Phillips 66, DU to Improve Illinois Lake

by Chris Sebastian | November 1, 2018 | Land

A wetland surrounded by trees. A small map of Illinois marking Madison County overlays the image of the wetland on the top left corner.

A portion of Horseshoe Lake to be enhanced.

Photos by Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Phillips 66 announced a partnership to enhance Horseshoe Lake State Park, an urban oasis vital to outdoors enthusiasts and a diversity of wildlife. Ducks Unlimited will use a $200,000 commitment from Phillips 66, a longtime DU supporter, to enhance and restore up to 250 acres of wetland habitat. The 3,000-acre state park is in Madison County and is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). It encompasses Horseshoe Lake, a remnant Mississippi River oxbow and the second largest natural lake in Illinois.

“We are excited to partner with Ducks Unlimited to keep Horseshoe Lake a gem for people, animals and birds,” said Melissa Erker, director of government and community affairs at the Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery. “We invest in our natural resources because we respect and value their role in our daily lives.”

The state park is near St. Louis and is crucial to residents of both Illinois and Missouri. It supports recreational activities such as boating, hiking, hunting, fishing, camping and bird watching. The park is also connected to Madison County’s Transit’s School House Trail, which connects more than 85 miles of bike trails in Madison County to downtown St. Louis.

“IDNR and Horseshoe Lake State Park are appreciative of Ducks Unlimited and Phillips 66 supporting waterfowl conservation at this site,” said Mike Mason, IDNR regional land manager. “We are eager to see the good things we will accomplish with this commitment.” DU and IDNR staff have identified several project sites in need of restoration or enhancement to benefit waterfowl and other wildlife. Conservation work will range from improving existing wetland habitat to restoring former agriculture fields back to marsh habitat.

With Phillips 66’s support, DU will begin restoration and enhancement projects this year with survey, design and engineering work. Projects are expected to be complete in 2020.

“Horseshoe Lake State Park is in the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, an area which can hold more than 2,000,000 ducks and geese during fall migration,” said Michael Sertle, DU regional biologist in Illinois. “It is also a critically important migration habitat for more than 250 species of waterfowl, wading birds and songbirds.”

This commitment from Phillips 66 supports Ducks Unlimited’s Big Rivers Initiativein Illinois, a state which has lost 85 percent of its historical wetlands to human development. With support from donors and corporations like Phillips 66, Ducks Unlimited has protected, enhanced or restored more than 50,000 wetland acres in Illinois.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 14 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company. With a portfolio of Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses, the company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally. Phillips 66 Partners, the company’s master limited partnership, is integral to the portfolio. Headquartered in Houston, the company has 14,500 employees committed to safety and operating excellence. Phillips 66 had $52 billion of assets as of March 31, 2018.