Download CACHE RIVER WETLANDS

CACHE RIVER WETLANDS
P ROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION
Location:
Southern Illinois
Project size:
60,000 acres
Initiators:
U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service,
Illinois
Department of
Conservation,
The Nature
Conservancy,
Ducks Unlimited
The Cache River is a 110-mile-long river in
southern Illinois, which drains an area of
470,000 acres. The Cache River Wetlands
project focuses on the wetlands corridor
along the lower 50 miles of the river. The
wetlands are characterized by bottomland
hardwood forests (oak-hickory) and bald
cypress-tupelo swamps, and are
interspersed with low, oak dominated hills.
The area supports a remarkable diversity
of plant and animal species. Federallylisted threatened and endangered species
that can be found in the project area
include the gray bat, the Indiana bat, the
interior least tern, and bald eagle. In
addition, more than 60 state-listed species
occur in the area. The wetlands are a
major stop-over for migratory neotropical
songbirds as well as for migratory
waterfowl. The area is also graced by the
presence of many raptors, a heron
rookery, bobcats and river otters. Farming
and timber management are important land
uses in the surrounding watershed.
ECOSYSTEM STRESSES
As late as the turn of the century, the area
remained almost entirely wooded.
However, logging began as the area was
settled, followed by agriculture. With the
onset of agriculture, drainage projects
started which continued until the
seventies. Today, only approximately
20% of the original Cache River wetlands
remain. The extensive drainage network
and the lack of forest cover has led to
rapid run-off of rain water, and has
resulted in major stream bank erosion.
The eroded materials subsequently settle
in the wetlands, reducing water quality
and smothering swamps.
Another stress is the fragmentation of the
remaining forest. Animal populations that
cannot travel between forest patches may
become genetically isolated. In addition,
fragmented forests have too many edges,
leading to parasitism and predation of the
nests of migratory neotropical birds.
P ROJECT DESCRIPTION
Recognizing the natural values of the
Cache River Wetlands 20 years ago, The
Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Illinois Department of Conservation (IDOC)
started buying the land that is now known
as the Cache River State Natural Area.
After the passage of the North American
Wetlands Conservation Act, the Cypress
Creek National Wildlife Refuge was
established in 1991. Shortly thereafter, the
Cache River Wetlands Joint Venture
Partnership was formed to manage the
Wetlands. This partnership consists of
TNC, IDOC, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (FWS), and Ducks Unlimited.
Together, the partners have acquired more
than half of the 60,000 acres targeted by
the project. In 1993 the Cache River Consortium was established, which is a larger
advisory body that comprises the four
partners and several state and federal
agencies.
In order to "knit the ecosystem back together," the partnership uses several
strategies which focus on restoration and
water resource planning. To restore the
bottomland hardwood forests TNC uses a
mechanized tree planting operation. Five
tons of the native hardwood nuts and
acorns that have been planted were
collected by local Boy Scouts. FWS has
employed the services of prison crews to
plant tree seedlings.
____________
87
Ecosystem Management in the United States: An Assessment of Current Experience
CACHE RIVER WETLANDS -- continued
Hydrologic restoration is carried
out through plugging ditches,
building dams and other methods
to flood old farm lands. The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers has just
started a three year, $1.3 million
feasibility study to evaluate a
number of measures planned to
mimic natural hydrologic
processes. In addition to restorative efforts, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has
funded a Water Resource Planning
Initiative. Its aim is to identify
areas where erosion is a problem
and to develop solutions to
mitigate this problem. The
Initiative is made up of 25 land
owners throughout the watershed,
and is cosponsored by the Natural
Resources Conservation Service
and TNC.
P RESENT STATUS &
OUTLOOK
It is still too early to determine if
any of the goals of the project have
been realized. However, 37,000
acres have been acquired, of which
2,500 have been reforested. In
addition, hydrologic restoration
and a water quality monitoring
program has begun.
Factors Facilitating Progress
Factors contributing to the projects
progress are the significance of the
natural area, good planning, strong
Congressional support, a dedicated
local support group and a strong
interest and commitment of all
involved agencies and
organizations.
Obstacles to Progress
Land is only acquired from willing
sellers. As a result, the partnership
has not been able to obtain some
large key parcels. In addition,
some concerns exist regarding the
ongoing flow of appropriations
from Congress
____________
88
through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. These funds are
needed for continued acquisition
of lands by the FWS.
Contact information:
Mr. John Penberthy
Project Manager
The Nature Conservancy
Cache River Office
Route 1, Box 53E
Ullin, IL 62992
(618) 634-2524
Fax: (618) 634-9656
E-mail: [email protected]