(615 ILCS 15/5) (from Ch. 19, par. 126e)

Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Department of Natural Resources to execute examinations and surveys of the scope necessary and practical under this Act: The Director of Natural Resources may in his discretion or at the direction of the General Assembly cause an examination of any project for the improvement of any of the rivers and waters of Illinois for any improvements authorized under this Act and a report on the improvements shall be submitted to the Governor, the members of the General Assembly of the Legislative Districts in which the improvements are located, and the General Assembly. The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing any additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act. All reports shall include, as may be practicable, a comprehensive study of the watersheds involved, any other matter required by the Director of Natural Resources, and any or all data as may be pertinent in regard to:

(a) the extent and character of the area affected;

(b) the hydrography of the area affected, including rainfall and run-off, frequency and severity of floods, frequency and degree of low flows;

(c) flood damages to rural property, growing crops, urban property, industrial property, and communications, including highways, railways, and waterways;

(d) the probable effect upon any navigable water or waterway;

(e) the possible economical development and utilization of water power;

(f) the possible economical reclamation and drainage of the bottomland and upland areas;

(g) any other allied uses that may be properly related to or coordinated with the project, including but not limited to, any benefits for public water supply uses, public recreational uses, or wild life conservation;

(h) the estimated cost of the improvement and a statement of special or local benefit that will accrue to localities affected by the improvement and a statement of general or state wide benefits, with recommendations as to what local cooperation, participation, and cost sharing should be required, if any, on account of the special or local benefit.

The heads of the several Departments of the State shall, upon the request of the Director of Natural Resources, detail representatives from their respective Departments to assist the Department of Natural Resources in the study of the watersheds, to the end that duplication of work may be avoided and the various services of the State economically coordinated therein.

In the exercise of its duties under this Section, the Department may accept or amend a work plan of the United States government. The federal work plan as accepted by the Department shall be filed as provided for in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-1148, eff. 12-10-18.)