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OutdoorIllinois

VOLUME X, NUMBER 10

OUTDOOR ILLINOIS is published monthly by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Public Services, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787, phone (217) 782-7454, e-mail editor@dnrmail.state.il.us.

(Publication number: ISSN 1072-7175)
Periodical Postage Paid at Springfield, IL POSTMASTER: Send address changes to OUTDOOR ILLINOIS, Department of Natural Resources, Dept. NL, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787.

George H. Ryan    Governor
Brent Manning    Director
Adrea Moore    Assistant Director
James D. Garner    Deputy Director
Jim Riemer, Jr.    Deputy Director

STAFF: James L. Fulgenzi, office director, Liz Pensoneau, editor; Kathy Andrews,Joe McFarland and staff writer; P.J. Perea, staff writers, Adele Hodde, chief photographer; Chas. J. Dees, staff photographer; Charles J. Copley, design & layout; Cheryl Gwinn, production coordinator; Vera Lynn Smith, circulation.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Internet Address: http://dnr.state.il.us

Staff-written material appearing in this publication may be reprinted without permission, provided that OUTDOOR ILLINOIS, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, is acknowledged as the source. OUTDOOR ILLINOIS assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or illustrations.

Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source's civil rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, DNR, 524 S. Second, Springfield, IL 62701-1787; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175.

All public meetings conducted by the Department of Natural Resources will be accessible to handicapped individuals in compliance with Executive Order No. 5 and pertinent state and federal laws, upon notification of the anticipated attendance. Handicapped persons planning to attend and needing special accommodations should inform the Department of Natural Resources at least five days prior to the meeting by telephoning or writing the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Department of Natural Resources, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787, phone (217) 785-0067.

Department of Natural Resources information is available to the hearing impaired by calling DNR's Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (217) 782-9175.

Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois PRT3266256-28,377-9/02 Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with soy-based ink.

Illinois Department of
Natural Resources

What'sInside


2
College Bound
Harvey Pitt's famous antique decoy collection will finance future biology students.


6
Nuts to You!
Nutrient-rich fruits and nuts are preferred food sources for a variety of wildlife.


8
Challunge-ing the Mighty Muskie
In other places, they call it the fish of a thousand casts. We think it only takes one or two hundred casts to catch an Illinois muskie.


11
Is this Illinois?
Matthiessen State Park near Utica is a geological treasure and a place where visitors find it difficult to believe they're really in Illinois.


15
Proactive Management
A special Illinois task force outlines a plan to minimize the potential for an outbreak of chronic wasting disease.


18
Youth Hunt: The Next Generation
Youth, parents, volunteers and energetic dogs head out for a day of hunting, fun and fresh air. Learn how to get in on the action.


20
NewsFront
Learn who the three ICF Outdoor Hall of Fame inductees are and who won the 2002 OutdoorIllinois Adventure Package; find out about the fall catchable trout program and the final waterfowl regulations; get an update on spillway repairs at Kinkaid Lake, opportunities to hunt at Marseilles State Fish and Wildlife Area and the entry deadline for OutdoorIllinois' photo contest; help celebrate a first-place finish and much more.

On the cover...
The fall colors at Giant's Bathtub in Matthiessen State Park, LaSalle County, were photographed by Chas. J. Dees.

October 2002


UpFront

Slip back in time a mere 30 years to the early 1970s. On a daily basis, untreated municipal and industrial pollution waste was dumped directly into rivers and streams. Many waters were polluted and unsafe for fishing, swimming and drinking. Fish kills were a common occurrence. The public, recognizing that clean water is essential for sustaining life, became vocal that the nation's water resources were in jeopardy. From that grassroots concern emerged the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972.

On Earth Day 2002, Gov. George Ryan signed a proclamation declaring October as Clean Water Month. Throughout the nation, celebrations are planned for the Oct. 18, the thirtieth anniversary of this landmark legislation.

Thankfully, Illinois' waters are much cleaner today. The most obvious pollution sources now are regulated, and some of the worst contaminants have been banned entirely. The Department of Natural Resources works with many state, federal and local agencies to monitor Illinois' water supplies and develop recommendations to protect natural resources and human life.

In conjunction with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Department biologists survey streams every five years. Information is collected on water chemistry, aquatic habitat, sediment load, and fish and aquatic insect populations. This information is valuable in determining the health of our sport fisheries and drives decisions on how to protect and restore these resources.

The goal of the Illinois Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program (FCMP) is to protect citizens from contaminants that may accumulate in fish flesh. Contaminant levels in fish are monitored via a cooperative program that includes state agencies from Illinois and surrounding states, as well as federal agency representatives.

Information collected by the FCMP is used to issue sport fish consumption advisories that protect human health, yet avoid overly protective advice that could have a negative impact on Illinois' multi-billion dollar sport fishing industry.

Working with IEPA, fisheries biologists investigate pollution-caused fish kills. The Department is responsible for counting, identifying and assigning monetary values to the fish killed. At the same time, IEPA staff collect water samples to pinpoint the cause of the kill. The Illinois Attorney General then processes the information for potential action against the polluter.

The grassroots effort for keeping our waters clean continues today through public involvement and education. This month, five students from Taylorville High School, the 2002 Illinois State Envirothon championship team, and their advisor travel to Maryland to attend the national Youth Watershed Summit at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. More than 200 students and 50 educators from across the country will participate in educational and work group sessions on technical and policy issues concerning watershed protection.

In 30 years, much has been accomplished to restore and protect our aquatic resources. We've also learned what an impact grassroots involvement can have in solving an environmental issue.

Although our waters are greatly improved, we still have considerable work ahead of us. Our next clean water battle focuses on the need to control nonpoint source pollution-the chemicals picked up in storm water as it runs across fields, parking lots and lawns. Multi-agency programs such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and Illinois Rivers 2020 are addressing nutrient and sediment runoff and habitat restoration and enhancement.

Let's keep the momentum going to clean Illinois' waters. To learn more about what you can do to help make our waters cleaner, visit the America's Clean Water Foundation website at www.acwf.org.


OutdoorIllinois


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