Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area
Encyclopedia
The Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area is a 1,448 acre (5.9 km²) state park
in Tazewell County, Illinois
. It is operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
(IDNR).
The Mackinaw River SFWA consists of more than two square miles of upslope on the south bank of the Mackinaw River
, primarily wooded land with some upland meadows. There are also two sections of Mackinaw River bottomland that offer direct access to the river; each section is approximately 0.25 miles (0.4 km) wide. The Mackinaw River SWFA is primarily managed for the hunting of whitetail deer, although fishing
and canoeing
are also welcomed.
The Mackinaw River is a free-running river throughout most of its length, and therefore offers potential for the preservation of fish
and shellfish
species (particularly mussels) historically associated with the tallgrass prairie
. However, most of the river's drainage
is heavily utilized for crop farm
ing, with its potential for erosion
and consequent siltation
. 66% of the river's drainage is cropland. The Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area is an island of natural drainage into the vulnerable river, although it takes up less than 1.2% of the river's total watershed.
The nearest town to the Mackinaw River SFWA is Mackinaw, Illinois
.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in Tazewell County, Illinois
Tazewell County, Illinois
Tazewell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 135,394, which is an increase of 5.4% from 128,485 in 2000. Its county seat and largest city is Pekin. The majority of the population live in the suburbs and bedroom communities...
. It is operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is a cabinet-level department of the state government of Illinois. It is headquartered in the state capital of Springfield...
(IDNR).
The Mackinaw River SFWA consists of more than two square miles of upslope on the south bank of the Mackinaw River
Mackinaw River
The Mackinaw River, also called Mackinac River, is a river in the U.S. state of Illinois. It flows through what was once the Grande Prairie region of central Illinois...
, primarily wooded land with some upland meadows. There are also two sections of Mackinaw River bottomland that offer direct access to the river; each section is approximately 0.25 miles (0.4 km) wide. The Mackinaw River SWFA is primarily managed for the hunting of whitetail deer, although fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
are also welcomed.
The Mackinaw River is a free-running river throughout most of its length, and therefore offers potential for the preservation of fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
and shellfish
Shellfish
Shellfish is a culinary and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some kinds are found only in freshwater...
species (particularly mussels) historically associated with the tallgrass prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
. However, most of the river's drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
is heavily utilized for crop farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
ing, with its potential for erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
and consequent siltation
Siltation
Siltation is the pollution of water by fine particulate terrestrial clastic material, with a particle size dominated by silt or clay. It refers both to the increased concentration of suspended sediments, and to the increased accumulation of fine sediments on bottoms where they are undesirable...
. 66% of the river's drainage is cropland. The Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area is an island of natural drainage into the vulnerable river, although it takes up less than 1.2% of the river's total watershed.
The nearest town to the Mackinaw River SFWA is Mackinaw, Illinois
Mackinaw, Illinois
Mackinaw is a village in Tazewell County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,452 at the 2000 census. Mackinaw is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Mackinaw is located at ....
.