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Vol. 2** s Mo. 11 
Page 4 
The most drastic effect of the high water was on moist-soil plants. For 
these plants to germinate and produce seeds, water levels must be low enough by 
m.d-July to expose mudflats along the shores of the bottomland lakes. Mo 
mudflats were exposed this past summer. Consequently, there is little food in 
the bottomland lakes for those dabbling ducks, such as blue- and green-winged 
teal, pintails, and to a lesser extent, mallards, which feed on the seeds of 
moist-soil plants. Because of the high water, the managed lands of most duck 
clubs and public areas along the Illinois River could not be planted with 
cultivated crops such as Japanese millet and corn. Therefore, waste grain in 
farm fields constitutes the major food for dabbling ducks this fall in the 
Illinois River valley. Food availability is a major factor determining 
abundance, distribution, and duration of stay of waterfowl in the Illinois 
. y * ™ ,s fall > ducks will concentrate in areas with the best food resources 
and individuals may stay less than the 3 weeks they usually spend in a given 
3 r 03 « 
♦ 
Without exposed mudflats, wading shorebirds had few feeding areas In 
August and September during their fall migration. The Illinois Valley is a 
traditional and essential stopover area where shorebirds rest and replenish 
their energy for the remainder of their flight to the wintering grounds in the 
southern U.S. and South America. e 
Certain species of trees and shrubs in the bottomlands were stressed by 
the prolonged flooding during the growing season. A variety of plants lost 
leaves that were inundated and some plants never flowered. Some species, such 
as silver maples and willows that had their root crowns inundated since late 
April, turned color prematurely in early August. Seedlings and saplings of all 
tree species appeared to be less tolerant of the high water than mature trees. 
The worst effect of this year's record precipitation and high water was 
severe sedimentation in the bottomland areas. Increased runoff from cultivated 
lands into the tributaries and eventually into the river and its backwaters 
aggravated sedimentation and turbidity in the Illinois River valley. In some 
backwater areas, several inches of new sediment were exposed when water levels 
receded in September. 
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