Guest Contribution by Sam Stearns, Friends of Bell Smith Springs

Devil's Backbone Bell Smith Springs

I have been visiting Bell Smith Springs since before I was born. My mother used to tell me how she visited the shady canyon in the summer before my birth, wading the pools and soaking her feet in the cool water. My earliest memories are of watching tadpoles in the rock basins above a little waterfall there. Some of my most pleasant recent memories include lazing around those same pools, contemplating a new generation of tadpoles. Their lives and mine are inextricably intertwined and will continue to be so. I appreciate now the privilege I took for granted as a child.

Bell Smith Springs is an essential destination for anyone interested in native ecology and local history. It is designated a National Natural Landmark by the US Park Service, a Natural Area by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, and a recreation area by the US Forest Service. This gorgeous canyon and its surrounding watershed have been studied by scientists and enjoyed by visitors for generations. Untold thousands of citizens have visited this piece of public property through the years to observe the rare phenomenon of interconnected, complete, functioning ecosystems. {Continue Reading »}

American lotus blooms on the waters along the Illinois River

The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River and flows approximately 273 miles (439 km) long, through the state of Illinois. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of 40,000 square miles (104,000 km²). Because it serves as the principal water route between the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes, the Illinois River was important among Native Americans and early European traders. After the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the Hennepin Canal in the 19th century, the river’s role as link between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi was extended into the era of modern industrial shipping. Today, the Illinois River still serves as an important route for barge navigation, water recreation and provides for domestic and industrial uses for neighboring communities. {Continue Reading »}