Adams will manage this complex of refuge lands, which stretches along 120 miles of the Illinois River and includes Chautauqua, Emiquon, and Meredosia national wildlife refuges. The Illinois River refuges encompass about 10,700 acres and provide important habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds. So important is the habitat provided by the refuge that an estimated 60 to 70 percent of the waterfowl traveling along the Illinois River use the refuge during migration.
Adams comes to Illinois River from Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge in Quincy, Illinois, where he served as refuge biologist. Adams career with the Service began in 1974 as a biologist for the Services Federal Aid program, later moving to Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in southern Illinois. His tenure also includes stints as manager at Mark Twains Annada District in Missouri, and at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Ohio.
"I am looking forward to the challenge of managing and restoring fish and wildlife habitat, and working with local communities, landowners, and other partners in improving the Illinois River environment," Adams said.
As refuge manager at Illinois River, Adams will oversee completion of habitat restoration on Lake Chautauqua, habitat acquisition and restoration at Emiquon refuge, and development of a comprehensive management plan for the refuge complex. Illinois River refuges encompass a mix of backwater lakes, bottomland forest, and floodplain wetlands.
A native of Indiana, Adams developed an interest in fish and wildlife while fishing and hunting on the Ohio and Wabash rivers. He studied wildlife science, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University and a Masters from Oregon State University. Adams continues to enjoy hunting and fishing, as well as birding, traveling, and gardening. Adams will begin his duties at Illinois River on October
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
