Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge

Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge in west-central Illinois occupies the historic beds of Flag Lake and Thompson Lake, part of a once-rich riverine wetland long used by Indigenous peoples and containing numerous archaeological sites. After Joy Morton acquired and drained the area in 1919, it became Norris Farm, Illinois's largest agricultural farm. By the late 20th century, ecological damage to the Illinois River spurred restoration. The Nature Conservancy acquired thousands of acres in 2000, pumps were shut off, Thompson Lake refilled, and native trees, grasses, and fish were reintroduced. Recognized in 2012 as a Wetland of International Importance, Emiquon remains an active restoration landscape supporting hundreds of native species.

Illinois · United States