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Project.Description (continued)... <br /> The Lake Decatur dredge sediment has been thoroughly tested for possible contaminants and excessive <br /> levels of other compounds. Testing was performed on the sediment both before it was dredged from Lake <br /> Decatur and after it had been stored in the City's settling basin. The testing documented that there are no <br /> concerns with the chemical composition of the sediment. <br /> The project will truck 13,310 cubic yards of Lake Decatur dredge sediment from the City of Decatur's settling <br /> basin to a City owned closed landfill. Sediment will be spread to a 9" thickness to supplement the landfill's <br /> 6" topsoil cover so that 11 acres of native prairie grass and forbs stand can be established for bioenergy crop <br /> production. <br /> PROJECT BENEFITS <br /> There are several major project benefits: <br /> 1. Converts the Landfill's current vegetative cover to one that is 100% native plants. <br /> 2. Eliminates the need and cost to mow the entire 11 acre site three times annually. <br /> 3. Removes 8.25 acre feet of sediment from the City's settling basin that will reclaim a significant amount of <br /> volume in the basin if the City desires to reuse the basin for future dredging, reconfigures the basin into <br /> a raw water storage facility, or for other yet to be determined use(s). At this time the reuse of the basin <br /> for future dredging appears to be a viable cost effective option. <br /> 4. Provides the City of Decatur and the Agricultural Watershed Institute with valuable experience in <br /> excavating, transporting and reusing significant quantities of dredged sediment. <br /> 5. Provides a highly visible and large scale site to promote the use of native prairie grasses and forbs for <br /> bioenergy production. <br /> 6. Enhances the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Energy and State of Illinois desires <br /> for increased biomass crop production and utilization, especially on brownfields and landfills, and for <br /> sustainable alternative landfill uses. <br /> PROJECT ADVISORS <br /> The City has maintained a long term working relationship regarding dredge sediment reuse with Dr. John <br /> Marlin, Affiliate Scientist, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center and Stephen John, Executive Director of the <br /> Agricultural Watershed Institute. Both are available to advise and work with the City during the project. <br /> PROJECT COORDINATOR <br /> Keith Alexander, MS, MPA, Director of Water Management, City of Decatur, will serve as project coordinator. <br /> He has been the Director for 10 years, was the City's Lake Manager for the previous 11 years, and has <br /> successfully administered several multimillion dollar capital improvement projects for the City. <br /> Desired':Start Date: March / --ij 2011 End:Date: November / 1�—J 2011 <br /> 311' , < _ <br />