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Event Sponsors
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Welcome
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.
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Download
our 2010 Cache River Nature Fest Brochure
2010 Cache River Nature Fest
T-shirt & Tote Bag Designs
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Participate in Nature
Fest and play a part in restoring the Cache River Wetlands! Net proceeds
from t-shirt sales, donations, and pledge dollars collected from the
Birding Blitz
competition go toward wetland restoration projects within the Cache
River Watershed and surrounding area. Nature Fest t-shirts are available
for sale at the Cache River Wetlands Center.
The 2010 Cache River Nature
Fest T-shirt features the wood duck – a common species found throughout the
Cache River and associated floodplain forests. This years design is by local
artist Abraham Hunter, winner of the Junior Duck Stamp Award in 2009. Be
sure to check-out other beautiful work from Abraham Hunter showcased at the
Wetlands Center. |
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.
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Download our Evening
Social and Live Music flyer
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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. |