Aerial view of island building on the Mississippi River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program placed more than 200,000 tons of rock to create island containment rings and a closing structure between Piasa and Eagles Nest Islands. The rings were filled with dredge material to create the island habitats located approximately eight miles upriver from Alton, IL, between Upper Mississippi River miles 208 and 210. The project begin in 2021 and scheduled for completion in 2025.