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Beardstown Wants Better River Access

Beardstown, IL – Beardstown city staffers are watching to see if a dredging job last spring will improve access to the Illinois River. Both the town's marina and the riverfront have become silted in since the mouth of the Sangamon River was shifted so it empties into the Illinois River just above Beardstown. The Corps of Engineers installed a silt trap at the mouth of the Sangamon. It's also dredged a channel back to the marina entrance. Beardstown Public Works Director Todd Harmeyer says small craft traffic has quadrupled this year at the marina. However, large craft still cannot enter the marina ... or tie up along the flood wall. In addition ... he says the silt trap has filled up to about 20 percent of its capacity.