Agency wants to rebuild island in Pistakee Lake

Fox Waterway Agency officials say they are moving ahead with plans to rebuild Trinski Island, despite concerns from neighbors about the project.

FWA Executive Director Ingrid Danler said about 50 people attended the Thursday night public hearing, where complaints ranged from the project's affect on property values to who would use the island.

"I think the meeting gave the residents a great opportunity to get information about the island as well as a chance to voice their concerns," Danler said. "The directors said they would take all the concerns and information from the residents and review them."

The agency wants to rebuild the island in Pistakee Lake from a 7-acre sliver of dead trees and trash into a 50-acre nature preserve. The island, which at one time was 65 acres, has slowly eroded due to the Fox River current.

The estimated $5.5 million project would take five years to complete, Danler said. About $1.5 million has been committed from the state, while the agency is paying $1.875 million. The rest of the cost will be funded with federal grants, she said.

The agency plans to reuse 320,000 cubic yards of dredged sediment to re-create the island. The plan is to rebuild the perimeter using steel mesh boxes lined with geotube fabric, then fill in with muck and dirt dredged from the bottom of the Chain O' Lakes.

When completed, the island is envisioned as a natural habitat for wildlife, and feature amenities such as a boat dock and walking trails. It would be designed to attract fish and birds to the area, including ospreys - better known as sea hawks.

Danler said the project would save money for the agency in the long run. Dredging and hauling 320,000 cubic yards of material would cost $8.9 million.

She said some of the complaints from neighbors included concerns that boaters would use the island as a place to party. Others were worried the work would diminish their lake view property.

Before work can begin, the Fox Waterway Agency needs approval from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Illinois Department of Environmental Protection and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Fox Waterway has submitted permit applications and is awaiting final rulings.

"Now, it's just a matter of the Army Corps reviewing the comments," she said. "It's still unclear when the permit would be issued, but we are hoping to have it soon."