Task force urges Rock Island to register Milan Bottoms as Illinois land-and-water reserve

A Rock Island task force recommended that the city seek Illinois Nature Preserves Commission (INPC) designation to protect more than 500 acres of the Rock Island Wetlands, also known as the Milan Bottoms, at a study session on the conservation‑easement options.

Nina Strouse, river health and resiliency organizer for Prairie Rivers Network and a member of the city’s recently formed wetlands task force, told the council the site ‘‘provides our community and wildlife with many benefits’’ and that conservation easements ‘‘will protect a property in perpetuity’’ by preserving the wetlands and their natural functions.

The task force presented two options: (1) enter a conservation easement with a regional land trust such as the Natural Land Institute (NLI), which would require a one‑time stewardship payment from the city to cover baseline assessment, annual inspections and potential legal defense (staff cited a $7,500–$10,000 range for stewardship fees), or (2) register the site as an INPC Land and Water Reserve with support from Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) staff. Strouse said the INPC/IDNR route offers ‘‘no upfront costs to the city,’’ state assistance with boundary and title work, and help developing a wetland management plan that would be renewed periodically.

The task force said the Milan Bottoms are part of a larger wetland complex documented in a 2005 survey with more than 150 species, including about 10 species identified as federally or state protected. Strouse said the management plan would define on‑site activities such as prescribed burns and invasive species removal and identify parties responsible for annual upkeep and specific tasks.

Public commenters urged permanent, strong protections. Brian Ritter, who works on floodplain wetland conservation, told the council he ‘‘strongly encourage[d] you to follow through with this effort and develop a conservation easement that is permanent and strong that does not allow development.’’ He also warned against overbuilding recreational access, saying boardwalks and bike paths could expose sensitive species to disturbance and increase maintenance liabilities after floods.

Local residents raised questions about a proposed nearby development and whether tax‑increment financing (TIF) could be linked to easement decisions. Joyce Singh said she believes the Milan Bottoms ‘‘doesn't meet any of [TIF’s] criteria’’ and urged the council to pursue conservation now without waiting for development outcomes. Tony Singh asked the council to ‘‘listen to the experts’’ and said a conservation easement can be created without costing the city money, separate from TIF negotiations.

Councilmembers pressed staff on implementation details: whether IDNR has the resources to carry out the work, how strictly annual INPC/IDNR inspections would detect pollution from adjacent development, and whether exact boundaries should wait for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or IDNR consultations. Strouse said the task force is confident in regional IDNR staff (Lorraine Folsky was named as the regional biologist who would prepare the site proposal) and that the proposed boundary could proceed now while allowing future parcels to be added.

Next steps described by staff included collaboration with IDNR and briefings to INPC; the task force anticipated moving toward a council vote in early July or August and completing management‑plan development with IDNR between August 2025 and September 2026, with an aim to wrap up elements of the process by 2027. Staff also committed to follow up with INPC/IDNR staff to clarify how annual inspections would address pollution or long‑term contamination threats from nearby development.

The study session closed the wetlands discussion after public comment and questions; the council did not take a formal vote on an easement at this meeting.