6 THE AUDUBON BUILD ES 
“Many mammals and birds in a watershed live there because of the 
stream,” Lopinot said. “Although to some it 1s only a source of water, 
to many it is a vital habitat for which a ditch will not substitute. 
Raccoons, mink, muskrats, herons, kingfishers, cormorants, waterfowl 
and many other species depend on streams for food cover and den or nest 
sites. 
Only four of Illinois’ 102 counties have none or less than one mile of 
channelization: Hardin, Perry, Stephenson and Washington. 
Counties having the greatest amount of channelization include Tro- 
quois, 470.3; Champaign, 390.3; Kankakee, 340.7; Henry, 280; White- 
side, 277; McHenry, 257.6; Ford, 251.8; Livingston, 246.7; and Mason, 
AMOR S 
THERE ARE ENCOURAGING INDICATIONS that stream de- 
eradation of this type is slowing to a halt, as public agencies react to a 
growing awareness. Inspired and prodded by the necessity of complying 
with the federal Environmental Protection Act, these agencies dealing 
with channelization are beginning to take a second look—some more than 
others—and the future treatment of our rivers and streams appears 
brighter. 
The necessity of tacking an environmental impact statement to the 
plans of projects that would change the face of the earth is causing an 
about-face, or at least a stand-off attitude, on the part of the channeliz- 
ing agencies. 
In 1864, a conservationist of a century ago, George Perkins Marsh, 
wrote, “To disturb the balance of nature without calculating the conse- 
quences 1s to invite disaster. The web of life is made up of every single 
living orgamsm and the destruction of any part of that web might disrupt 
the whole biological community.” 
Over a hundred years have passed since these words were written. 
Yet, we are only now beginning to understand the message. 
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