© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Peoria Upper Island now complete

A nearly nine-million dollar project to help reduce sedimentation and restore the aquatic habitats along the Illinois River is complete.

The Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District celebrated the opening of the Peoria Upper Island located near the McCluggage Bridge.

The 24-acre island was built from dredged sediment along the river. It restores about 50 acres of deep and shallow aquatic habitat for the various fish and migratory waterfowl going up and down the river.

Colonel Mark Deschenes is the Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District.

“Let’s face it. The things we have done on this river in support of navigation (and) in support of flood control have done a lot of damage the natural environment. We’ve seen reductions in fish species. We’ve seen reduction in waterfowl migration. So the enormity of the challenge to get it back to something like what it was when we knew things were moving and thriving is pretty significant.”

Deschenes says the project will also benefit recreational boating and fishing.

The construction of the island was paid for by the state of Illinois and the federal government. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will maintain the site.