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STATE PLANS DAM ON KANKAKEE NEAR WILMINGTON 
John Guillou, head of the Illinois Division of Waterways recently announced that as part of the Kankakee River Waterway, 
a dam will be located 3/4 mile southeast of the Wilmington City limits. Guillous said that this is the first of several dams 
which will make it possible for recreational boaters to move from Momence, on the east, along the Kankakee to its juncture 
with the Illinois River. 
Under Public Act 76-2492, the General Assembly appropriated $900,000 for right-of-way acquisition and construction of 
a lock and dam for recreational navigation, water supply, and flood control purposes. In defending the project Guillou said 
that there will be practically no disaccommodation of property owners, no abnormal flooding, and no commercial barge 
traffic. He admitted that funds had been withheld after the Governor signed the bill in October, 1969 because of objections 
from the Department of Conservation. Since then, however, the Department no longer thinks it desirable that funds be 
withheld, he said. 
In reply to many area sportsmen who have objected to the damming project which would change the river’s pattern of 
fast-moving water and shallow riffles, Guillou said that he plans to keep silt out of the river by dredging. 
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NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION 
Four state parks reported more than a million vistors last year, they were: Rock Cut, Illinois Beach, Mississippi Palisades, 
and Kankakee River. Only slightly under a million were New Salem and Fort Massac at the southern tip of the state. 
The Department is closing its zoo at the state fairgrounds in Springfield, as the facilities became obsolete when the new 
Springfield municipal zoo opened last year. Disposal of the animals and birds is still under discussion. More than 100 game 
birds were released, 40 to 50 were slaughtered, and a flock of doves were freed in separate instances of recurrent vandalism 
which led to the final decision to close the zoo. The zoo was established in 1955, and the cost of renovating facilities was 
extimated at $25,000. 
The annual winter waterfowl survey was conducted on January 4 to 8 by cooperating state and federal wildlife agencies, 
and 600,000 ducks were counted. This is an increase of 125,000 over last year’s count. Most of the birds were seen in the 
northern part of the state, where a mild winter left much open water. There were 566,100 Mallards, 18,000 Black Ducks, — 
9,700 Canvasbacks, 4,500 Mergansers, and 3,800 Goldeneyes. 

Almost 500 Bald Eagles were counted in Illinois during the annual inventory in January. Most of the eagles were found 
along the major rivers with Calhoun County (northwest of St. Louis) reporting the most birds — 96 adults and 69 immatures. 
The total count was 338 adults and 166 immatures throughout the state. 
Did you know that you are actually breaking the law if you find a dead bird and have it stuffed? According to the rules of 
the Department of Conservation, the only birds which may be legally stuffed without permission are game birds, starlings, 
pigeons, and house sparrows. State and federal laws state that no insectivorous or song bird may be possessed. Owls, hawks, 
and eagles are similarly protected. Those who plan to use the mounted specimens for educational purposes, must first receive 
written permission from the law enforcement office of the Department. 

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