2008 FEDERAL DUCK STAMP CONTEST Phone: 618-883-2524 |
The Batchtown Division lies within Pool 25 of the Mississippi River floodplain in Calhoun County, Illinois. The 3,500 acres making up the division contain a mosaic of forests, backwater sloughs, lakes, ponds and wetland management units. It is bordered on the south by Batchtown State Fish and Wildlife Management Area and on the north by Red's Landing Wildlife Management Area. Both are managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Post-flood improvements to Batchtown include notches in the service road paralleling the river, which act as spillways. In 2002, a restoration project funded through the Environmental Management Program (EMP) was completed. The project included features such as water control structures and dredging, designed to enhance wetland management capabilities and improve fish and wildlife habitat.
Forest diversity has decreased over time due to altered flood regimes and higher water levels. Most of the 1600-acres of bottomland forest on Batchtown now consist primarily of mature silver maple. Oaks, hickories, and other species that have been lost are sometimes planted on suitable sites to enhance forest habitat diversity.
Public use opportunities include fishing, hiking, photography, and wildlife observation. Batchtown Division is closed to public access from October 15 - December 31 each year to provide an undisturbed sanctuary area for waterfowl and other migratory birds. Hunting is not allowed on the division, although the adjacent state areas are open to waterfowl hunting. The unit has one improved boat ramp at the Prairie Pond Impoundment and another on the Mississippi River.
Regulations
