Confluence Field Station

National Great Rivers Research and Education Center Will Open This Fall and Serve as a Model of Green Design  Click Here to view brochure

Lewis and Clark Community College's National Great Rivers Research  and Education Center Field Station is on schedule to open in the fall of 2009.  The exterior walls or 100% complete.  The interior has started and the roof membrane will be started this month! 

The Field Station will enhance NGRREC'S reputation as the nation's foremost river research institution, and will be the first institution of its kind ot offer a comprehensive river system research and education program. 

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation resented NGRREC with a check for $642,000 for the design of LEED and energy projects. 

To date, Congressman Jerry Costello has secured more than $3.5 million in federal funds for NGRREC, which have been used for NGRREC operations and field station site planning.  An additional $6.8 million in state funds have also been received for the construction project.

"Understanding the elements required to sustain a healthy river system is critical for not only environmental needs along the river system, is important for commodity transport down the rivers to the Gulf of Mexico and onto world markets," U.S. rep. Jerry Costello (D-Belleville) said.

The building will boast numerous sustainable design elements.  Some of the elements will include a vegatative roof, long-wearing bamboo floors, innovative waste water technology, on-site wind and hydro power, and many other environmentally friendly and energy efficient options.  Lewis and Clark will seek a Platinum Leadership in Energy and Enviromental Design (LEED) certification for the building, the nation's highest recongnitions of projects that incorportate "green" design principles.

One feature that will set this facility apart is its sophisticted mesocosms-large concrete channels containing flowing water and plankton pumped directly from the river.  In these artificial environments, researchers can conduct controlled experiments by changing the water velocity or other envrinmental conditions. The results of these experiments can be used to predict effects on populations in the river and to develop fish conservation strategies.

The building will be a model of green construction with internal recycling systems, renewable energy systems and virtually no environmental impact. 

NGRREC was founded in 2001, and its mission is to promote better understanding and sustainable use of rivers, their watersheds, and the communities that utilize a holistic approach to explore questions central to maintaining a major river system as a viable environmental, economic and recreational resource. 

"Research at this new facility will contribute to the body of scientific knowledge about river systems and will help inform both the public and policy makers about issues that relate to the health and sustainability of our rivers," Robert Easter, dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois, said. 

The field station staff will continue to conduct research and education programs to increase understanding of big rivers, their watersheds and floodplains, and the interaction between the rivers and their human, plant and animal communities. 

"The research is crucial for developing sound watershed and river management strategies that can have global implications as we all strive to protect and sustain river systems amid exploding populations and increasing scarcity of fresh water resources,"Gary Rolfe, U of I professor wmeritus and director of NGRREC, said.