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20 ILCS 3967/ Illinois River Watershed Restoration Act.

(20 ILCS 3967/1)     Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois River Watershed Restoration Act. (Source: P.A. 90‑120, eff. 7‑16‑97.)

(20 ILCS 3967/5)     Sec. 5. Legislative purpose. The restoration and conservation of the Illinois River Watershed is in the ecological and economic interests of the citizens of this State. It is further in the public interest to stimulate watershed management projects by local, State, and federal agencies, local communities, not‑for‑profit conservation organizations, and private landowners. It is the purpose of this Act to: create a group of leaders representing agriculture, business, conservation, and the environment to encourage the implementation of efforts to restore the Illinois River Watershed in accordance with the recommendations of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor's Integrated Management Plan for the Illinois River Watershed Technical Report (1997); to work with local communities to develop projects and regional strategies; and to make recommendations to appropriate State and federal agencies. This Act is not intended to dilute or replicate existing federal, State, or local programs. (Source: P.A. 90‑120, eff. 7‑16‑97.)

(20 ILCS 3967/10)     Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:     "Council" means the Illinois River Coordinating Council.     "Illinois River Watershed" or "watershed" means the lands that drain directly or through tributaries into the Illinois River, including but not limited to lands surrounding the Des Plaines River, Fox River, Kankakee River, La Moine River, Mackinaw River, Sangamon River, Spoon River, and Vermilion River. (Source: P.A. 90‑120, eff. 7‑16‑97.)

    (20 ILCS 3967/15)
    Sec. 15. Illinois River Coordinating Council.
    (a) There is established the Illinois River Coordinating Council, consisting of 13 voting members to be appointed by the Governor. One member shall be the Lieutenant Governor who shall serve as a voting member and as chairperson of the Council. The Agency members of the Council shall include the Director, or his or her designee, of each of the following agencies: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Transportation. In addition, the Council shall include one member representing Soil and Water Conservation Districts located within the Watershed of the Illinois River and its tributaries and 6 members representing local communities, not‑for‑profit organizations working to protect the Illinois River Watershed, business, agriculture, recreation, conservation, and the environment. The Governor may, at his or her discretion, appoint individuals representing federal agencies to serve as ex officio, non‑voting members.
    (b) Members of the Council shall serve 2‑year terms, except that of the initial appointments, 5 members shall be appointed to serve 3‑year terms and 4 members to serve one‑year terms.
    (c) The Council shall meet at least quarterly.
    (d) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be responsible for the operations of the Council. The Office may reimburse members of the Council for ordinary and contingent expenses incurred in the performance of Council duties.
    (e) This Section is subject to the provisions of Section 405‑500 of the Department of Central Management Services Law (20 ILCS 405/405‑500).
(Source: P.A. 94‑793, eff. 5‑19‑06.)

(20 ILCS 3967/20)     Sec. 20. Duties of the Council. The Council shall:         (1) periodically review activities and programs

administered by State and federal agencies that directly impact the Illinois River Watershed;

(2) work with local communities and organizations to

encourage partnerships that enhance awareness and capabilities to address watershed and water resource concerns and to encourage strategies that protect, restore, and expand critical habitats and soil conservation and water quality practices;

(3) work with State and federal agencies to optimize

the expenditure of funds affecting the Illinois River Watershed;

(4) advise and make recommendations to the Governor

and State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure of appropriated funds affecting the Illinois River Watershed, including Illinois River 2020;

(5) encourage local communities to develop watershed

management plans to address stormwater, erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and pollution problems and shall encourage projects for the natural conveyance and storage of floodwaters, the enhancement of wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities, the recovery, management, and conservation of the Illinois River and its tributaries, the preservation of farmland, prairies, and forests, and the use of measurable economic development efforts that are compatible with the ecological health of the Watershed and this State;

(6) help identify possible sources of additional

funding for watershed management projects; and

(7) advise and make recommendations to the Governor

on funds and the priority of projects.

To the extent practical, the Council shall perform its duties in accordance with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor's Integrated Management Plan for the Illinois River Watershed Technical Report (1997). (Source: P.A. 92‑181, eff. 7‑27‑01.)

(20 ILCS 3967/25)     Sec. 25. Agency duties. State agencies represented on the Council shall provide to the Council, on request, information concerning agency programs and activities that impact the restoration of the Illinois River Watershed. (Source: P.A. 90‑120, eff. 7‑16‑97.)

(20 ILCS 3967/99)     Sec. 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law. (Source: P.A. 90‑120, eff. 7‑16‑97.)