The Middle Fork River

The Middle Fork River is Illinois’ first State Scenic River, so designated in 1986 by Governor James R. Thompson. In 1989 the Middle Fork was also designated as a National Scenic River by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan. The Middle Fork is the first river in Illinois to be included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It is protected by State and federal law because of its outstanding scenic, recreational, ecological, and historical characteristics.

What can you see in the Middle Fork river valley?

Nature abounds for you to enjoy along the Middle Fork River. There are miles of scenic river with high bluffs and sand bars, surrounded by trees harboring many animals. In the river, you may see mussels, turtles, ducks and other waterfowl, and sunfish, or bass. Along its banks you may see frogs, salamanders, or raccoons. In the trees you may see or hear chickadees, bluebirds, woodpeckers, hawks, and many other birds. The many types of trees include oak, dogwood, walnut, redbud, and ash. On the trails near the river you may see orchids, ferns, prairie grasses, or wildflowers such as Indian paint brush, or brown-eyed Susan.

The Middle Fork River has eroded through deep glacial deposits, exposing steep valley slopes and high bluffs. This results in small springs on hillsides, and attracts swallows to nest in the bluffs. During a flood, the power of the river cuts new channels, moves boulders, and removes trees. Most of the area along the river is forested, and there are also several prairie sites. Three areas support plants and animals so rare that they are protected as State Nature Preserves. The Middle Fork river valley supports a great diversity of plants and animals including 57 types of fish, 45 different mammals, and 190 kinds of birds. Of this diverse wildlife, there are 24 species officially identified as State threatened or endangered species. Other special qualities of the Middle Fork River valley include unusual geologic formations, various historic sites, and over 8,400 acres of public parks. {Continue Reading »}

Dear friends,

Glynnis Collins with Governor Quinn

This morning I had the pleasure of attending a press conference where Governor Pat Quinn and Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller announced the opening of the seven state parks that were closed by the Blagojevich administration last fall. This is a day that we at Prairie Rivers Network and a host of other partners have been working for since the closures were initially announced in July 2008. In their remarks, Miller and Quinn emphasized the value of these (and all) state parks for Illinois families, the state economy, and overall public health.  We applaud the Governor and DNR Director for moving so quickly to address a real problem and for making natural resource protection and promotion of outdoor activities a priority of the new administration in Springfield. {Continue Reading »}