State Parks and National Parks

The Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1936 to protect a vital section of the Mississippi Flyway, a migratory route for waterfowl. The refuge contains part of the Illinois River floodplain as well as forest bottomland.

Up to 250,000 waterfowl and 10,000 shorebirds seek the food and sanctuary found on this 6,200-acre refuge. Bald eagles nest on the refuge, as many as 175 eagles have been found on the area in late fall through spring.

The refuge's main habitats are two backwater lakes of the Illinois River, the 2,000-acre South Pool and the 1,100-acre North Pool.

The South Pool is a shallow water seasonal wetland which provides critical habitat for resident, migratory, and breeding birds. The North Pool provides a stable water level suitable for fish, resident wildlife, and migratory bird species.

Forest habitat includes the 35-acre Roundtree area, an upland forest dominated by oak and hickory, and the 40-acre Melz Slough Area, a bottomland forest destroyed by the 1993 flood. Two small demonstration prairies also are located on the refuge. The Cameron-Billsbach Unit of Chautauqua refuge is located 50 mmiles north at Henry. This unit is accessible from the Illinois River only.

Shorebird populations can reach peaks of 50,000 in August, and waterfowl may exceed 400,000 birds in mid-November.

Hunting of waterfowl, consistent with State of Illinois regulations, is allowed on 1,000 acres outside the levee protecting Chautauqua. Sport fish, such as catfish, white bass, and crappie, are pursued by anglers.

The half-mile Chautauqua Nature Trail winds through the upland forest and wetlands edge of the South Pool. Eight interpretive overlooks covering topics such as prairie remnants, waterfowl observation, and local history are located on the trail.

Chatauqua is one of four units of the Illinois River National Wildlife and Fish Refuges.