The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

WHAT: The Nature Conservancy announced today that boating and fishing will be allowed at the Emiquon Preserve on a limited basis in 2010. New permits are required as of January 2010 for participation. The wetland restoration opened for fishing in 2009. The free permits and a complete list of rules for 2010 are now available to be picked up at Dickson Mounds Museum. Boating and fishing is allowed only on the west side of Thompson Lake. Not allowed are gas powered motors, whether or not in use, and bankfishing. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and have a permit signed by a parent or legal guardian.

WHERE: The Emiquon Preserve is located near Peoria in Lewiston, Illinois. The Dickson Mounds Museum is located at 10956 North Dickson Mounds Road, and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Parking locations and access to the lake may change or be limited during the season as on-site construction of visitor facilities progresses.

WHEN: Boating and fishing are permitted between sunrise and sunset. Additional restrictions apply on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during waterfowl hunting season when fishing is allowed only between 1 p.m. and sunset.

WHY: Boating and fishing opportunities are offered as a public service and to share some of the many multiple-use benefits provided by restored wetlands. The Nature Conservancy is restoring and managing the Emiquon Preserve to conserve ecological processes and the plant and animal communities of the Illinois River ecosystem. Through a cooperative fisheries management agreement, the Illinois Department of Natural resources has stocked Emiquon's lake with 1.7 million fish of 30 different species. 

Emiquon Boating/Fishing Rules (../files/emiquon_rules.pdf)