building north of the existing stables at the site. The old stables will be demolished and approximately 2' of fill added to the area. Project was submitted for review on 8-4-98.
An interdisciplinary team of IDNR staff have worked with a group of citizens from the Olive Branch area to jointly recommend an Ecological Restoration Plan for Horseshoe Lake. The project is needed because sedimentation is filling the lake at a rate of 0.5 inches per year and the average depth will be 1.6 feet by the year 2018. In addition, high water from the Great Flood of 1993 killed a large number of Tupelo and Cypress trees surrounding this 1965 acre oxbow lake. As a result, aquatic vegetation, sportfish, and species diversity are declining.
While complete restoration of the Horseshoe Lake ecosystem is not feasible, the proposed plan will take some critical interim steps to protect and enhance the diversity of fauna and flora that currently exists and prevent further degradation.
The proposed Ecological Restoration Plan consists of four parts: (A) grants for watershed protection measures to private landowners along Pigeon Roost and Black Creeks to prevent sediment from entering Horseshoe Lake, (B) development of a 145 acre in-lake sediment basin at the upper end of the lake to trap stream sediment, C) temporary drawing down the water level in the Miller City Arm for sediment consolidation, island building, and tree planting projects, and (D) dredging a 35 acre area near the dam to restore deep water habitat; the spoil site will be located in an agricultural field and managed as a man-made wetland.
If necessary, a Public Meeting will be held in Olive Branch sometime between November 15th and December 15th, 1998. The exact time and location of this meeting will be reported in the November 1st issue of the Environmental Reporter. This meeting is to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the proposed project. The public may also provide written comments to the Department or request additional information on this proposal by contacting either Mr. Kenneth Litchfield or Mr. John Tranquilli at the addresses listed below. If the Department decides to go forward with the $ 2.5 million dollar Ecological Restoration Plan, a 65% Federal cost share and 35% state cost share funding partnership will be formed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (St. Louis Branch) for final planning and construction as a Section 206 project.
Written comments concerning this proposal will be accepted by the Department until close of business on November 20, 1998. Please send comments to :
For additional information concerning the proposal please call or write to:
Questions and Comments
All questions and comments about the environmental review process or this newsletter should be directed to:
All public meetings conducted by the Department of Natural Resources will be accessible to handicapped individuals 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.
| 