New Legislation Enhances Conservancy Illinois River Projects

September, 2006 -- The long-awaited Water Resources Development Act of 2006 passed the U.S. Senate and awaits full congressional approval. The legislation includes language allowing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work more closely with The Nature Conservancy in advancing key wetland restoration projects, particularly at two preserves on the Illinois River.

At the Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve, a 7,100-acre wetland restoration project, the Corps is conducting a study with the Conservancy to evaluate the creation of a managed connection with the river and other features to help restore important ecological processes and functional floodplain wetland habitat. The projects identified by the study may benefit from a new program created by the 2006 act. Among other things, that program, the Navigation Ecosystem Sustainability Program, authorizes the Corps to expand its work with nongovernmental organizations, further allowing the Conservancy to take advantage of the agency's expertise and resources for restoration projects.

The legislation also includes wording that changes the purpose of the levee at the Conservancy's Merwin Preserve at Spunky Bottoms. The levee originally was constructed to protect agricultural land from floods, but now will be authorized to support ecosystem restoration. This change allows the Corps and the Conservancy to proceed with plans for a managed reconnection between the preserve and the Illinois River. The connection would allow native fish and other aquatic species to access restored wetlands, habitat important to reproduction, feeding and migration.

Undertaking a river-floodplain reconnection is financially expensive for a private organization working on its own, but partnering with the Corps will create a model for similar projects throughout the Mississippi River system.

The Water Resources Development Act passed the U.S. House last year and recently passed the Senate with bipartisan support from Midwest senators. It now heads to a House-Senate conference committee before moving to the president for final approval.

Sunset over the Emiquon Preserve
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