615 ILCS 105

in effect

615 ILCS 105/0.01

(615 ILCS 105/0.01) (from Ch. 105, par. 482.9) Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Act. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(615 ILCS 105/1) (from Ch. 105, par. 482a) Sec. 1. Cooperation with federal authorities. The Department of Natural Resources, subject to the approval of the Governor, is authorized to enter into agreements with the duly authorized representatives of the United States for the accomplishment by the United States of the following purposes: (a) The acquisition by the United States of the fee simple title, or such lesser title or interest in specific tracts which shall be determined and mutually agreed upon in writing by the United States and the Department of Natural Resources to be sufficient to effectuate the purpose and intent of this Act and approved by the Attorney General prior to acquisition by the United States, in and to the lands in the lake (known as Sinnissippi Lake) created by the Government dam constructed across Rock River between Sterling and Rock Falls, Illinois, and over which the United States now has flowage rights or easements, and in and to all other lands upon which the United States has rights or easements used for the purpose of and appurtenant to the operation of the Federal project known as the Hennepin Canal (which lake, canals, and appurtenances thereto are referred to collectively in this Act as the Canal); the title to be acquired subject to the continuing right of access to Sinnissippi Lake by the riparian owners whose lands adjoin and abut the Lake; (b) To repair and modify the Canal in order to place the same in proper condition for public recreational use other than through-navigation; and (c) To convey and transfer to this State the property of the Canal and appurtenances thereto. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

615 ILCS 105/2

(615 ILCS 105/2) (from Ch. 105, par. 482b) Sec. 2. Transfer of railroad bridges. (a) The Department of Natural Resources hereby is authorized, at any time before the acceptance of title to the Canal as provided in Section 3 of this Act, to enter into an agreement with any corporation owning a railroad which crosses a bridge over the Canal, providing for (1) a request by both parties to the Secretary of the Army for a conveyance to the said corporation of all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to such bridge; (2) a further request (at the discretion of said corporation) by both parties to the Secretary of the Army, for permission to said corporation to replace such bridge with a land fill, making adequate provision for culverts and other structures allowing passage of the waters of the Canal and necessary drainage, and for right-of-way for necessary and appropriate road crossings; (3) the assumption by said corporation, upon delivery of such conveyance, of all obligation to maintain said bridge and any land fill which may replace the same, and any culverts or other structures and road crossings appurtenant to such fill; and (4) an agreement by said corporation to hold the United States and the State safe and harmless from any and all claims arising out of the construction, reconstruction, repair, and maintenance of such bridge, land fill, culverts or other structures, and road crossings. (b) The Department of Natural Resources further is authorized, after the acceptance of title to the Canal as provided in Section 3 of this Act, to enter into an agreement with any corporation owning a railroad which crosses a bridge over the Canal and which corporation has not obtained title to such bridge as provided in Subsection (a) of this Section, which agreement shall provide for (1) the conveyance to the said corporation of all right, title, and interest of the State in and to such bridge; (2) the replacement (at the discretion of the said corporation) of such bridge with a land fill, making adequate provision for culverts and other structures allowing passage of the waters of the Canal and for necessary drainage, and for rights-of-way for necessary and appropriate road crossings; (3) the assumption by said corporation of all obligation to maintain the said bridge and any land fill which may replace the same, and any culverts or other structures and road crossings appurtenant to such fill; and (4) an agreement by said corporation to hold the State safe and harmless from any and all claims arising out of the construction, reconstruction, repair, and maintenance of such bridge, land fill, culverts or other structures, and road crossings. (c) The Department of Natural Resources is authorized to execute, on behalf of the State, all conveyances and other documents necessary and appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this Section. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

615 ILCS 105/3

(615 ILCS 105/3) (from Ch. 105, par. 482c) Sec. 3. The Department of Natural Resources further is authorized and directed, upon the accomplishment by the United States of the purposes specified in Section 1 of this Act, to accept, with the approval of the Attorney General, on behalf of the State a quitclaim deed from the United States, in fee simple absolute, or such lesser title acquired pursuant to Section 1 of this Act, for the property of the Canal, and similarly to accept all other documents which may be necessary and appropriate to transfer to the State all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Canal. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

615 ILCS 105/4 Administration as State Park

(615 ILCS 105/4) (from Ch. 105, par. 482d) Sec. 4. Administration as State Park. Upon the acceptance of title to the Canal as aforesaid, the Canal shall become a State Park, under the care, control, supervision, and management of the Department of Natural Resources as provided by the laws of this State concerning the State park system, except that (a) each bridge which connects sections of a road which is part of the system of State highways, and any approach to such a bridge, shall become part of such system of State highways; (b) each other public road section or bridge, unless designated by the Department of Natural Resources as an access road or driveway of the Park, shall be maintained by the governmental unit which maintains the road of which such section or bridge is a part; and (c) the Department of Natural Resources shall control, operate, and maintain all dams and other structures and facilities which regulate or pertain to the regulation of the water levels in the several pools of the Park, and shall construct, reconstruct, repair, maintain, and operate such dams and other structures and facilities in such manner as will best promote the public recreational use of the Park. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

615 ILCS 105/5 Rock Falls Dam

(615 ILCS 105/5) (from Ch. 105, par. 482e) Sec. 5. Rock Falls Dam. The Department of Natural Resources is authorized to lease, in whole or in part, to the City of Rock Falls or its successors or assigns, for a period not to exceed 60 years, the Rock Falls Dam at Sterling Rock Falls, Illinois, and the necessary State owned land, surplus waters and appurtenances for hydropower development. All such leased property shall be deemed a part of the electric system of the City of Rock Falls, Illinois, and the City is hereby expressly authorized in connection therewith to acquire, construct, own, operate and maintain without its corporate limits electric generating facilities and appurtenances at or near the Rock Falls Dam. All revenue received from such leases shall be deposited in the State Treasury in the special fund known as the State Parks Fund and shall be used only for those purposes described in Section 8.11 of the State Finance Act. (Source: P.A. 90-14, eff. 7-1-97.)

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs.aspFetched: 10/17/2026