Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge

As a part of its 50th anniversary celebrations The Nature Conservancy in Illinois is proud to feature places around the state that were protected by the organization and its partners.

Many of these places are now owned and managed other organizations and agencies, each of whom plays an important role in the continued health of Illinois' most important natural areas.

© Ken Hutchinson

Illinois Projects

Nachusa Grasslands

Indian Boundary Prairies

Beyond Illinois

The Great Lakes

The Great Rivers Partnership

Introduction
Throughout history, regular floods inundated Meredosia Island, located along the Illinois River in Cass and Morgan counties. While the river’s seasonal ebbs and flows eventually wiped out abundant assemblages of mushrooms and a productive grove of pecan trees, they also provided ideal habitat for thousands of ducks, geese and wading birds visiting during their spring and fall migrations. Regardless, the strength and frequency of these floods subsided after dams, levees and other structures diverted the water and permanently altered the river’s historic patterns.

Meredosia Island’s awe-inspiring population of visiting waterfowl has long represented a favorite destination for hunters from surrounding communities. In 1971, after noticing a significant decline in the diversity and number of birds, James Anderson stipulated in his will that the Chicago-Meredosia Gun Club property be donated to a conservation organization. As the beneficiary of that generosity, The Nature Conservancy eventually deeded the 1,780 acres of dense woodlands, wetlands and ponds to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Since then, the Service has purchased an additional 2,072 acres to expand the Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge, with more acquisitions in the works.

Natural History
In addition to serving as a stopover for waterfowl, shorebirds and wading birds, the Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge also hosts nesting and wintering habitat for bald eagles. More than 100 acres of prairie support grassland birds, including grasshopper sparrows, dickcissels and meadowlarks, as well as populations of the endangered decurrent false aster. Bottomland forest blankets much of the island, providing a home for woodpeckers, turkeys and a large herd of deer.

Today
A significant portion of refuge management over the years has involved trying to mimic historic river flow patterns. During the summer, refuge staff drains water from shallow wetlands called “moist soil units” to provide shorebird and wading bird habitat, and stimulate plant growth. The wetlands are flooded in the fall to make seeds and tubers available for waterfowl and other wildlife. Prairie habitat has been enhanced and maintained with prescribed fire and native plantings. The refuge, which is adjacent to the Conservancy’s Merwin Preserve at Spunky Bottoms, welcomes visitors throughout the year to enjoy a variety of environmental education opportunities and nature-based activities.

Links
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Illinois State Museum
llinois Department of Natural Resources
Western Illinois University