DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY ROCK ISLAND DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS CLOCK TOWER BUILDING - P.O. BOX 2004 ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS 61204-2004 Emergency Management Division SEP 0 9 2015 Mr. Mike Reed Sny Island Levee and Drainage District 490 North Main Street New Canton, Illinois 62356 Dear Mr. Reed: This letter is in reference to the Sny Island Levee and Drainage District Reaches I, 11, and 111, Flood Damage Reduction Systems Continuing Eligibility Inspections performed December 8-10, 2014. The Rock Island District has rated these levee reaches overall as "Unacceptable" in the inspection report, as defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Rehabilitation and Inspection Program standards in ER/EP 500-1-1 under the authority of Public Law (PL) 84-99. The Sny Island Levee and Drainage District's unauthorized alterations to its levees (Reaches I, II & Ill), which have encroached upon the federally authorized project, resulted in an "Unacceptable" rating in this 2014 routine inspection. The higher than designed elevations and modified slopes of the levees, coupled with poorly performing relief wells at the pump station, endanger the integrity and functionality of the levees. As noted in the enclosed inspection report, deficiencies such as encroachments, erosion and bank caving, slope stability, seepage, relief well system functionality, and unwanted vegetation within the riprap and Vegetation Free Zone are items that must be corrected. The provisions for eligibility in the Corps Rehabilitation and Inspection Program are specified in Corps Interim Policy Guidance for Determining Eligibility Status of Flood Risk Management Projects, issued on March 21, 2014 .. This policy guidance identifies 18 inspection report line items that determine eligibility in the Corps program. Under this policy guidance, Reaches I, II and Ill are considered "Inactive" in the Corps Rehabilitation and Inspection Program as a result of "Unacceptable" line item ratings for encroachment, slope stability and relief well condition. If you wish to return to "Active" status in the Rehabilitation and Inspection Program, all "Unacceptable" line item deficiencies in the attached inspection report must be rectified. In addition, a plan must be submitted to address all "Minimally Acceptable" rated items in the report with a timeline that clearly identifies when each deficiency will be corrected. -2- If you seek to preserve the current levee elevation as defined by the 2014 Sny levee survey, you must submit a formal request under 33 USC 408 that demonstrates the modified system meets levee design standards. Detailed guidance on the required documentation and the Corps review process can be found in EC 1165-2-216, which was provided to you by letter dated August 13, 2014. This request must also address the transfer of risk associated with the increased Sny levee profile, and necessary mitigation to alleviate this risk to acceptable standards. "Acceptable" rating standards for all inspection items can be located under the rating guidelines column within the inspection report. Once you have completed correction of the deficiencies noted in the inspection report, you may formally request re-inspection that may lead to a return to "Active" status in the Corps Rehabilitation and Inspection Program. This request requires a written letter to the Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District stating that the "Unacceptable" deficiencies have been corrected, an action plan for "Minimally Acceptable" deficiencies is attached, and you would like to be considered "Active" in the Corps inspection program. Subsequent to receipt of such request, the Corps will inspect the levee system for known deficiencies and, upon determination by the Corps, your levee system will again be considered "Active" in the Rehabilitation and Inspection Program. For any future modifications to the levees, please note the requirement to submit a request to the Corps for all proposed modifications or alterations occurring on or adjacent to the flood risk reduction system remains, in accordance with 33 USC 408. The Rock Island District will review plans, prior to construction, to ensure the modifications or alterations do not adversely impact the functionality of the system or potentially create a threat to life safety. The provisions for a Reclama of this inspection report assessment are located in the Corps ER 500-1-1, Section II, 5-5, d. The Rock Island District recognizes the Sny Island Levee and Drainage District as a valuable partner in the Mississippi River system. We look forward to continuing this partnership. My point of contact for this letter is Mr. Rodney Delp at (309)794-5230, or email him at: Rodney.L.Delp@usace.army.mil. Enclosed you will find a list of those that have been provided a copy of this letter for their records. Craig S. Baumgartner Colonel, US Army Commander and District Engineer Enclosures -3- CF: EM (Project Wise) cover letter only EC-H (Snook) cover letter only EC-G (Tamm) cover letter only CEMVD-RCO (Gartman) cover letter only CEMVM-EC-G (Mullen) cover letter only CEMVD-RD (Holden) cover letter only CEMVD-PD-SP (Harris) cover letter only CEMVD-RB-P (Turner) cover letter only CECC-MVD (Sloan) cover letter only Honorable Richard Durbin United States Senate Hart Senate Office Building SH-711 Washington, D.C. 20510-1304 Honorable Rodney Davis Representative in Congress Longworth House Office Building 1740 Washington, D.C. 20515-2506 Honorable Mark Kirk United States Senate Hart Senate Office Building SH-524 Washington, D.C. 20510-1308 Illinois District 18 Representative in Congress Rayburn House Office Building 2464 Washington, DC 20515-1318 Honorable Claire C. McCaskill United States Senate Hart Senate Office Building SH-730 Washington, D.C. 20510-2505 FEMA Region V 536 South Clark Street Attn: Christine Stack Chicago, Illinois 60605 Honorable Roy Blunt United States Senate Russell Senate Office Building SR-260 Washington, D.C. 20510-1308 FEMA Region V 546 South Clark Street Attn: Frank Shockey Chicago, Illinois 60605 Honorable Sam Graves Representative in Congress Longworth House Office Building 1415 Washington, D.C. 20515-2506 Illinois DNR One Natural Resources Way Attn: Richard Gosch, P.E. Springfield, IL 62702-1271 Honorable Blaine Luetkemeyer Representative in Congress Rayburn House Office Building 2440 Washington, D.C. 20515-2503 Illinois DNR One Natural Resources Way Attn: Loren Wobig, P.E. Springfield, IL 62702-1271