FOOLING WITH NATURE

Horseshoe Lake across the Mississippi River and downstream a bit near Olive Branch, Ill. is a victim of the 1993 flooding. The high water killed vegetation in the 2,000-acre lake and caused considerable silting. Now a retired school administrator from Springfield, Ill., who grew up near the lake wants the Illinois Legislature to return the lake to its preflood condition.

The lake is within a 10,000-acre conservation area that includes river-bottom land, forests and farm ground. The lake usually has up to 300,000 Canada geese during the winter, and bluegill fishing has been a favorite sport.

But when the Mississippis floodwaters inundated the area, it brought the rivers ecology with it. In addition to mud and sand, catfish and other river creatures were deposited in the lake, whose bayou landscape includes ancient cypresses.

The superintendent believes nature will take care of some of the problems at the lake, but James Travers, the retired educator, thinks the legislature will need to help.

All of which raises an interesting question: Are natural areas, protected by the government to control commercial and unnatural activities, supposed to be artificially controlled when nature decides to take a different course.

If Old Faithful stopped spewing on schedule at Yellowstone National Park, would government find a way to rig up a fountain to entertain the tourists? If the Grand Canyon started filling up with sand and mud, would government send in bulldozers and backhoes.

These are extreme examples, and human encroachment on natural ecological systems cannot be ignored. Floridas Everglades, for instance, are disappearing, despite protection and costly efforts to maintain the vast area.

One thing is for certain: Legislators, whether they are from Illinois are anywhere else, are no experts on nature and what to do about situations like the flooding of Horseshoe Lake. While the retired educator from Springfield has a real concern no doubt shared by hundreds of other fans of Horseshoe Lake, great care should be taken before spending tax dollars on bulldozers in a natural area.