Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge


	Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge
	19031 E. County Road 2110N Havana, IL 62644 E-mail: chautauqua@fws.gov Phone Number: 309-535-2290
	Visit the Refuge's Web Site: http://midwest.fws.gov/illinoisriver/chaq.html	Waterfowl such as blue-winged teal feed and rest at the refuge during migration.

Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge
Chautauqua Refuge is situated in the middle of the Mississippi Flyway along the Illinois River near Havana, Illinois. It is an important link in the chain of resting and feeding areas for waterfowl and other migratory birds in the flyway. The refuge has been designated a Globally Important Bird Area and a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site.

Up to 250,000 waterfowl and 10,000 shorebirds seek the food resources and sanctuary found on the 6,200-acre refuge. Bald eagles nest on the refuge and as many as 175 eagles can be found on the area in late fall through spring.

Chautauqua Refuge is the headquarters of the Illinois River National Wildlife and Fish Refuges Complex, which includes the Cameron/Billsbach Unit near Henry, Emiquon Refuge across the river from Havana, and the Meredosia Refuge.

Getting There . . .
Chautauqua Refuge is located 8 miles north of Havana, Illinois, and 30 miles south of Pekin, Illinois, on the Manito Blacktop. Turn onto 1950E. Travel one mile to 2110N to the visitor center or continue on 1950E for another 1.5 miles to the Eagle Bluff Access Area for fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities.

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The main habitats found on Chautauqua Refuge are two backwater lakes of the Illinois River: the 2,000-acre South Pool and the 1,100-acre North Pool.

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Early explorers in the late 1600s had difficulty finding their way up the Illinois River because of the numerous channels, backwater lakes, and sloughs in the vicinity of present-day Lake Chautauqua.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Army Corps of Engineers recently completed habitat restoration projects on Lake Chautauqua. The Corps' Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Project rebuilt the levee; constructed a new water control structure in the North Pool; built a water control structure; and dug a level ditch for dewatering the South Pool. They also constructed a pump station for flooding either unit from the river or dewatering either unit into the river. Refuge staff rebuilt the levee around the South Pool; constructed two 700-foot spillways; and reinforced much of the levee in both pools.

The Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project on Lake Chautauqua greatly improved management capabilities on both the north and south pools. Because of these improvements water levels can be managed to mimic the historic flood cycle of the Illinois River. This management strategy has resulted in the restoration of diverse wetland habitats on Lake Chautauqua that have benefited fish and wildlife populations.

A restoration project on Weis Lake on the Cameron Unit was completed in 2003 to facilitate passive water management. Low level dikes were built to protect germinating vegatation from summer water fluctuations. The lake will be reflooded in the fall for waterfowl use.