Lewis and Clark Community College Constructs National Great Rivers Research and Education Center

Lewis and Clark Community College initiated construction on the $16.5 million National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) Field Station in April of 2008. Located adjacent to the Great Rivers Museum in Alton, Ill., the river research facility will incorporate sustainable design elements including a vegetative roof, bamboo floors, innovative waste water technology, and on-site wind and hydro power. LEED Platinum certification will be sought for the project. The research facility will house large concrete channels called mesocosms containing flowing water and plankton pumped directly from the river for experiments on changes in water velocity and other environmental factors. NGRREC is part of a partnership between Lewis and Clark, the University of Illinois, and the Illinois Natural History Survey. The facility is slated for completion in 2009.