Vol. 25, No. 3 
Page 4 
Cooperative Waterfowl Research - W-88-R 
F.C. Bell rose, S.P. Havera, 
G.A. Perkins, H.K. Archer 
To understand the need for prudent management of Illinois' remaining 
wetland habitats for waterfowl, both the historical and current status of 
these areas must be evaluated. In the mid-1800's, approximately 4 million ha 
(10 million acres) of pristine wetlands remained in 111inois--28s of the total 
land area. Besides the extensive bottomlands of the Mississippi and Illinois 
rivers, this acreage included the periphery of the great Kankakee Marsh in the 
Kankakee River drainage, the Winnebago Marsh in the Green River watershed, and 
large deep marshes in Logan and Mason counties. These marsh areas, which 
totaled over 600,000 ha (1.5 million acres), along with millions of acres of 
wet meadows in the Big Prairie region of central Illinois are virtually non- 
existent today. Seasonally flooded cypress/mixed hardwood forests once occupied 
about 100,000 ha (250,000 acres) of the Wabash, Cache, and Mississippi river 
bottomlands in southern Illinois; as of 1973, only about 5,100 ha (12,600 
acres) remained (Graber and Graber 1978. INHS Biol. Note 97). 
Illinois wetlands were last inventoried in 1955 and the findings were 
included in "Wetlands of the United States" (USFWS Circular 39, ^Sb). That, 
inventory documented wetlands in 55 counties that contain over 30 % of Ml'"ois 
wetland habitat. For the remaining 47 counties, the types of wetland habitat 
were established. The inventory identified about 173,000 ha (427,000 acres) of 
wetlands representing open fresh water, seasonally flooded wetlands, shallow 
marshes, deep marshes, fresh meadows, shrub swamps, and wood swamps M" that . 
order). In addition to these "true" wetlands, about 100,000 ha (248,000 acres) 
of seasonally flooded agricultural lands and 28,000 ha (68,000 acres) of streams 
and impoundments were identified. An additional 11,300 ha (28,000 acres) of 
less important wetlands were estimated to be in the counties not inventoried. 
Accurate up-dated information on wetlands important to waterfowl in 
Illinois is necessary to provide a habitat data base for management. A current 
inventory will provide information on the potential "carrying capacity" of 
waterfowl in the state. By analyzing recent changes in distribution, status, 
and quality of wetlands In concert with waterfowl population changes and current 
food habits, an effective management scheme can be formulated. In addition, 
policy makers and planners can be supplied with information in a format that can 
be used effectively to make sound decisions for acquiring and protecting 
critical wetland habitats. 
