An area port authority is stepping in to support a long-planned island restoration project on the Mississippi River.
The Corn Belt Port Authority, based in Hampton, Illinois, is working to secure $2.2 million in non-federal funding for a 41-acre island restoration project in Pool 19 in Lee County.
Officials say the river pool has been degrading for more than a century, dating back to 1913 when the lock-and-dam system was built near Keokuk.
The plan calls for dredged river material to be used to rebuild island structures, improving river flow and creating habitat for birds, fish, and other wildlife.
Lee County Conservation has been coordinating with the Army Corps of Engineers and other partners but had not yet secured the required non-federal funding match — until now.
Corn Belt Port Authority Executive Director Bob Sinkler says ecosystem restoration aligns with the group’s broader goal of bringing investment into the region.
Final agreements are expected to be approved at an April 14 conservation board meeting. After that, fundraising will begin for the local funding share.
Once funding is secured, federal dollars would be released to move the project forward.
Organizers had initially hoped to begin work next year, but that timeline now depends on how quickly the remaining funds can be raised.
In a unique move, the port authority may also turn to GoFundMe to help support the effort — a strategy that could be a first for a U.S. port project.
Officials say the restoration could be the first of its kind in the Rock Island District and serve as a model for future projects along the Mississippi River.