Contacting the Refuge:

Refuge Manager: John Mabery
e-mail: TwoRivers@fws.gov

HC 82 Box 107
Brussels, IL 62013
Phone: 618-883-2524
Fax: 618/883 2201
TTY: 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay)

Located 17 miles west of Alton,
Illinois, on Highway 100, then
across the Illinois river on the
Brussels Ferry, and another 4.5 miles

Refuge Facts

• Established: 1958

• Formerly known as Brussels District of the Mark Twain NWR

• Located near Mississippi and Illinois rivers confluence outlying the St. Louis/Alton metro area

• Acres: 8,500

• Illinois: includes Calhoun, Batchtown, Gilbert Lake and Apple Creek Divisions

• Missouri: includes Portage Island Division

• Many lands originally purchased by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of the nine-foot navigation channel project with management of natural resources transferred to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Financial Impact of Refuge

• Five person staff

• 24,082 visitors in 2007

• FY 2007 Budget: $526,655

Natural History

• Refuge located in a major migration corridor for waterfowl, bald eagles and other birds

• Habitat consists of bottomland forests, grasslands, side channels, sloughs, and seasonal wetland management units

• Refuge area attracts one of the largest overwintering bald eagle populations in the nation

Refuge Objectives

• Emulate natural functions of Upper Mississippi River Ecosystem

• Provide habitat and protection for migrating and wintering waterfowl and other birds

• Protect endangered and threatened species

• Protect and enhance habitat for neotropical bird production

• Provide wildlife dependent outdoor recreation opportunities

Highlight

• The refuge functions as an important link in the chain of resting, feeding and wintering areas for birds migrating along the Mississippi flyway. More than 5 million ducks and 50,000 geese normally funnel through this important river junction on their semi-annual migration.

Priorities

• Develop habitat management plan, and conduct biological monitoring of habitat and wildlife use

• Improve habitat and water level management on the 2,600-acre Swan Lake backwater

• Expand refuge boundary

• Enhance public use opportunities and facilities

Public Use Opportunities

• Fishing

• Hunting

• Wildlife observation and photography

• Environmental education and interpretation

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