Conservation Efforts
Since the mid-1980s, efforts have been made to restore the Cache to something more like its historic state. The Citizens Committee to Save the Cache River, a grassroots organization of hunters, fishermen, and nature lovers, enlisted the help of state and federal agencies as well as non-profit groups such as The Nature Conservancy to form the Cache River Wetlands Joint Venture Partnership.
Over the past fifteen years efforts have been made to control erosion, reduce siltation, stabilize water levels, restore game species habitat and provide recreational opportunities to the public. One long-term goal of the Joint Venture is to restore the hydrologic continuity of the Upper and Lower Cache.
Over the course of the restoration work, there have been tensions between the conservationists and some local landowners. Some of the region’s farmers feared that restoration of the wetlands would cause flooding and loss of agricultural land, and many resented what they perceived as ‘outside influences’ meddling in their communities. Some local sportsmen feared that their favorite hunting and fishing grounds would either be put off limits, or else overrun by visitors. State and Federal agencies have attempted at all times to reach compromise with local landowners and sportsmen, but tensions and resentment remain.
The Cache offers ample recreation opportunities, such as canoeing, hiking, bird watching, fishing and hunting. The Henry N. Barkhausen Cache River Wetlands Center interprets the unique natural and cultural history of the Cache River Wetlands. The center also forms the southern anchor to the 47.5-mile (76.4 km) Tunnel Hill State Trail – a favorite with bike enthusiasts. The trail provides an excellent look at the sloughs and bottomland forest as it follows the disused Norfolk Southern Railway grade (originally owned by the Cairo and Vincennes Railroad) from Karnak to Vienna, then continues north through the Shawnee National Forest to Harrisburg, Illinois. The wetland center also contains information about places to hike, canoe, fish, hunt or watch birds in the Cache River region.
The Friends of the Cache River Watershed is an organization that promotes natural resource conservation throughout the five county Cache River watershed. The organization focuses on environmental education, resource conservation, management and related issues throughout the Cache Watershed. The organization advocates sustainable agriculture and forestry practices and the restoration of wetlands, bottomland and upland forests. Friends of the Cache River Watershed facilitate a common meeting ground for a variety of individuals associated with agriculture business, education, tourism, rural communities, special interest groups, government agencies - all individuals that have an interest in the environment and natural resource protection and restoration.
Read more about this topic: Cache River (Illinois)
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