The Cache River Wetlands
The eleven counties of southernmost Illinois, mostly south of Illinois Route 13, offer birding possibilities that are truly remarkable. This area is comprised of six Natural Divisions, physio-graphically distinct regions, (the Southern Till Plain, the Ozarks, the Lower Mississippi River Bottoms, the Shawnee Hills, the Coastal Plain, and the Wabash Border) each supporting distinctly different flora and fauna.
Southernmost Illinois is bordered by the Mighty Mississippi River to the west and the Ohio River to the east and south. Along these two great rivers can be found bird species not common to inland regions of southernmost Illinois. Each river serves as a road map for migratory birds, seasonally funneling migratory species to and through the area. (Program, activity list-at end)
Over 370,000 acres of public lands can be found inland south of Illinois Route 13. Three National Wildlife Refuges, nearly a dozen state parks and conservation areas, and, of course, the Shawnee National Forest all crisscross the southernmost Illinois region. These holdings with their grasslands, woodlands, and myriad of streams and lakes provide critical habitat for several hundred resident and migratory bird species.
At the southernmost tip of Illinois east meets west and north meets south, geographically, creating one of the richest realms of diversity, the Cache River watershed. Said to look more like Louisiana than Illinois, the Cache River watershed supported an estimated 250,000 acres of mature swampy cypress-tupelo forests in pre-settlement times. Historic records note the “ceaseless cries and chatter” of tremendous numbers of woodpeckers present near the old mouth of the Cache River.
From its birthplace near Cobden, the Cache River meanders southeast towards Mermet Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area but turns southwest before reaching Mermet Lake. From there the Cache River runs west southwest where it meets up with Cypress Creek then continues southwest past Ullin and Tamms, collecting water from several small tributaries along the way. The Cache comes within a few miles of Horseshoe Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area before bending back southeast towards Mounds. A short distance farther the Cache spills into the Ohio River.
When Swampland Was Not A Good Thing
In an attempt to control the disastrous effects of seasonal flooding, settlers along the Lower Cache built several drainage systems, the biggest and most effective being the Post Creek Cutoff. Dug in the early 1900’s, the Post Creek Cutoff was a ditch running straight south from the Cache to the Ohio River at a point where the Cache ran nearest the Ohio. Over time erosion had enlarged the ditch to the point it had the effect of draining the life blood from the Cache River watershed.
These alterations made an area previously considered mosquito infested, malaria spawning swampland more acceptable for logging, farming, and general habitation. Over the forthcoming years, the Cache River watershed managed to evade the negative affects of advancing civilization (over population, industrialization, and pollution) but the realm was suffering ecologically. Soil erosion from channelization, forest fragmentation from logging and agricultural clearing, and the spread of exotic plants introduced by settlers were all changing what was left of the original watershed.
Seeing that the watershed’s life force was fading, a group of organizations, government agencies, and concerned citizens combined efforts to form the Cache River Wetlands Joint Venture Partnership. This group has been working since 1990 to protect and restore approximately 60,000 acres within the watershed to pre-settlement conditions. Some of the better known areas within the Joint Venture restoration area are the Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Cache River State Natural Area (including such places as Heron Pond, Little Black Slough, and Section 8 Woods), U.S. Fish & Wildlife - Cypress Creek National Wildlife Area (including Frank Bellrose Waterfowl Reserve and Limekiln Slough), The Nature Conservancy’s Grassy Slough Preserve, and IDNR - Horseshoe Lake and Mermet Lake State Fish & Wildlife Areas.
Adopting Swamps and Watching Birds
The Cache River Wetlands Joint Venture is in some aspects racing against time. As important as some of the larger, well known sites are, there are smaller places within the Joint Venture region that are just as important but because of funding shortfalls are not getting tended to. In some instances just a dam built across a small gully at the cost of only $5000 or less can prevent vital backwater from escaping the watershed. It’s like plugging a leak.
A program titled “Adopt-A-Swamp” was initiated as a way to fund such projec1s. Administered through the Illinois Conservation Foundation, “Adopt-A-Swamp” funds can be collected to “purchase a plug” for some of the many gullies eroding away the watershed. But not only is it good to have a way of administering funds, it’s important to have effective way of acquiring the funds. Thus the Nature Fest of Southernmost Illinois was conceived.
Initially started as the Birding Blitz of Southernmost Illinois, a birding contest in which competing teams went out to locate as many bird species as they could in one day, the Birding Blitz and the Cache River Nature Fest offers more to all. The Cache River Nature Fest is day full of activities focusing on the Cache River watershed. Informational programs, live bird demonstrations, and outings that deliver hands-on learning are all designed to expose the public on the uniqueness of the watershed’s ecosystem and its importance as habitat for rare plants and animals and, more specifically, migratory and resident bird species. Information on Birding Blitz and Nature Fest see www.cacherivernaturefest.org or call Cache River SNA 618-657-2064 or Cypress Creek Refuge 618-634-2231.
The Nature Fest event takes place the second Saturday in May, during the height of spring bird migration through southernmost Illinois. The Fest weekend activities have attracted nearly 1000 participants. The Birding Blitz is the last weekend of April, April 28, 2012. In 2005, ten registered Birding Blitz teams, birding in the Cache Wetlands and the surrounding southernmost area, located a collective total of 198 species in one day. In addition to competing, Birding Blitz teams must collect pledges from sponsors. Birding Blitz team pledges as well as proceeds from the Fest all go to the “Adopt-A-Swamp” program.
Cache River State Natural Area's Cache River Wetlands Center, visitor and education center, is open Wednesday - Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Center is located at 8885 State Route 37 South, Cypress, Illinois. There is a trail connection from the Wetlands Center to Tunnel Hill State Trail for walkers and bicyclist.
Upcoming Events in April, May, June, 2012: (All programs are free)
Wetland Flower Garden-Go Native!: Saturday, April 21, 1 - 3:00 p.m. Explore the variety of native flowering and non-flowering plants suited for a wetland garden; rain garden, low,wet aren in the yard. Information call 618-657-2064. Location: Cache River Wetlands Center, 8885 St. Rt. 37, three miles south of Cypress, Illinois. Information: 618-657-2064 Wed. - Sun.
Picnic for the Planet: Sunday, April 22, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Picnic for the Planet is intended to be a global celebration. The Nature Conservancy will be hosting this event at Cache River Wetlands Center, three miles south of Cypress on St. Rt. 37. Details see Friends of the Cache River website, www.friendsofcache.org or call The Nature Conservancy at 618-634-2524.
Nature Movie Night: Thursday, May 3, 7:00 p.m. This evening's movie will be Secret World of Bats of the Critters of the Cache series on misunderstood animals. After the movie there will be opportunity for you to join in a short discussion and question and answer time. Location: Cache River Wetlands Center, 618-657-2064.
Cache River Nature Fest: Saturday, May 12, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Cache River Wetlands Center, State Route 37, three miles south of Cypress, Ill. Fun filled day with outdoor activities for the whole family; nature walks, live animals (reptiles, fish, birds, amphibians), bird banding demonstration, historic craft demonstrations, children's nature activities, guided canoe trips [reservation required - 618-634-2231]. Information call 618-657-2064, Wed.-Sun.,or visit www.cacherivernaturefest.org.
Tree Talk and A Spring Walk: Saturday, May 26, 1 - 3 p.m. Surround yourself in the diversity of trees native to southern Illinois and discover the intrinsic value to the Cache as be expolor basic tree identifiction skills. Location: Cache River State Natural Area-- Heron Pond Trial Access. Information call 618-657-2064.
Out of the Wild: Reptiles Thursday, June 7, 1 - 3 p.m. Get up close and personal with critters of the Cache River wetlands. Reptiles will be the subject presented by Scott Ballard, IDNR Natural Heritage Biologist at the Cache River Wetlands Center, 8885 St. Rt. 37, three miles south of Cypress. Information 618-657-2064.
Music in the Cache: June 16, Saturday, 1-3:00 p.m. at Cache River Wetlands Center, State Route 37, three miles south of Cypress, Illinois. Music is everywhere. Frogs and birds sing in the swamps and forests. Winds and rain sweep through the trees and wetlands. Listen to nature's melodies on a hike and create your own. Information call 618-657-2064, Wed. - Sun.
Cold Blooded Creatures of the Cache: August 25, 2012, Saturday, 1-4:00 p.m. at Cache River Wetlands Center, State Route 37, three miles south of Cypress. Not all lizards are lizards, yes, you can know which is a male or female box turtle, snakes do not deserve their bad reputation. Learn information on skinks, lizards, land and water tutles, and snakes which inhabit southern Illinois, not just the wetlands. Information call 618-657-2064, Wed.-Sun.
The 2011 Calendar of Events is available. May call 618-657-2064, Cache River Wetlands Center to have a copy mailed to you or go to web site for Cache River State Natural Area - www.dnr.illinois.gov/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R5/CACHERVR or Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge - www.fws.gov/midwest/cypresscreek.
Nestled in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest, Johnson County has beauty unsurpassed by any other county in the state. With the Cache River State Natural Area including Heron Pond and the Little Black Slough, wildlife and rare species of plants and animals are plentiful.
Developed on a portion of the Norfolk Southern Railroad rail bed, the crushed gravel Tunnel Hill State Trail is suitable for multiple uses. Bicycling is the most popular, but many people also walk, run, hike, and cross-country ski. As cyclists travel on the trail they can experience a wide variety of scenery, history and cultural sites as well as the chance to see wildlife ranging from turtles and deer to birds.