Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council
The Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council advises the Governor and State agencies on ways to better coordinate and optimize funds affecting the Illinois River Watershed and rivers statewide.
The Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council, chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, was originally created in 1997 and reconstituted by 20 ILCS 4117 on January 1, 2023.
The Council periodically reviews activities and programs administered by State and federal agencies that directly impact the Illinois River Watershed, the Mississippi River, and the Wabash and Ohio Rivers, as well as advises and makes recommendations to the Governor. The Council helps identify possible sources of additional funding for rivers and watershed management projects.
In collaboration with local communities and organizations, the Council works to address watershed and water resource concerns and to encourage strategies that protect, restore, and expand critical habitats, soil conservation, and water quality practices. It also encourages local communities to develop watershed management plans to address stormwater, erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and pollution problems.