Cache River vistors center to open in spring

KARNAK, Ill. -- The giant cypress tree towers almost 75 feet into the air.

At near chest level, the trunk circumference is about 35 feet.

The old tree -- about 1,000 years old -- is along the Lower Cache River Hiking Trail in the Cache River State Natural Area.

This 12,800-acre state-owned natural area is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and offers a number of wildlife and nature hiking and canoe trails.

The Cache River State Natural area is noted for squirrel, deer, rabbit, quail, dove and duck hunting.

The area contains 11 state champion trees, 100 endangered species, 21 miles of hiking trails and 10,000 acres open for hunting.

A new wetland center, to be named after Henry Barkhausen, who was active in the creation of the natural area, will be opened later this year.

It is near Highways 37 and 168 near Karnak in the middle of the Cache River wetlands.

"The roof, stonework, and siding is more than 90 percent complete," said Jim Waycuilis, DNR site superintendent.

Plumbing and electrical work have been completed, and the parking lot and entrance road are finished.

Completion next spring

Installation of the exhibits and audiovisual aids will get under way about Dec. 1, Waycuilis added.

"Everything should be completed by spring of next year," he said.

The new facility will include a boardwalk to allow visitors to tour wetlands immediately adjacent to the center.

The 7,500-square-foot center includes a 2,000-square-foot exhibit area, a 725-square-foot audiovisual room, four offices and a 34-foot cathedral ceiling lobby.

The wetlands center will also be linked to the 45-mile Tunnel Hill State Bicycle Trail that ends at Harrisburg, Ill.

There is also a handicap hiking trail along the restored Cypress Creek wetlands. Heron Ponds and Section 8 Woods is located nearby.

Decade ago

The Section 8 Woods Nature Preserve has a 475-foot boardwalk that passes through a flood plain, forest and cypress-tupelo swamp, offering a view of the Illinois state champion water tupelo tree.

The Heron Pond access offers a 1.5-mile trail, with a truss bridge constructed three years ago across the Cache River.

The highlight of this trail is a floating boardwalk into a cypress swamp.

In the same vicinity, Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge offers more of the same nature's treats.

A decade ago there was no Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge.

The property was there, but it was often referred to as "Cache River Wetlands," and many of the wetlands had been used for farmland.

An occasional sportsman entered the area to find a fishing spot, and enjoyed the shade of many cypress trees in the area.

The national wildlife refuge was chartered a decade ago with plans for use of acres in the Cache River watershed, ranging from Cypress, Ill., along Highway 37, to Mound City to the south.

The refuge, even after 10 years, is a patchwork of public land and private property.

The refuge owns about 15,000 acres, said Marguerite Hills, manager of the national refuge.

She said it could be awhile before the refuge acquires all its desired property.

The government is purchasing from only willing sellers.

Much has been accomplished in the first decade of the refuge.

About 3,000 acres of forestlands have been planted.

About 1,000 acres of wetlands have been restored.

About 1,300 acres of private lands have been restored.

Boat launches and public use sites have been created.

Duck population has been increased from 10,000 to more than 100,000.

Improvements have been noted in turkey and songbird populations.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is in a partnership with the IDNR, Ducks Unlimited and Nature Conservancy to restore a total of 60,000 acres in the overall Cache River watershed.

The refuge's offices are on the campus of Shawnee Community College, which also houses The Nature Conservancy and IDNR.