Illinois Board, Commission, Task Force and Council List

The Council shall:
1) periodically review 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;
2) work with local communities and organizations to encourage partnerships that enhance awareness and capabilities to address watershed and water resource concerns and to encourage strategies that protect, restore, and expand critical habitats and soil conservation and water quality practices;
3) work with State and federal agencies to optimize the expenditure of funds affecting the Illinois River Watershed and rivers;
4) advise and make recommendations to the Governor and State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure of appropriated funds affecting the Illinois River Watershed and rivers;
5) advise and make recommendations to the Governor on funds and the priority of projects;
6) encourage local communities to develop watershed management plans to address storm water, erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and pollution problems, and encourage projects for the natural conveyance and storage of floodwaters, the enhancement of wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities, the recovery, management, and conservation of the rivers, the preservation of farmland, prairies, and forests, and the use of measurable economic development efforts that are compatible with the ecological health of the State; and
7) help identify possible sources of additional funding for rivers and watershed management projects.
• To the extent practical, the Council shall perform its duties in accordance with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor's Integrated Management Plan for the Illinois River Watershed Technical Report.

The Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council consists of 20 voting members to be appointed by the Governor. The Governor may also appoint individuals to serve as additional non-voting members of the Council.

The Council shall include the following members:

1) One member shall be the Lieutenant Governor, who
 shall serve as a voting member and as Chairperson of the Council.
(2) The State agency members of the Council shall
include the head, or his or her designee, of each of the
following State agencies or divisions thereof: (A) the Department of Agriculture; (B) the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; (C) the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency; (D) the Department of Natural Resources; (E) the Department of Transportation; and (F) the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources.

(3) The head, or his or her designee, of the: (A) Army
Corp of Engineers; (B) the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC); (C) the Illinois State Water Survey; and (D) the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD).
(4) Nine members representing local communities and
not-for-profit organizations working to protect the
rivers, business, agriculture, recreation, conservation,
and the environment.

(c) Members of the Council appointed under paragraph (4)of subsection (b) shall serve 2-year terms, except that of the initial appointments, 5 members shall be appointed to serve 2-year terms and 4 members to serve one-year terms.
(d) Members of the Council shall meet at least quarterly,
and meetings may be held in-person, by videoconference, or by telephone conference at the discretion of the Chairperson.
(e)The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be
responsible for the operations of the Council, including,
without limitation, funding and oversight of the Council's activities. Members of the Council shall serve without compensation, but the Office of the Lieutenant Governor may reimburse members of the Council for travel expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose.