Emiquon Celebrates 25 Years of Restoration with Free Summer Events

by Randy Smith | August 1, 2025 | Land

A view of a wetland under a bright blue partly cloudy sky. A beautiful lotus flower is in the foreground. A gray map of the state of Illinois overlays the wetland photo in the top right corner. The gray map has a star in the upper left part of the state.

American lotus, long-leaf pondweed and cattails at The Emiquon Preserve. All photos by Randy Smith, TNC.

The Nature Conservancy invites the public to explore central Illinois’ restored wetlands through fishing, paddling, hiking, birding and science programs.

Twenty-five years ago, the land along the Illinois River, known as Thompson and Flag Lakes, two of the most diverse and productive lakes in the Illinois River valley, were covered in corn, beans and the hooves of cattle. The sprawling farm acreage, the largest contiguous farm in Illinois, had just been purchased by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). This was the largest conservation purchase in Illinois history at the time. The goal was to restore this place called Emiquon. Disconnected from the river with a levee, and drained and farmed for 80 years, the goal was ambitious, and more than a little controversial, converting what was seen as prime agriculture land back to wetlands, prairies and woodlands.

Two airboats float on a wetland. A group of wading researchers review submerged aquatic vegetation. In the background is a horizon line of trees against a bright blue sky with small wispy clouds interspersed throughout. — TNC and Illinois Natural History Survey staff review submerged aquatic vegetation in Flag Lake at Emiquon.

How do you set out to restore an entire ecosystem at a site this large and make sure you get it right? Is it as simple as turning off the pumps that kept the wetlands dry for decades and stop farming it? Yes and no. Perhaps the most critical restoration action was indeed turning off the pumps and allowing water to return to the site. But perhaps just as critical were the planning and discussions amongst conservation experts that identified a set of Key Ecological Attributes, covering everything from water quality and fish communities to wetland plants and breeding birds, that would be measured and monitored through time to help determine success of the project and guide management decisions.

A field full of yellow daisy flowers. In the background is a horizon line of trees against a bright blue partly cloudy sky. — Late-blooming wetland plants, like these beggars’ ticks and smartweeds, provide critical late-summer habitat for pollinators and their seeds develop into food sources for wildlife like migrating waterfowl.

The restoration, about 6,700 acres owned and managed by TNC, and more owned and managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has been a resounding success. Native fish, birds and wetland plants have returned in remarkable numbers, signaling the resilience of nature. Today, Emiquon Preserve supports a thriving ecosystem, attracts researchers from around the world and serves as a hub for education and recreation.

Are there challenges? Absolutely. Pressure from invasive species, natural habitat transition and other stressors constantly confront managers and researchers to stay vigilant and active to maintain a high-quality system. The Key Ecological Attributes have proven invaluable in measuring and tracking changes and guiding decision making. Emiquon doesn’t look now like it did ten years ago, and ten years from now won’t look like it does today. But we strive to keep it in a productive state that provides habitat for the fish, wildlife and plants that depend on it.

Two waterfowl hunters wade through a wetland. One hunter uses a duck call to attract ducks. In the foreground are small willow trees with orange read autumn foliage. — Youth hunters participate in the youth waterfowl hunt held at Emiquon.

Emiquon features a public use area open during daylight hours, 365 days a year, with 1.5 miles of walking trails, a raised viewing platform and interpretive signage. There’s a boat ramp for fishing and paddling access (no motors and a free lake access waiver is required annually), and waterfowl hunting during fall.

To mark the 25th anniversary since the start of the project, TNC and partners are hosting a series of free, family-friendly public events. From paddling tours and fishing days to nature hikes and hands-on science experiences, the anniversary lineup offers unique ways for people of all ages to explore one of the Midwest’s most remarkable ecological success stories, and get a behind-the-scenes look at areas usually closed to the public, and hear from experts dedicated to the site.

“The changes have been dramatic,” noted Doug Blodgett, former Director of Illinois Rivers Program, now senior advisor for The Nature Conservancy, who oversaw the purchase and restoration during his tenure. “A few of the successes include the day when there were 325 American bald eagles at Emiquon, and another day when more than 1 million waterfowl were present. We’ve set use-day records for three duck species. We stocked 1.7 million native fish of 34 species, and we’ve found 26 new species (including the paddlefish) that we didn’t stock but evidently, they arrived by natural dispersal. As a boy growing up in Havana, I often heard stories of ‘waterfowl so dense they blocked out the sun’ but was suspicious of such claims. In 2009 I saw it at Emiquon and I knew we were on the right path.”

To mark the milestone, The Nature Conservancy will host the following public events:

A large grouping of cattails rise from a wetland under a bright blue partly cloudy sky. In the distance is a horizon line of trees. — Marsh habitat at Emiquon.

Guided Paddling Tour – July 12 and August 9, 9-11 a.m. Explore Emiquon by water on a guided tour through its restored wetlands. Bring your own canoe or kayak or reserve a spot in a Conservancy-provided canoe or 10-person voyager canoe. Registration required.
Ridge Hike – July 12 and September 13, 10-11:30 a.m. Take in panoramic views of the Illinois River valley on a guided hike with Conservancy staff and partners. Learn about Emiquon’s ecological and cultural history along the way. Registration is preferred.
Science Day – August 9 and September 13, 12:30 p.m. TNC staff will provide a tour and overview of the one-of-a-kind water control structure joining Emiquon Preserve and the Illinois river, the science of water management and some of the research that has taken place on the preserve. All ages welcome; pre-registration is preferred.
Science Day –September 27, 10 a.m. Join scientists from the Therkildsen Field Station and The Nature Conservancy for a hands-on wetland workshop. Participants (high school and up) will sample wetland macroinvertebrates, analyze findings under microscopes, and learn how these organisms reflect water quality. Registration required.
Fishing Days – August 29-September 1, 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Usually closed to bank fishing, the Preserve will allow fishing along the banks during Labor Day weekend. Staff may be available.
Volunteer Days – September 2-4, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Get hands-on with habitat restoration by planting native wildflowers, removing invasive species and supporting long-term stewardship efforts. Tools and guidance will be provided.
Bird Hike – September 20, 7-9 a.m. Join a two-hour guided birding hike through a variety of habitats, from woodland to the marsh, listening for various fall migrants. Pre-registration is preferred.

All events are free and open to the public, with some requiring advance registration. Some programs are suitable for all ages and will be adapted as needed for weather conditions. To register or view the full event summer schedule, visit nature.org/Emiquon25 or email emiquon@tnc.org

Randy Smith is the Illinois River Project Director for The Nature Conservancy based at The Emiquon Preserve where he focuses on wetland and big river conservation and management. He’s previously held positions with Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Natural History Survey in roles focused on wetlands and waterfowl.