CEMVR-PM-F July 28,2004 

Memoranduni of Understanding 

for 

Illinois Ever Basin Restoration 

among the 

Mississippi Valley Division (MVD), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

Great Lakes and Ohio River Division (LRD), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

Rock Island District (MVR), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

St. Louis District (MVS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

Chicago District (LRC), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

and the 

Detroit District (LRE), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

1. PURPOSE 

This Memorandum for Understanding (MOU) among MVD, LRD, MVR, MVS, LRC and LRE 

is entered into to define and formalize a process for the efficient management of the 1lli.nois 

River Basin Restoration of Section 5 19 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 

2000 and Illinois River Ecosystem Restoration Study. Section 5 19 of WRDA 2000 defines the 

Illinois River Basin as the Illinois River, Illinois, its backwaters, its side channels, and all 

tributaries, including their watersheds, draining into the Illinois River. The study area 

encompasses areas under the responsibility of the Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes and Ohio 

River Division, specifically the Rock Island, St. Louis, Chicago and Detroit Districts. The 

defining of management responsibilities is an integral part of projects and is prescribed in ER-5- 

1-1 1, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Business Process. 

2. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE 

The implementation guidance for Section 519, dated 5 March 2002, paragraph 7, states: 

"Since this authority involves multiple divisions and districts, the assessments should be managed in a 

regional fashion. Consideration should be given to forming an executive committee composed of MVD, 

LRD, the state of Illinois, interested Federal agencies, and appropriate watershed or regional entities to 

coordinate efforts. MVD will be responsible for overall executive direction and management, and will 

select a district to provide the overall project management service. The two Regional Headquarters, MVD 

and LRD, should collaborate on developing the comprehensive plan. Each district should be responsible 

for detailed planning, design, construction, and monitoring of projects with its boundaries. Activities 
under this authority, if funded, should be coordinated with other ongoing studies to ensure that basin needs 

are addressed in the most effective manner." 

The following organizational structure is proposed to implement the above guidance. 

(I) Executive Committee. The Committee will have representatives from both Regional 

Headquarters (i.e., Mississippi Valley Division and Great Lakes and Ohio River Division), the 

Corps Districts (i.e., Rock Island, St. Louis, Chicago, and Detroit), and the non-Federal sponsors 

(i.e., Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and representatives fiom the states of 

Indiana and Wisconsin). The Executive Committee will be chaired by the MVD. It will be 

responsible for oversight on the management and implementation of the project, including 

decisions on project funding. The Executive Committee will meet approximately twice a year, ' 

with meeting schedules timed to synchronize receipt or provision of input fiom other committee 

meetings as needed. 

(2) Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will be the interagency group 

responsible for coordinating the Illinois River Basin and Ecosystem Restoration efforts. It will 

be co-chaired by the Corps of Engineers and the Illinois DNR, and will be composed of State and 

Federal agency representatives. This Committee will meet approximately twice a year to 

exchange views, information, and advice to ensure coordination among various agency 

programs. 

(3) System Team. The system team will be composed of the multi-disciplinary 

technical staff primarily fiom the Corps of Engineers and State DNRs. Additional team 

members may be selected. This team will have primary responsibilities for overall project 

delivery and system evaluations. The team will incorporate the expertise of scientists and 

technical staff as necessary. 

(4) Regional Teams. Organizing efforts by geographic region allows for the more 

efficient accomplishment of project activities. Four regions established for the basin are Upper 

Illinois, Kankakee, Middle Illinois, and Lower Illinois. The regional team, made up of Corps of 

Engineers and State DNR staff will have primary responsibilities for the evaluation and 

implementation of critical restoration projects. Regional team meetings will provide a forum for 

groups-with detailed information on resource concerns-to exchange views and information 

regarding areas in need of assessment and potential critical restoration projects, evaluate the 

proposed site-specific projects, and facilitate the detailed study of these projects. Invited 

attendees include the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), Illinois Department of 

Agriculture, representatives fiom the states of Indiana and Wisconsin, USDA Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Administration (FSA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (FWS), U. S. EPA, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Ecosystem Partnership Groups, Soil 

and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Levee 

and Drainage Districts, and Local Governments. 
(5) Stakeholders Meetings. Stakeholders meetings will provide a forum to present 

study status and information on implementation and management to all interested Federal, State, 

and local agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations. Stakeholders meetings will be 

held approximately once a year in each of the four regions or as interim products are completed. 

Their primary focus will be public involvement, information sharing, and dialog among all 

groups and interests. 

3. OVERALL SYSTEM MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES 

Work on the System Feasibility StudyIComprehensive Plan and system-wide tasks will be 

accomplished as described below. 

(I) Regional Headquarters Level. The Corps of Engineers7 Mississippi Valley Division 

will be responsible for overall execution direction and management of the Section 5 19 lllinois 

River Basin Restoration Program and coordination with the Great Lakes and Ohio River 

Division. Both MVD and LRD will serve on the Executive Committee, chaired by MVD. 

(2) Program Level. The Corps of Engineers7 Rock Island District will administer 

project management responsibilities, including the following: 

(a) Serve as the primary point of contact for Illinois River Basin Restoration 

activities. 

(b) Report the program financial execution to MVD and others on a quarterly basis. 

(c) Coordinate the activities of the Executive Committee, Steering Committee, 

Stakeholders Group, and System Team. 

(d) Coordinate, consolidate, and forward to MVD all upward reporting 

requirements, such as budgetary information, fact sheets, and issue papers that 

require input from more than one District. 

(e) Lead the comprehensive system study efforts. 

0 Serve as lead responsible party for system monitoring efforts. 

(3) Project Level. Each district shall carry out assigned tasks, participate in 

committees, and communicate funding and schedule information to MVR for consolidation and 

regional coordination. 
4. DISTRICT CRITICAL RESTORATION PROJECT RESPONSIBILITIES 

Project Level. The responsibility for planning, design, construction, monitoring, and evaluation 

of Critical Restoration Projects will be assigned to the Districts (Rock Island, St. Louis, Chicago 

and Detroit) based on their jurisdictional boundaries. The districts will be responsible for 

staffing, scheduling, and communicating funding needs for the efforts of individual Project 

Delivery Teams (PDTs) operating within their District boundaries. The assignment of projects 

that cross district boundaries will be determined by the Executive Committee as necessary. 

5. SIGNATURE AND DATES: 

ENDORSED BY 

%!, 

Commander 

Rock Island District 

Date: 29rd~'f ZOOY 

Commander 

St. Louis District Detroit District 

Date: 8- 0~4 -,$Y 

APPROVED BY 

Commander 

Mississippi Valley Division 

Commander 

Great Lakes and Ohio River Division 

Date: $dr Date: \Y 05