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Residents say environmental studies are inadequate for Milam Bottoms development; council hears public concerns
Summary
A public commenter accused the city and hired consultants of inadequate wildlife and ecological study for a proposed development in Milam Bottoms and asked for specifics about easements, monitoring and protections.
A Rock Island resident told the City Council during public comment that environmental reviews for a proposed development in Milam Bottoms — described by the speaker as the most biologically rich natural area in the region and home to a large wintering bald eagle night roost — are inadequate and misleading.
Shelley McKay said consulting studies by Terracon and others relied on insufficient fieldwork and that the city’s environmental assessment (prepared by Shive Hattery, per the comment) omitted threatened and endangered species. She said a Terracon eagle assessment relied on a single-day site visit in May and therefore could not support conclusions about winter night roost use; she also said she has identified multiple protected species in the area and cited previously produced Corps of Engineers reports.
McKay asked the council to clarify four items before supporting city commitments: how many acres would be placed in a proposed easement, whether that easement would be permanent, what types of access or development the Land and Water Reserve would permit on protected acres, and what surveys, monitoring and research would document biodiversity in Milam Bottoms.
Ending: The remarks were delivered during public comment and do not record a council action; speakers requested specific answers and further documentation from city staff and partners (including the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and developers) before supporting easement or mitigation proposals.
