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Please Join us on April 24th of 2010 for
Cache River Nature Fest

Cache River Nature Fest is scheduled for April 24, 2010 and will highlight natural features of the Cache River Wetlands. The Cache River and associated wetlands support some of the oldest living trees east of the Mississippi River and provide a haven for a diversity of migratory birds and other wildlife. Guided canoe tours, bike trips and hikes, will be scheduled throughout the day and highlight the area's rich history, abundant wildlife, and natural areas. For details on all this events, please contact the Cache River Wetlands Center at 618-657-2064 or Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge at 618-634-2231.

Thank you for your participation and support over the years for the Birding Fest of Southernmost Illinois.

> Download our 2010 Cache River Nature Fest Brochure

2010 Cache River Nature Fest T-shirt & Tote Bag Designs

Tote Bag options include:

Evening Social and Live Music

After a exciting day of programs and field outings, join the Friends of the Cache River for a night of food, music and fun at The Gambit located in Vienna Illinois. The evening will kick-off with music from the popular bluegrass band ‘Old Santa Fe’ and guests can enjoy a buffet of delicious foods while dancing the night away.

The band, 'Old Santa Fe', is named for a small settlement on the Mississippi River presently know as Fayville Illinois. The group's sound includes traditional, as well as contemporary bluegrass. Playing in western Kentucky, southern Illinois, and southeast Missouri, Old Santa Fe has open for several top name acts; and their original songwriting talent has resulted in 3 best-selling CDs "Music of the Hills", "Iron Mountain Line" and "Journey On". Band members include Dave Prosser, Lisa Glaab, Jim Nichols, Zac Caldwell, and Mark Glabb.

This event begins at 5pm and is one that you won’t want to miss. There is no cover charge for the event; charge for food and beverages only.

> Download our Evening Social and Live Music flyer
> Click here for directions to and more about The Gambit in Vienna, Illinois
 

Cache River Nature Fest 2009 was a great success! A warm, sunny day welcomed 1600 visitors to the Cache River Wetlands. Visitors came from the local area, as well as, Chicago, St. Louis, Paducah, and Evansville; even Minnesota, and Wisconsin were represented. Many were in search of spring and an opportunity to enjoy a unique natural resource in Illinois. Guided field trips; bikes, canoes, and hikes-were full throughout the day and offered special tours of Heron Pond, Limekiln Slough, Buttonland Swamp, and the Tunnel Hill Trail. The Cache River Wetlands Center bustled with families, and others that were excited about the hands-on activities and live animal demonstrations– snakes, turtles, hummingbirds, eagles, owls and hawks which drew crowds who wanted a close-up view of Cache River wildlife. In addition, 7 teams (20 individuals) participated in the 2009 Birding Blitz. Check out the Birding Blitz link for a summary of the 2009 winning teams and information on the Birding Blitz. The event concluded with an evening social at the Grand Chain Lodge, overlooking the Ohio River with dinner and local Blue Grass music.

Illinois' Bayou - Cache River Wetlands

Making up only 1.5% of the land area in Illinois, the Cache basin harbors 11.5% of the State's high quality floodplain forests, 23% of its remaining high quality barrens habitat, and 91% of the State's high quality swamp/wetland communities. The area shelters 100 state threatened or endangered species and seven federally threatened or endangered species. The Cache River Wetlands are home to some of the oldest living trees east of the Mississippi River, includes three National Natural Landmarks, and has been designated a "Wetlands of International Importance", putting it in the same ecological league as Okefenokee Swamp and the Everglades.

The area is managed and protected by a unique public-private partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Ducks Unlimited. This partnership, known as the Cache River Wetlands Joint Venture, has a broad vision of restoring the integrity of the Cache River system establishing a goal to restore over 60,000 acres along the Cache River and its major tributaries. The partnership along with other resource agencies, organizations and citizens are working to restore the Cache River to a level of structure and function that would ensure a self-sustaining river-floodplain system.

Areas of Interest within the Cache River Wetlands Joint Venture

Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge one of over 500 Refuges across the country that provides valuable habitat for a diversity of waterfowl and other migratory birds, resident wildlife, and endangered and threatened species. The Refuge includes 16,000 acres along the Lower Cache River protecting remnants of bald cypress-water tupelo swamps, oak barrens, and vast stands of bottomland hardwood forests. The refuge is important resting, nesting, and feeding habitat for waterfowl and a diversity of other migratory and wading birds. Other resident wildlife include deer, squirrels, foxes, mink, as well as, bobcats, river otters, and a host of frogs and toads, turtles and snakes. With such diversity the Refuge provides many opportunities to watch wildlife, hunt, fish, canoe, and hike. The Refuge office is located at 137 Rustic Campus Road, on the campus of Shawnee Community College (nine miles east of Ullin, Il.) where additional site information is available. Contact (618)-634-2231 or visit http://midwest.fws.gov/CypressCreek.

Cache River State Natural Area - Illinois Department of Natural Resources
The Cache River State Natural Area is situated on the Upper and Lower Cache River within a floodplain carved long ago by glacial floodwaters of the Ohio River. The area includes over 15,000 acres composed of three management units: Little Black Slough, Lower Cache River Swamps, and Glass Hill. Among the outstanding natural features found within this area are massive bald cypress trees aged between 700 and 1,000 years old, shadowy bottomland forests, undisturbed mature upland forests, and bald cypress-water tupelo swamps rich with life. The Cache River SNA provides food, water, and cover for an incredible number of plants and animals, more than 100 of which are listed as State and seven which are listed as Federally threatened or endangered species. Viewing platforms, boardwalks and over 20 miles of trails provide many opportunities to experience the Cache. Additional information can be obtained from the SNA Henry H. Barkhausen-Cache River Wetlands Center at (618) 657-2064 or the SNA headquarters office at (618)-634-9678 or visit http://dnr.state.il.us.

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Mermet Lake Fish & Wildlife Area is one of the IDNR's most visited State Fish & Wildlife Areas with an annual attendance of up to 400,000 visitors. Developed out of a twelve-acre bald cypress swamp into a 2700 acre multi use area with a 490-acre lake, picnic area, hiking trails, waterfowl hunting areas, restored prairies, wetlands and a boardwalk found within a 43-acre Nature Preserve, this area has something for everyone. Although the primary focus is on waterfowl habitat, many non-game species can be found on this site such as the least bittern, osprey, bald eagle, purple gallinule (confirmed nesting pair) and Hudsonian godwit because of the prime habitat present, developed over the years. This area is listed as one of the states "Wildlife Viewing Areas' and is considered as one of the state's prime 'bird viewing" areas. Additional information can be obtained from the site office at 1812 Grinnell Road, Belknap, Illinois 62908 or by calling (618)-524-5577.

Grassy Slough Preserve - The Nature Conservancy
Grassy Slough Preserve sits where the lower section of the Cache River begins near the village of Belknap. The site covers 3,000 acres and historically consisted of forested wetlands. Today efforts are underway to restore the area to a mosaic of swamps, marshes, canebrakes, and bottomland hardwood forests. The area includes 500 acres of restored wetlands which attract a myriad of birds including migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, bald eagles, herons, and egrets. The Jean Farwell Memorial Viewing Area overlooks the site and provides opportunities to observe a diversity of wildlife.

For additional information about other natural areas and highlights throughout southern Illinois, check out the Local Information page.

Henry N. Barkhausen-Cache River Wetlands Center

Cache River Nature Fest 2010 will take place out of the Cache River Wetlands Center. The 7,000 square-foot interpretive center, owned and operated by the Illinois DNR, and is supported by the Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge and The Nature Conservancy. Here, visitors may acquire information on agency partners, recreation opportunities, and habitat restoration projects currently underway. The center provides visitors with a wealth of information about the value of wetlands, the area's cultural and natural history and unique sites to explore. The facility includes a 2000 square foot exhibit area, a 725 square foot audio visual room and wildlife viewing area overlooking a wetland. Visitors are invited to learn about the history of the watershed along an impressive time-line in the exhibits. The time line is full of fascinating local artifacts, has a video screen with five perspectives of the Cache River watershed, and audio sticks sharing local oral history. A twelve minute orientation film gives a wonderful overview and introduction of the watershed, explaining the unique bio-diversity of the flora and fauna that can be experienced here. Visitors can also acquaint themselves with the area by exploring an interactive diorama of a bald cypress-water tupelo swamp, two interactive touch screens featuring images of the Cache River watershed and migratory birds, area State champion tree information and changing landscape displays. The center also provides programs and activities to the general public throughout the year, emphasizing this historically rich and biodiverse region of southern Illinois. Located south of White Hill on Illinois Route 37, the center is named for Henry N. Barkhausen, an industrialist and avid outdoorsman, who served as director of the Illinois Department of Conservation from 1970-73. He also served as a board member on a local citizens' committee to promote restoration and protection of the Cache River area.

To contact the Wetlands Center call (618) 657-2064, Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. The Wetlands Center is located at 8885 State Route 37 South, Cypress, Illinois 62923, two miles north of the intersection of State Route 169 and 37; nine miles south of the intersection of State Route 146 and 37.

 
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