PEORIA MAGAZINE November 2023

Victor Lampe and Molly Haugen net fish on the Illinois River near Havana for research purposes

S P O T L I G H T

THE ILLINOIS RIVER UNDER A MICROSCOPE

For some 150 years, scientists have conducted research on fish and waterfowl populations from biological field stations near Havana BY PAM TOMKA PHOTOS BY RON JOHNSON T Others love the challenge of catching big fish from these waters or hunting ducks and geese. The health of the river and the crea tures who call it home have been moni he Illinois River provides a multitude of recreational op portunities. Many like boating and just relaxing on the water.

tored by research scientists going back to 1876. Havana, Illinois is home to two University of Illinois biological field sta tions, under the direction of the Prai rie Research Institute’s Illinois Natural History Survey. The Illinois River became a subject of researchers’ curiosity when Stephen A. Forbes, known by the National Acade my of Sciences as “the founder of the science of ecology in the United States” and the first chief of the Illinois Natu ral History Survey, chose the Havana sector of the river for his biological in vestigations some 130 years ago. That work continues today with the goal of gaining “a thorough scientific knowledge of the whole system of life existing in the waters of this state, with a view to economic as well as educational applications and especially with refer ence to the improvement of fish culture and to the prevention of progressive pollution of streams and lakes …” The 273 miles of the Illinois River make up a portion of the Upper Mississippi

River Restoration program. The Illinois Natural History Survey works in co operation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Geological Sur vey to monitor the likes of invasive carp, native fish species and vegetation, and zebra mussels. Another important role is to aid the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ ongoing management of big head and silver carp. Other contributors include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy. These scientists also apply their re search efforts to flooding, zoo plankton, and the effects of lead shot on waterfowl populations. Long-term monitoring can show changes and challenges to the ecosystem, which then can be dealt with and hopefully remedied.

A PIONEERING ORGANIZATION

The research center is the oldest aquatic station in North America. It be gan as a boat on the river with a rented space in downtown Havana, and stayed

120 NOVEMBER 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE