Newsworthy Items Archives for 2002

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The state size record for one of Indiana's favorite fish fell Dec. 11 when Scott Hoswell from Frankfort, Ill. reeled a 14.5-pound walleye from Lake Michigan breaking a mark that stood for 25 years. Hoswell was casting for brown trout outside Burns Harbor when the wall-eyed, toothy fish measuring more than 32 inches long ambushed his white crank bait. "The fish was bulldogging," said Hoswell. "I thought I had hooked a carp at first. It felt way too heavy to be a walleye." The Illinois angler said he became extremely excited when he saw the fish was a walleye. "I had to cool off, and stripped a bunch of clothes off after I got the fish in the boat," Hoswell said. And Hoswell's hot streak didn't end with a state record. He caught an 8-pound, 3-ounce walleye on his next cast.
The official biggest-ever, state-record brown trout was also recently pulled from Lake Michigan. Last fall, Mitchell Boilek from Hammond, Ind. caught a 25-pound brown trout along the outer wall of Buffington Harbor. Hoswell's record walleye is the seventh new state record fish caught this year. Record muskie, warmouth, wiper, buffalo, longnose gar and grass carp catches have also been certified in 2002. The previous state walleye record stood for 25 years. A Kankakee River walleye caught in 1974 and a Tippecanoe River walleye caught in 1977 were tied at 14 pounds, 4 ounces each. The Indiana record fish program tracks the largest fish of 49 species caught with hook and line in the state.
The gift of "Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" Treat a favorite female on your holiday gift list to three days of outdoor adventure at the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman camp, held near West Lafayette in May. Participants can choose from curricula covering fly fishing, outdoor cooking, target shooting, backpacking, horseback riding and much more. Tuition, meals and lodging are only $160 per person. For more information, contact Theresa Mack at (317) 232-4194 or tmack@dnr.state.in.us.

12/11/02

NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

REMINDER: Sangchris Lake State Park will close the lake to boaters and anglers during the firearm deer hunting season Dec. 5-8. The lake will be closed due to firearm deer hunting on adjacent lands. Other hunting activities will continue at the park, with some access restrictions. For more information, contact the park office at 217/498-9208.
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As an additional reminder, the McHenry Dam Day Use Area is still closed during construction, and will likely remain closed until Memorial Day. Visitors must not enter the area or attempt to access the Fox River Trail.

These closures are for public safety reasons and cooperation is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions please contact the park office at 815/385-1624. Moraine Hills State Park is located at 914 S. River Rd, McHenry, IL.
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Proposed changes to Department of Natural Resources administrative rules are now open for public comment. Details of those changes are available on the Department's web site at: http://dnr.state.il.us/legal/rule-status.htm.

Among the rules are: Injurious Species (Ill. Adm. Code 805), deadline to comment is Dec. 30; Sport Fishing Regulations for the Waters of Illinois (17 Ill. Adm. Code 810), deadline to comment is Dec. 30; Aquaculture, Transportation, Stocking, Importation and/or Possession of Aquatic Life (Ill. Adm. Code 870), deadline to comment is Dec. 30. Comments regarding these rules can be sent by the listed deadlines to the Legal Office of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield IL 62702-1272.

A response regarding changes in the nuisance wildlife control permit rule can also be found on the web site.
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A host of special events are upcoming through the Disabled Outdoors Program. For more information on the Disabled Outdoors Program or to find out what is going on in your area, log on to http://dnr.state.il.us/doo/index.htm or call Jay Williams at 618/439-9111.

From the Indiana DNR:

Anglers call for Lake James walleye stocking

An Indiana DNR proposal to stock walleye in the Lake James chain of lakes in Steuben County has received a strong show of support from anglers.

Over the past couple of months, more than 140 anglers voiced their opinions on a proposal to stock 190,000 1- to 2-inch walleye annually into Jimmerson Lake, Lake James and Snow Lake. More than 90 percent of those voiced complete support. Local angler Lynn Champion also submitted a 369-signature petition supporting the proposal.

According to Larry Koza, DNR fisheries biologist, recent studies have shown that the Lake James chain has promising walleye habitat.

"These three lakes offer the best hope of fingerling survival. If the fish do well, we expect they'll migrate into the other lakes in the chain, creating even more fishing opportunity," said Koza.

With public support behind the proposal, DNR biologists will consider the plan's effects on state hatchery production and state-wide walleye stocking.

"It's not a done deal," said Koza. "The very important public input process is complete. Now we'll look at our state-wide stocking plans and see if we can make this plan a reality."

For additional information on the proposal, contact Larry Koza at (260) 829-6241 or lkoza@dnr.state.in.us.

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When in doubt, don't go out -- beware of thin ice

Thin sheets of ice have formed across many Indiana ponds and lakes as temperatures have plummeted in the past few weeks. If temperatures stay low, ice-covered lakes will attract thousands of anglers, skaters, snowmobilers and hikers.

"People really enjoy getting out on the ice. It's like walking on water," said Captain Michael Crider, outdoor safety education director for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Crider offers advice to people to ensure that they stay on top of the ice, and not under it.

"Most importantly, warn your kids about playing on frozen lakes and streams. Kids should never go out on ice without it being checked by an adult and without close supervision," said Crider.

To test the thickness of ice, drill a hole near shore with an ice auger. The test hole should show at least a four-inch thickness of clear ice like you get from your freezer. Be aware of various ice strengths and qualities. One area of a pond may be a foot thick while another spot of ice may only be an inch thick. Ice strength can also change. Thick ice is rotten after rain. Old honey-combed ice, slush ice or ice with current under it is also dangerous. New ice is almost always stronger that old ice. Wind, waterfowl and beavers can also keep areas of ice thin. Slush is a danger sign. Slush indicates that ice is no longer freezing from the bottom. Slush also
indicates weak or deteriorated ice.

Snow can insulate ice and keep it strong. It can also insulate it to keep it from freezing. When ice is covered by snow, great precautions need to be taken to determine ice thickness before starting any activity. Snow can also hide cracked, weak and open water areas.

Crider recommends wearing a life vest for extra safety and warmth when venturing onto the ice.

"Ice is deceptive, so you need to be prepared even on thick ice. A comfortable life vest fits well under large, warm coats, and it can be the difference between life and death if you fall through the ice," said Crider.

Use these guidelines to judge the safety of fresh solid ice:
- When in doubt, don't go out
- Less than four inches -- stay off
- Four inches of ice is needed for safe ice fishing.
- Five inches of ice is needed for snowmobiling.
- Eight inches of ice is needed to support the weight of a car or light
truck.
- Ten inches of ice is needed to support a medium weight truck.

Reports on current fishing and ice conditions at many DNR properties are available at: http://www.ai.org/serv/dnr_fishingreport

11/30/02

OUTDOOR PROGRAMS FOR THE DISABLED

A host of special events are upcoming through the Disabled Outdoors Program. For more information on the Disabled Outdoors Program or to find out what is going on in your area, log on to http://dnr.state.il.us/doo/index.htm or call Jay Williams at 618/439-9111.11/18/02

IMPROVING MUSKIE FISHING IN ILLINOIS GOAL OF PROJECT GREEN GENE

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. - Lake Mingo at Kennekuk County Park north of Danville was stocked recently with three different genetic strains of muskies as part of a research project being coordinated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources intended to improve muskie fishing in the state.

"This research - known as Project Green Gene - will test which genetics work best in enhancing growth rates and survival among muskies stocked in Illinois waters," said IDNR Director Brent Manning. "It will allow science to help eliminate the guessing game in muskie stocking and will help us improve the fishery in all parts of the state."

Primary funding for the five-year, $38,000 per year project comes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the IDNR through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration program. In addition, the Central Illinois Muskie Hunters (CIMH) chapter of Muskies, Inc. has applied $7,500 in grant funds received by the organization from the Illinois Conservation Foundation to support the research and stocking project.

"Project Green Gene is an excellent example of state and federal natural resources officials working with an important private organization like the Central Illinois Muskie Hunters to make fishing better for everyone in Illinois," Manning said.

The CIMH is funding the purchase of electronic tags being used to mark and monitor the stocked fish, as well as acquiring fish from the famed Leech Lake strain of muskies purchased from a vendor in Minnesota. The Leech Lake strain is known to grow to weights of 50 pounds or more. Other strains of muskie being stocked for the project are from Kentucky and from Spring Lake in Tazewell County. Muskies taken from Spring Lake are of a variety of genetic strains acquired in previous exchanges with other states.

Illinois Natural History Survey researchers David Wahl and Matt Diana are coordinating the research project. They will monitor the fish at Lake Mingo, as well as fish in future stockings, to study their growth and survival rates, determine which fish become larger more quickly, gauge the water temperature and feeding preferences of the fish, and study a number of other life history factors.

"The idea is to maximize the size, growth rate, survivability and life span of Illinois muskies," said IDNR Fisheries chief Mike Conlin. "If one genetic strain shows the ability to perform better overall, that will help us know which strain or strains are best for Illinois waters."

Lake Mingo is a 180-acre lake north of Danville owned by the Vermilion County Conservation District. Its fishery is managed by the IDNR. It was selected for the stocking study because it is typical of lakes stocked with muskie in Illinois due to its abundant supply of gizzard shad to provide forage for the larger fish. Prior to the recent stocking, Lake Mingo was not known to be home to muskies.

"Lake Mingo is large enough and deep enough to grow a substantial muskie population, while it is small enough for researchers to recapture muskies for their studies," said Duane Serck, president of the Central Illinois Muskie Hunters. "We are proud to be part of such an exciting study that will have a major impact on the future of fishing in Illinois."

Missouri is conducting similar research using two genetic strains of muskies. In addition to the Kentucky and Minnesota strains and the Illinois-raised fish from Spring Lake, the INHS researchers expect to add muskies from Wisconsin and perhaps Ohio to the study. Other lakes that may be used in the study include Forbes Lake at Stephen A. Forbes State Park in Marion County in southern Illinois and at Pierce Lake at Rock Cut State Park in Winnebago County in northern Illinois.

Illinois' current state record 39 pound 8 ounce muskie was taken earlier this year from the tailwaters of Lake Shelbyville in Shelby County.

11/10/02

Daley, U.S., Canadian Mayors Push Great Lakes Protection Plan

Mayor Richard M. Daley and mayors from other Great Lakes cities announced today that they intend to assume a leadership role in developing plans for the long-term protection and restoration of the Great Lakes.

Following a conference hosted by Daley at the John Hancock Center, the mayors said they intend to ask the U.S. Congress and the Canadian Parliament to fund a detailed plan for Great Lakes protection and restoration.

The plan would be developed by an independent panel of scientists, public policy experts and mayors. It would guide future legislative action and direct funding priorities. "We believe mayors deserve a stronger role in developing policies and programs affecting the Great Lakes," Daley said.

"Mayors make day-to-day decisions regarding the lakes: providing safe beaches, repairing shorelines, controlling wastewater discharges, conserving drinking water, regulating lakefront development and dealing with invasive species," Daley said. "What happens to these lakes has a direct impact on our ability to create and sustain vibrant cities where people want to live, work, play and raise a family.

The mayors noted that numerous governmental agencies are responsible for regulating the Great Lakes, in areas ranging from water levels to fish populations to trade. Yet municipal leaders are not well-represented in these agencies, and mayors have not previously spoken with one voice in calling for coordinated action on Great Lakes issues.

"I believe the mayors will be aggressive and effective advocates for the Great Lakes," Daley said. "We deal with the lakes on a daily basis, we understand their importance to our constituents and we are committed to keeping the lakes free of contamination."

Daley said Lake Michigan is "absolutely vital to the quality of life in Chicago."

He noted that the lake provides drinking water for Chicago and 121 suburbs, while "the lakefront provides tremendous cultural and recreational opportunities for our residents, as well as the 30 million tourists and business travelers who pour some $20 billion into the Chicago area economy each year.

"Our city's visitors and residents flock to Navy Pier, the Lincoln Park Zoo and our lakefront museums and festivals. They enjoy our 18-mile lakefront path, our 24 beaches and our 5,200 public boat slips, as well as the beautiful parks that line much of the lakefront.

"I believe we have a responsibility to make our lakefront an even greater asset to the city, and that's why we are moving ahead with the reconstruction of the Lake Michigan shoreline, the re-development of the South Works site and the building of Millennium Park.

"Each city represented at today's conference is dependent on the Great Lakes in its own way," the Mayor said, "and this is why we believe the Great Lakes must be managed collaboratively and comprehensively."

Today's conference attracted representatives from 23 cities around the Great Lakes, some of whom had attended a regional meeting Daley held in Chicago in May. Among the cities represented today were Rochester, Cleveland, Toledo, Milwaukee, and Gary, as well as Toronto, Montreal and St. Catherines, Ontario.

Governor Ryan Releases $2 Million in Funding for Illinois Rivers 2020 Planning and Restoration Projects
SPRINGFIELD – Governor George H. Ryan today released $2 million in funding for Illinois River basin restoration, part of his Illinois Rivers 2020 initiative.

The funding will provide a state match for more than $5 million from the Water Resources Development Act.

“This funding will allow completion of a comprehensive plan for Illinois River basin restoration, and allow us to continue work on a number of critically important projects at key locations along the river and in the watershed,” Ryan said. “Our partnership with the federal government, local organizations and private landowners who strongly support restoration of the Illinois River is providing a model for the nation in protecting this vitally important natural resource.”

Illinois Rivers 2020 is Governor Ryan’s 20-year, $2.5 billion initiative aimed at restoration and watershed enhancement throughout the Illinois River basin. Since 1998, Illinois has committed more than $51.3 million to secure more than $292 million in federal funding through Illinois Rivers 2020 and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

The comprehensive plan will identify restoration needs, focusing on river sedimentation, sediment removal technology, sediment transport and beneficial uses of sediment material removed from the river channel, tributaries and backwater lakes. The plan will also investigate and implement improvements in monitoring of watershed conditions and restoration projects.

Six critical river restoration projects are planned for this year, pending federal funding approval. They include:

Waubonsie Creek (Kane County) - The project will focus on providing fish passage at dams at the lower end of Waubonsie Creek and restoring stream habitat in the creek. Waubonsie Creek flows into the Fox River near Oswego.

Pekin Lake (Tazewell County) - Planning for restoration of backwater lake habitat at Pekin Lake, adjacent to the Illinois River at Pekin, will focus on sediment removal, aquatic and floodplain habitat improvement.

Iroquois River (Iroquois County) - To reduce sediment flow on the upper Iroquois River watershed, a tributary of the Kankakee River. The project will evaluate streambank stabilization and restoration of floodplain wetlands on the main channel and on Sugar Creek, the river’s major tributary, near Watseka.

McKee Creek (Adams, Brown and Pike counties) - Streambank and streambed stabilization on the lower end of McKee Creek and on two of its small tributary subwatersheds in Brown and Pike counties will be evaluated as ways to reduce the flow of sediment into the lower Illinois River. McKee Creek flows into the Illinois River south of Chambersburg in Pike County.

Blackberry Creek (Kane and Kendall counties) - Providing fish passage at the 10-foot dam near the confluence of Blackberry Creek and the Fox River near Yorkville in Kendall County will be examined as a means to improve fish access to the creek’s high-quality habitat.

Kankakee River (Kankakee, Grundy and Will counties) - The project will survey the adverse impacts of sedimentation on aquatic habitat on the Kankakee River upstream of the dam at Kankakee in Kankakee County. The confluence of the Des Plaines and Kankakee rivers forms the Illinois River.

These projects are in addition to continued work on the Peoria Lake Restoration near Peoria. This state-federal initiative will restore ecosystem function in Peoria Lake by removing sediment to create deep water habitat for aquatic life, creating islands using sediment removed from the Peoria Lake bottom to provide more diverse habitat, investigating other beneficial uses of removed sediment, and further reducing sedimentation of Peoria Lake from Farm Creek and other tributaries.

NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

Illinois recently reported its first confirmed case of chronic wasting disease when a tissue sample taken from an adult female deer in Winnebago County tested positive for CWD. Hunters and others wanting general information about the disease, what they need to know if they are hunting in Illinois or out of state, and new information as it becomes available should check the Illinois Department of Natural Resources web site at the following web address: http://dnr.state.il.us/pubaffairs/2002/CWD.htm.

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REMINDER: The Department of Natural Resources Region 2 office is moving from its current location in Spring Grove to a new office at Tri-County State Park in Bartlett. The new office and phone number are effective December 1. The new address is Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Region 2 Office, 2050 West Stearns Road, Bartlett, IL 60103 847/608-3100. Please make a note of the change.

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The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) will administer a written eligibility exam for Illinois Conservation Police Officer trainees on Mon., Nov. 18 at CMS testing centers statewide. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources hopes to hire up to 25 new officers next year, with training scheduled to begin in April 2003.

Trainees must be willing to accept assignment anywhere in Illinois. CPO trainees learn all aspects of conservation law enforcement, including fish and wildlife, parks, and boating law, as well as general law enforcement, criminal and traffic law.

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age at the time of hiring, must have a bachelors degree or an associates degree with three years continuous police experience with the same law enforcement agency. Applicants must pass a physical test as well as a swimming test.

Additional employment information is available on the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/law3/careernew.htm

Anyone wishing to apply may download a job application from the CMS web site at www.state.il.us/cms/persnl/download/cms100.pdf
or contact the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702, phone 217/782-6431.

Applications must be filed with CMS by Nov. 8 to insure proper processing and notification of testing information.

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Indiana DNR News

Grass carp dealer arrested

A Jefferson County man was arrested recently for illegally selling grass carp.
Patrick W. Courtney held a license to sell grass carp in Indiana, but failed to comply with rules for stocking the fish in buyers' ponds.
Grass carp, an Asian fish species, feed on some aquatic plants. Pond owners use the fish as a biological control to prevent overgrowth of plants.
Indiana DNR conservation officers were tipped off by reports of a stocking truck selling grass carp to people who took the fish away in bags. Officers arrested and jailed Courtney after an plain-clothes officer purchased grass carp from him. Courtney now awaits trial. He faces a maximum penalty of $500 fine and 60 days in jail
Most states, including Indiana, carefully control the sale and stocking of grass carp due to concerns about potential destruction of aquatic habitat and fisheries resources in state waters.
It is legal to stock grass carp in private ponds, but the fish must be genetically altered so that they are sterile. Each fish must be tested to prove it is sterile before it can be sold. Licensed dealers or their employees are required to stock the fish personally and report the number of fish and address where each grass carp is stocked to the DNR.
"We want to make sure that when grass carp escape into public streams and lakes, there is no chance that they will reproduce and overpopulate.  Prolific exotic species, such as snakehead and many carp species, have the potential to overrun Indiana's natural bass and bluegill fisheries. We need to protect against that," said Dr. Gwen White, DNR fisheries biologist.
Grass carp typically sell in Indiana for around $10 for an 8 to 10 inch fish.
Many privately owned hatcheries in Indiana and the Midwest legally sell grass carp and other fish species for ponds. A list of licensed grass carp suppliers is available at: http://www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/fish/fishing/carp.htm
Information about managing ponds for fishing is available at: http://www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/publications/fsmgt/fishpd.htm

10/13/02

New Co-Host on CLTV's "The Great Outdoors"

CLTV's "The Great Outdoors" has added Steve Sarley "Midwest Outdoors" as Steve Kashul's co-host. Sarley replaces long time co-host Chauncey Niziol who was fired after a racial incident that occurred on a recent live broadcast.
The incident in question occurred on the Sept. 26th show that had an appearance by a spokesman for the Northern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days who was dressed in black hunting camouflage and a turkey-feather hat. During the course of the show, Kashul joked about the man looking like "Aunt Jemima".
Along with firing Niziol, CLTV suspended Kashul and issued an on-air apology to it's viewers. Management is also requiring it's entire staff to attend a sensitivity training session.
Steve Sarley is a contributing editor to the Illinois Section of the popular "Midwest Outdoors", and has a wealth of knowledge that will be of great interest to the viewers of the show. Chicago Fishing Links would like to wish Steve Sarley all the best.

Reminder:

Heidecke, Braidwood and LaSalle lakes are now closed to fishing.
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AUTUMN IS PRIME TIME FOR DEER-VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. - Motorists are urged to slow down and be alert to the presence of deer on and near roadways in Illinois during the autumn, the peak season for deer-vehicle collisions in the state, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning said today.
"White-tailed deer are active throughout the year and there is never really a downtime for deer-vehicle collisions, but autumn is prime time," Manning said. "Fall is the breeding season for deer and they are more likely to be on the move and less cautious near roadways."
More than 22,900 deer-vehicle accidents were reported on Illinois roadways in 2001.
"Accidents involving deer occur most often on roads near good deer habitat, including wooded corridors, stream and river beds, farm field edges and fence rows," said IDNR Forest Wildlife Program Manager Paul Shelton. "With increased traffic in rural and suburban areas, chances are greater than ever that deer are going to be in the same places as commuters and others drivers."
Shelton said drivers need to recognize when they are traveling in deer habitat areas and be ready to react should deer be present.
"Even in urban areas, deer can thrive in parks, forest preserves or even wooded subdivisions where cover, food and water are available," Shelton said. "Especially in the fall when deer are more active and ranging more widely, motorists need to slow down and stay alert."
Among the suggestions to motorists to avoid deer-vehicle accidents:
Keep track of locations where deer have been seen in the past to avoid being surprised by deer crossings.
Be especially cautious at dusk through the early evening hours and in the hours before sunrise, the times of day when deer are most active.
Reduce speed and be prepared to stop on roads where deer may be present, especially areas near streams or rivers, farm field edges, wooded and densely vegetated areas. A single deer near a road may be followed by several others. Don't assume the deer will proceed directly across the roadway. They may stop and turn back.
Drivers encountering deer on the roadway should try flashing their headlights from bright to dim or honking the horn on their vehicle to try to encourage the deer to move on.
Drivers encountering deer on or near the road can alert other motorists by tapping the brakes. Drivers should avoid swerving into oncoming traffic or off the road if they see deer on the roadway and instead slow to a stop and wait for the deer to move along.
In the event of an accident, motorists and passengers involved should provide assistance to anyone injured. Do not attempt to remove a dead or injured deer from a busy roadway. Instead, contact local, county or state law enforcement officials. Illinois law requires all accidents resulting in damage of $500 or more be reported and an accident report filed with the police.
The driver of a motor vehicle involved in a vehicle-deer collision has priority in taking possession of the deer. If the driver does not want the deer, any Illinois resident may claim the animal. Anyone possessing the deer must keep a personal record of the date the deer was claimed, the sex of the animal, the location of the accident, and the place where the deer or deer parts are stored. This information must be kept until the deer is consumed or no longer in the possession of any person. This information must be provided to any law enforcement officer investigating the death and possession of the deer.
Those taking possession of vehicle-killed deer are no longer required to make a phone report and obtain a registration number for the deer unless the deer is taken to a taxidermist or tannery. If the deer is to be taken to a taxidermist or tannery, please call the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement at 217/782-6431 to obtain a tag before delivering the deer.
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Proposed changes to Department of Natural Resources administrative rules are now open for public comment. Details of those changes are available on the Department's web site at: http://dnr.state.il.us/legal/rule-status.htm
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Director's Muskie Tournament Results:

Alan Foster of Shelbyville and Paul Hortenstine of Joliet won first-place prize money of $1,000 at the 7th annual Director's Muskie Tournament on Lake Shelbyville, held Oct. 5-6. The winners' two-day catch of four muskies totaled 142 inches. Second place was awarded to the team of Troy Smith of Dallas, Texas and Dorothy Smith of Kankakee with four muskies totaling 138-and-3/4 inches, good for second-place prize money of $500. The team of Sam Gallucci of Bolingbrook and Dan Pikowski of Bolingbrook caught three muskies totaling 107 inches and received third-place prize money of $250. The longest fish award and $300 in prize money was presented to Ron McGovern of Bloomington and Joe DeBoy of Bloomington. Their 44-and-3/4- inch muskie was hooked by McGovern and netted by DeBoy. A total of 71 boats participated in the tournament, with 28 different teams catching a total of 45 muskie. The Director's Muskie tournament is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Ranger Boats. It is hosted by the Illinois Conservation Foundation and Eagle Creek State Park. Proceeds are used to improve muskie fishing on Lake Shelbyville and for youth hunting, fishing and education programs.

ILLINOIS FALL TROUT SEASON OPENS OCTOBER 19

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning today announced that the state's annual fall catchable trout program season opens on Oct. 19 at 5 a.m., with trout stocked in 35 ponds and lakes throughout the state.

"Thousands of Illinois residents and visitors enjoy fishing during the autumn and the fall trout season is one of the highlights," Manning said. "While the season officially opens at 5 a.m. on October 19, not all of the stocked locations will be open that early, so be sure to call ahead of time."

No trout may be taken at any of the 35 stocked sites from Oct. 1 until the program's legal opening at 5 a.m. on Oct. 19. More than 70,000 trout will be stocked prior to the opening day of the season. Each of the stocked trout is approximately 10-12 inches long and weighs about one-half pound.

To take trout legally beginning Oct. 19, anglers must have a fishing license and an inland trout stamp, unless they are under 16 years of age, blind or disabled, or an Illinois resident on leave from the Armed Forces. The catch limit for each angler is five trout per day.

For more information, contact the IDNR Division of Fisheries at 217/782-6424 or at any one of the five IDNR regional offices: Region I, Sterling, 815/625-2968; Region II, Yorkville, 630/553-6680; Region III, Champaign, 217/278-5773; Region IV, Alton, 618/462-1181; Region V, Benton, 618/435-8138.

Illinois fishing licenses and inland trout stamps are available at bait shops, sporting goods stores and other vendors, at IDNR regional offices, Springfield and Chicago offices, or with a credit card on the Department of Natural Resources web site at http://dnr.state.il.us

For more information about site regulations, anglers should contact individual sites that will be stocked with catchable-size trout. The 35 locations are:

• Siloam Springs State Park - Adams County, 217/894-6205

• Greenville Old City Lake - Bond County, 618/664-2330

• Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park - Bureau County, 815/454-2328

• Campus Pond at Eastern Illinois University - Coles County, 217/345-2420

• Axehead Lake - Cook County, 847/294-4134

• Belleau Lake - Cook County, 847/294-4134

• Crawford County Conservation Area Pond - Crawford County, 618/563-4405

• Villa Grove West Lake - Douglas County, 217/443-0529

• Boston Pond at Stephen A. Forbes Park - Marion County, 618/547-3381

• Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond - Jefferson County, 618/547-3610

• Ferne Clyffe State Park - Johnson County, 618/995-2411

• Bird Park Quarry in Kankakee - Kankakee County, 630/553-6680

• Big Lake at Silver Springs State Park - Kendall County, 630/553-6297

• Banana Lake - Lake County, 815/675-2319.

• Sand Lake at Illinois Beach State Park - Lake County, 847/662-4811

• Faries Park Pond in Decatur - Macon County, 217/345-2420

• Beaver Dam Lake - Macoupin County, 217/854-8020

• Highland Old City Lake - Madison County, 618/931-8901

• Fairgrounds Pond at Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis - Massac County, 618/524-4712

• Argyle Lake at Argyle Lake State Park - McDonough County, 309/776-3422

• Randolph County State Fish and Wildlife Area Lake - Randolph County, 618/826-2706

• Prospect Pond in Moline - Rock Island County, 815/454-2759

• Frank Holten State Park Lake - St. Clair County, 618/874-7920

• Jones Park Lake in East St. Louis - St. Clair County, 618/847-7920

• Willow Lake at Peabody River State Fish and Wildlife Area - St. Clair Co., 618/785-2555

• Jones State Lake at Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area - Saline County, 618/276-4405

• IDOT Lake in Springfield - Sangamon County, 217/632-3841

• Washington Park Pond in Springfield - Sangamon County, 217/632-3841

• Forest Park Lagoon in Shelbyville - Shelby County, 217/345-2420

• Mineral Springs Park Lagoon in Pekin - Tazewell County, 309/347-5119

• Clear Lake at Kickapoo State Park - Vermilion County, 217/442-4915

• Beall Woods Lake in Beall Woods State Park - Wabash County, 618/298-2442

• Citizen's Lake in Monmouth - Warren County, 309/344-2617

• Sam Dale Trout Pond at Sam Dale Lake Conservation Area - Wayne County, 618/835-2292

• Coleta Trout Pond, just west of Coleta - Whiteside County, 815/454-2759.

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MANNING ELECTED PRESIDENT OF IAFWA

BIG SKY, MONTANA --Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning was elected president of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies at its fall meeting today in Big Sky, Montana.

"I am deeply honored that my fellow directors have selected me to lead them during the next year," Manning said. "Working together, we have made tremendous progress in the management of fish and wildlife across the United States. I hope we continue our strong partnerships and expand them during the coming year."

Manning most recently has served as the Vice President of the IAFWA, is a member of its Executive Committee and several other committees, including legislative, federal budget, audit and the Ad Hoc Committee on Baiting, spearheading changes in federal migratory waterfowl baiting regulations.

Manning is the longest serving Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in the history of the agency, and its predecessor agency, the Department of Conservation, having held the post since April 1991. During his tenure, Illinois has acquired more than 85,000 acres of additional lands for recreation, including two of its largest parks; developed the largest land acquisition program in state history; created innovative habitat restoration programs (Conservation 2000 and Illinois Rivers 2020/CREP) that have become national models; and created the Illinois Conservation Foundation, which has raised $15 million for DNR programs. He developed Illinois' Conservation Congress, greatly expanding communication with constituents; and has focused on natural resources education, creating a teacher training program and increasing outdoor sporting opportunities for youth, women and disabled individuals.

Manning said he and his colleagues need to do more to educate young people about natural resources. He called on the IAFWA and the Council on Environmental Education to convene a national symposium that would lay the foundation for a national vision on natural resources education, a vision that would touch every child in the United States.

"Our culture is losing its connection to the natural world. The need to educate young people about the natural resources of this land, while always important, is growing in significance every day," Manning said. "There are more than 70 million young people under age 18 who will lead our nation in the future, designing and determining tomorrow's policies. The actions we undertake now will determine whether tomorrow's leaders will have the knowledge and skills they need to enhance the natural resources of this land for generations to come."

The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, founded in 1902 by wildlife managers from just six states, now represents all 50 state fish and wildlife agencies, as well as the provincial and federal governments in Canada and Mexico. The IAFWA acts as a collective voice for the agencies charged with managing and protecting wildlife. The organization deals with issues ranging from acid rain and pesticides to exotic animals, public lands, migratory wildlife and wetlands. It continues to lead a national coalition to expand funding and constituencies for fish and wildlife restoration and management.

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Did you know?
The Department of Natural Resources has implemented new emergency rules to help prevent chronic wasting disease from coming to Illinois. Those rules include banning the feeding of wild deer and other wildlife in areas where wild deer are present. The ban includes food, salt, mineral blocks and other food products, with some exceptions. For example, bird and squirrel feeders close to homes and incidental feeding of wildlife within active livestock operations, are exempt from the ban. Bait sites where deer congregate have the potential to contribute to the spread of various diseases that are transmitted by animal to animal contact. Eliminating this practice will enhance our chances of controlling CWD in the event it enters Illinois and will also lessen the spread of other diseases among the deer herd. For a complete list of the exemptions see the rule on the Department's web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/legal/635-emergency.htm.

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Did you know?
Last year 82 million people in the United States (39 percent of the population age 16 and older) participated in wildlife recreation activities, such as fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. Those individuals spent an estimated $108 billion on their activities. Sixty-six million people in this country say they are wildlife watchers. For more information look on the web at http://federalaid.fws.gov.

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REMINDER: The Illinois Conservation Foundation’s first-ever Southern Illinois Golf Benefit will be held on Monday, October 7 at Kokopelli Golf Club in Marion. The four-person scramble competition will begin with registration and breakfast at 8 a.m., a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m., and will conclude with lunch and awards at 2:30 p.m. The registration fee is $100 per person, which includes breakfast and lunch, golf, cart, range balls, refreshments, prizes and gifts. Hole sponsorships are also available for $150. Proceeds will benefit the ICF's Avery International Goose Calling Invitational and Waterfowl Hunt. To register or for more information, contact Ron Allen, Illinois Conservation Foundation, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone 217/785-9371.

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LARGEMOUTH BASS VIRUS UPDATE: Tests conducted in Illinois in August found the presence of largemouth bass virus (LMBV) in three bodies of water, while tests at another location and at two state fish hatcheries found that the virus was not present.

The tests, conducted as part of nationwide research into the virus, found fish testing positive for LMBV in Channel Lake in McHenry County, Lake Michigan at North Point Marina in Lake County, and at Lake Vermilion in Vermilion County. Fish tested negative for LMBV at Skokie Lagoons in Cook County. At the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Jake Wolf fish hatchery in Mason County and Little Grassy fish hatchery in Williamson County, fingerling largemouth bass tested negative for LMBV.

"While we did find largemouth bass virus in three of the four lakes we tested this year, there have been no fish kills reported anywhere in Illinois attributed to the virus," said Mike Conlin, IDNR Fisheries Chief. "Presence of the virus doesn't mean fish have the disease, or that they will get it in the future. Research indicates the virus is triggered by a combination of stress factors, including high water temperatures, low oxygen levels and frequent handling of the fish."

LMBV was first noted in connection with a fish die off in South Carolina in 1995 and has since been found in at least 15 other states. Scientists are unsure how it is transmitted and why it sometimes kills bass. Most fish carrying the virus appear normal. Once the virus is triggered, dying bass have trouble swimming as the disease attacks their swim bladder.

The virus does not affect warm-blooded animals, including humans. Fish with LMBV are safe to handle and to eat.

Anglers can minimize the impact of LMBV by handling bass as gently as possible; by draining water from bilge and live wells and by cleaning boats and trailers between fishing trips; by not moving fish or fish parts from one body of water to another; and, by conducting bass tournaments during cooler weather, limiting stress caused by fishing pressure and low oxygen levels.

In previous Illinois LMBV tests in 2001, fish from four downstate lakes tested positive for LMBV. Of the fish tested at the Jake Wolf and Little Grassy hatcheries in 2001, brood fish (adults) and fingerling bass that were fin clipped for research purposes tested positive for LMBV. All other fish tested at the hatcheries last year tested negative for the virus.

Illinois will continue to test bass in 2003 as part of the continuing nationwide research protocol regarding largemouth bass virus.

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The 7th annual Director’s Muskie Tournament is scheduled for Oct. 4-6 at Eagle Creek State Park. During the past few years, this event has become one of Lake Shelbyville's most popular fishing traditions. For more information or to register, contact the park office at 217/756-8260.

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NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAYS TO BE CELEBRATED IN ILLINOIS SEPT. 28-29

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois will celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Days Sept. 28-29 with events at Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area near Yorkville and at John A. Logan College in Carterville.

"National Hunting and Fishing Days celebrates the great traditions and heritage of hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation in America, and we're proud to participate in the northern Illinois and southern Illinois festivals," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning. "These annual events are one way of recognizing and highlighting the contributions of hunters and anglers to natural resources stewardship and fish and wildlife conservation in Illinois."

The southern Illinois event on the John A. Logan College campus is traditionally the largest National Hunting and Fishing Days event in the nation. Activities at Carterville are scheduled on Sat., Sept 28 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Sun., Sept. 29 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Parking and admission are free.

The southern Illinois celebration includes a kids activity area featuring fishing, archery and shooting sports; kids art contest; seminars on fishing, game preparation and outdoor cooking; a buckskinner's village and tomahawk throwing area; boat, RV and ATV displays and demonstrations; taxidermy displays and competition; retriever dog demonstrations; Brody, the 1,200-pound Kodiak grizzly bear; trap range; kayak and canoe demonstrations; art and heritage show; historical fishing gear exhibition in the John A. Logan College Museum; a climbing wall; vendor displays; and, a wild game chili cook-off competition.

The northern Illinois celebration at Silver Springs SFWA features free admission and free hands-on activities for all ages from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28-29. Activities include canoe rides; fly casting and tying demonstrations; guided nature walks; a historical re-enactment encampment; hunting dog demonstrations; falconry demonstrations; seminars on trapping, deer, turkey and waterfowl hunting; trap, BB gun and archery ranges and instruction; paintball shooting; RV, ATV and boat displays; wildlife exhibits; the 5,000-gallon Hawg Trough fish tank program; a kids fishing pond; and, more than 60 exhibitors and vendors.

The National Hunting and Fishing Days celebrations in Illinois are made possible through sponsors and patrons, the Northern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days and Southern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days committees, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

For additional information, contact IDNR Public Events and Promotions by calling 217/785-8955.

09/12/02

NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

NEW ON THE WEB: Information for landowners regarding the types of natural resource assistance available to them is on the Department of Natural Resources web site. The "Landowners Guide to Natural Resources Management Incentives" can be found at http://dnr.state.il.us/OREP/C2000/Incentives.htm. Or from the main Department web page (http://dnr.state.il.us), click on financial assistance and scroll down the list of financial programs available.
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The water level at Lake Kinkaid is being drawn down to an elevation of 415 during the next several days in preparation to rehabilitate the spillway. The natural rock spillway at this dam has been gradually deteriorating since it was constructed. Construction is expected to begin next week. Work on the spillway is expected to be completed before March 1, so the lake can be filled to its normal pool during spring rains.If you are using the lake during this drawdown period, please use extreme caution because there will be some very shallow water areas.
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The 7th annual Director's Muskie Tournament is scheduled for Oct. 4-6 at Eagle Creek State Park. During the past few years, this event has become one of Lake Shelbyville's most popular fishing traditions. For more information or to register, contact the park office at 217/756-8260.
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Indiana DNR News

Piranha or pacu?

Reports of piranha catches have cropped up at a few Indiana fishing spots this summer. But DNR biologists have noted that, in many cases, the supposed piranha is actually a closely related fish called a pacu.
Pacu are native to South America and look almost exactly like piranha. Both fish have red bellies and silvery sides, and both fish have impressive teeth. However, pacu eat mostly nuts and fruits and their teeth are strong and more rounded, like the front teeth of a human or adult dog. Piranha teeth are needle sharp, like the teeth of a puppy. Pacu are generally herbivorous, but will occasionally eat other foods, including common fish baits.
Pacu also grow larger than piranha, reaching lengths of 2 to 3 feet and 40 to 50 pounds. Piranha rarely grow larger than 12 inches, and are commonly half that size. Pacu in Indiana are probably illegally dumped fish that have outgrown aquariums. Neither pacu nor piranha are likely to survive an Indiana winter.
DNR biologists have no reports of either fish harming people in Indiana waters.
"We are concerned about impacts on other fish and water quality when individuals release any aquarium pet or food fish into state waters. This practice is illegal. Recent news about the snakehead fish in Maryland illustrates some of the problems caused by exotic fish," said Gwen White, DNR fisheries biologist.
The DNR tracks reports of exotic species. If you catch an unusual fish, photograph the fish from the side and send it to a DNR district fisheries biologist, or freeze the fish and bring it by a DNR office for identification.

09/07/02

Indiana DNR meets public request for more Coho in Lake Michigan

First brown trout in 20 years stocked

In response to input from anglers and charter boat captains on Lake Michigan, the DNR has changed the mix of trout and salmon it stocks in the big lake. Beginning this year, the mix includes nearly a 50 percent increase in Coho salmon, a reduction in Chinook salmon, steady levels of steelhead and lake trout, and the first brown trout stocking in about 20 years.
In a lake-wide management program with other Lake Michigan states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Indiana biologists are stocking:
- 220,000 Coho salmon instead of the usual 150,000
- 230,000 Chinook salmon
- 344,000 steelhead trout
- 60,000 lake trout
- 35,000 brown trout
The Coho, Chinook and steelhead are produced at Indiana's two coldwater fish hatcheries, Mixsawbah State Hatchery near Walkerton and Richard C. Bodine State Hatchery in Mishawaka. Chinook numbers were reduced to make room for the expanded Coho production.
Lake trout were produced at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hatcheries and stocked over an off-shore area known as the Michiana Reef near the Port of Indiana. The stocking goal of 60,000 was achieved despite production problems encountered in the federal hatcheries this past season.
Since Indiana's two Lake Michigan hatcheries are operating at full capacity, no space is available for producing brown trout. However, fisheries agencies regularly trade fish and, in this case, Illinois was able to provide 35,000 surplus 5-inch brown trout.
"The browns that are caught in Indiana waters the past few years were migrants from other Lake Michigan states' stockings," said Brian Breidert, Indiana DNR's Lake Michigan biologist. "Indiana anglers told us they would like to have better near-shore brown trout fishing action in the winter, so
we worked with Illinois biologists to make it happen. The partnerships we have with neighboring states and federal biologists is what makes fishing throughout Lake Michigan so spectacular."
Information on fishing for trout and salmon in Lake Michigan is available at:
http://www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/fish/lkmich/open.html

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08/29/02

Indiana Department of Natural Resources officials yesterday asked Indiana law makers to support development of an automated, electronic hunting and fishing licensing system. The system would replace the state's current manual, hand-written licensing process.
DNR director John Goss presented information to members of the Indiana General Assembly's Natural Resources Summer Study Committee at a meeting yesterday in Indianapolis.
"Since 1901, license agents have written out licenses by hand, stored carbon copies and collected fees," Goss said. "It's time that we streamlined this process to make things easier for hunters, anglers and license agents."
Indiana has more than 800 license agents statewide. Most agents are sporting goods stores, bait shops or hardware stores.
According to Goss, an automated system will increase the availability of licenses and make the license purchase process faster, in addition to reducing agents' bookkeeping requirements.
The DNR asked legislators to support devoting $5 million from the lifetime license fund to develop the automated system and operate it for the next four years. The General Assembly would need to amend state law to allow for this one-time use of the license fund.
The lifetime fund has grown to $19.5 million. State law currently allows only 2 percent of the fund to be incorporated into the Division of Fish and Wildlife's budget each year to provide program services, leaving a very large balance in the bank to draw interest. The one-time use of the lifetime
fund will still leave a large balance to help fund fish, wildlife and law enforcement programs in the future.
Under the proposed system, license agents will have a small computer terminal connected to a central database. Agents will enter information about the license buyer and immediately print the requested licenses. Agents will no longer need to stock pre-printed license books. All licenses
will be available from every agent.
"We've heard of people driving for hours looking for licenses the day before deer season because many agents have run out of licenses," said Goss. "The way we are doing business was OK a hundred years ago, but not today."
"Earlier this year, I purchased my 2002 fishing license on the Internet. It was easy and very quick. We want it to be just as convenient to purchase a license from any of Indiana's 800 agents. Now that is customer service," Goss said.
Many other Midwestern states have developed centralized, electronic licensing systems, including Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.

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08/17/02

NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a new state record-setting longnose gar was caught in the Kankakee River in Grundy County on July 15. The fish, caught by Steven Ludvigsen of Joliet, was measured at 52.5 inches in length, 15.75 inches in girth and a new state record weight of 17.33 pounds. The fish was released following the weigh-in. The previous state record longnose gar was 12 pounds, 2.2 ounces. It was caught in the Kankakee River in Will County in August 2001.

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PROTECT OUR WATERS - DON’T DUMP BAIT: Anglers in Illinois are reminded not to release bait minnows, game fish, or other native or exotic species into local lakes and ponds. Those who believe they are helping feed the fish in those bodies of water by adding bait fish or other species are mistaken and are more likely damaging the local fishery.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Mike Mounce notes that bait fish and other species added to a body of water can actually reduce fishing quality.

"Two- to three-inch golden shiner minnows sold at the bait shop can escape being eaten and quickly grow to eight inches, successfully reproduce and compete with bluegill and fingerling bass for the same limited food supply, leading to stunted bluegill and the demise of the bass," Mounce said. "Anglers should never dispose of their leftover minnows in the water but should save them for the next trip, give them to another fisherman, or leave them on shore."

Biologists also say anglers should not release fish taken from one body of water into another lake or pond. Moving sport fish from one body of water into another can result in long term damage to the fishery by spreading disease or introducing a species incompatible with the fish already in the body of water.

"People shouldn't put pet goldfish in a lake or pond, either," said Mounce. "Goldfish can grow to 10 to 12 inches and their young compete with hatchlings of native fish for food, reducing survival rates for the fish species already there".

"Fish biologists spend a significant amount of time studying which species will do well in a particular body of water, and they also spend a lot of time and money eliminating exotic or undesirable fish and plants that have been improperly added to those bodies of water."

The IDNR is offering a free "Protect Our Waters - Don't Dump Bait" sticker for anglers to apply to their bait buckets. For more information about bait dumping and invasive species issues, contact the Illinois Natural History Survey/Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Lake Michigan Biological Station, 400 17th St., Zion, IL 60099, phone 847/872-8677. To obtain a "Protect Our Waters - Don't Dump Bait" sticker, contact the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, 63 Mumford Hall, 1301 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, phone 217/333-9448.

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West Nile Virus

If you enjoy the outdoors, be alert to the possibility of West Nile Virus. While not a common occurrence, individuals can become infected with the West Nile virus by being bitten by an infected mosquito. Most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms of illness, but some may become ill, usually three to 15 days after being bitten. West Nile is similar to the St. Louis Encephalitis virus. Symptoms can be mild, such as a fever and headache. In some individuals, however, particularly the elderly, West Nile virus can cause serious disease that includes muscle weakness, brain inflammation, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, coma or death. No human case has been reported in Illinois to date.
WNV is carried from infected birds through mosquitoes to humans. It is not spread by person-to-person contact or directly from birds or mammals to people. However, hunters are urged to take proper precautions and to wear rubber gloves when field dressing game. Proper cooking kills WNV, so health officials believe there is no danger associated with eating wild game that might be infected.

To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, a number of precautions are recommended:

--Whenever outdoors between dusk and dawn, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Loose-fitting, light colored clothing is best.

--Use mosquito repellent containing 25 percent to 35 percent DEET when it is necessary to be outdoors, applied sparingly to exposed skin or clothing, as indicated on the repellent label. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children.

--Check residential screens, including porches and patios, for tears and other openings.

--Eliminate stagnant water in bird baths, ponds, flower pots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles in which mosquitoes might breed.

08/01/02

Our friend Duke O'Malley didn't make the cut this year for induction to the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame.  Duke was one of 45 nominees this year, but it wouldn't be Chicago if we didn't have to say "wait until next year".  The IDNR's press release regarding this year's nominees is posted below.  All three are very worthy of induction to the hall and we congratulate them for their hard work and dedication to conservation in Illinois.  We also encourage all to keep submitting letters of recommendation for Duke O'Malley.  Duke's induction would be a great way to say "thanks" for taking out kids fishing for the last 14 years.

THREE DISTINGUISHED ILLINOISANS SELECTED FOR INDUCTION INTO ILLINOIS OUTDOOR HALL OF FAME

SPRINGFIELD, IL - Three men long recognized for their distinguished service and commitment to natural resource protection and outdoor recreation in Illinois have been selected for induction into the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame, a program of the Illinois Conservation Foundation, Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning announced today.

"Henry Barkhausen, Bill Cullerton and Governor Jim Edgar have dedicated their careers to improving the quality of life in Illinois, especially through their work on behalf of the environment and natural resources of our state," said Manning, who serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Illinois Conservation Foundation. "We are delighted to include selection as members of the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame to the long list of honors each of these individuals has earned through their efforts on behalf of the people of Illinois."

Henry Barkhausen of Lake Forest has been described as an industrialist, businessman, author, sailor, public servant and conservationist. After a successful career as a businessman, Barkhausen entered the public sector, serving as director of the Illinois Department of Conservation from 1970-1973 during the administration of Govermor Richard Ogilvie. Barkhausen led an unprecedented land acquisition effort resulting in more than 15,000 acres being added and developed in the state park system. New sites added during his tenure included Shabbona Lake and Horseshoe Lake state parks and Franklin Creek and Volo Bog state natural areas. Barkhausen established the Department's natural heritage division to enhance protection of non-game fish and wildlife and unique natural areas. Barkhausen's greatest legacy may be his work of more than 30 years on protection, restoration and preservation of the Cache River wetlands in southern Illinois. His leadership of the Citizens Committee to Save the Cache River resulted in creation of the Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, while his work with the Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy facilitated acquisition of the Little Black Slough in the Cache basin. In recognition of his work on behalf of the Cache, the new Henry Barkhausen Wetlands Center at the Cache River State Natural Area is named in his honor.

Bill Cullerton, Sr. of Oak Brook has spent a lifetime making the Illinois outdoors a better place. As a youngster, Cullerton made fishing lures in his grandfather's business and served as a fishing guide in high school. He served as a highly decorated pilot during World War II before opening a business representing the interests of manufacturers of hunting and fishing equipment. Cullerton has been a strong voice for sportsmen and their issues of concern through his writing, seminars and as a host of the "Great Outdoors" program on WGN Radio in Chicago for more than 30 years. Much of his career has included promoting outdoor activities for children, seniors and people with disabilities. Cullerton was instrumental in bringing a major outdoor and sport fishing show to Chicago, and he led the effort to establish an artificial reef in Lake Michigan just off the Chicago lakeshore to enhance fishing opportunities. Cullerton has served as a member and director on numerous boards, including the Illinois Conservation Foundation. He is a member of the International and Freshwater Sport Fishing halls of fame. In 2000, the complex that includes Illinois Beach State Park and North Point Marina in Lake County were named the Cullerton Complex in his honor.

Governor Jim Edgar of Mahomet, well known as an avid hiker, horseback rider and bicyclist, displayed a remarkable commitment to Illinois' natural resources and outdoor recreation during his tenure as the state's chief executive from 1991-1999. In fact, Jim Edgar's accomplishments on behalf of outdoor Illinois pre-date his service as governor. During his tenure as Illinois Secretary of State, Edgar championed the law establishing the state's bicycle trail grant program. In addition to his advocacy of expanded greenways and trails as governor, Edgar recognized the need to increase the amount of land available for hunting, fishing and other forms of outdoor recreation. Through Governor Edgar's leadership, state government acquired more than 38,000 acres of land for open space and recreation opportunities, including the vast Site M in Cass County, now known as the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area. Edgar worked with federal authorities to secure management rights for the former Joliet Arsenal and Savanna Army Depot facilities. Governor Edgar founded the Illinois Conservation Congress, initiated the state's Conservation 2000 and EcoWatch natural resources management and monitoring programs, and signed legislation creating the Illinois Conservation Foundation. He also signed an agreement with the federal government that began the state's successful, long-term Illinois River restoration effort.

The three inductees were selected from among 45 nominees for the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame submitted by citizens from throughout the state.

They will be inducted during ceremonies at the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

Tickets for the banquet are $100 each. Last year's inaugural banquet was a sell-out, attended by nearly 700 people.

Proceeds from the banquet assist in funding Illinois Conservation Foundation efforts
including the popular ICF grant program, which awarded 32 grants totaling more than $75,000
for a wide array of natural resource protection, environmental enhancement and education programs and projects this year.

For more information on the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet, contact Ron Allen, Illinois Conservation Foundation, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone 217/785-9371, or check the ICF web site at www.ilcf.org.

The Illinois Conservation Foundation, an IRS 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation established in 1995, has raised more than $14.2 million to support the programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. For more information, contact Executive Director John Schmitt at 312/814-7237.

EMERGENCY RULE FILED TO HELP PREVENT CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE FROM REACHING ILLINOIS

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Department of Natural Resources today filed an emergency rule to limit the importation of hunter-harvested deer and elk, to restrict the importation of live animals and to ban the feeding of wild deer.

"Animals with chronic wasting disease have been found within 40 miles of Illinois' northern border. CWD is a fatal neurological disease, which strikes deer and elk. There is no vaccine to prevent it and it is incurable once an animal contracts it," said DNR Director Brent Manning. "CWD has spread to a number of states. We must continue to do all we can here in Illinois to keep it from infecting our herd."

To date, no animals from Illinois have tested positive for CWD, but surveillance efforts for the disease have been expanded.

The emergency rule (17 Ill. Adm. Code 635) takes effect immediately. The rule will be in effect for 150 days while a permanent rule is being adopted.

The rule bans the importation of hunter-harvested deer and elk carcases into Illinois, except for deboned meat, antlers, antlers attached to skull caps, hides, upper canine teeth, and finished taxidermist mounts. Skull caps must be cleaned of all brain and muscle tissue.

"This step will prevent hunters from bringing potentially diseased animals into Illinois and discarding their parts in a manner that could result in contamination of Illinois' deer herd," Manning said. He noted that CWD is most concentrated in portions of the infected animals that typically are not consumed by humans, such as the brain and spinal cord.

The Department also is banning feeding of wild deer and other wildlife in areas where wild deer are present. The ban includes food, salt, mineral blocks and other food products, with some exceptions. For example, bird and squirrel feeders close to homes and incidental feeding of wildlife within active livestock operations, are exempt from the ban. For a complete list of the exemptions see the rule on the Department's web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/legal/rule-status.htm.

"We know that people enjoy feeding birds and squirrels and we aren't trying to impact homeowners and their individual feeders. Nor are we trying to impact active livestock operations," Manning said. "However, the fact is bait sites where deer congregate have the potential to contribute to the spread of various diseases that are transmitted by animal to animal contact, as CWD appears to be. Eliminating this practice will enhance our chances of controlling CWD in the event it enters Illinois and will also lessen the spread of other diseases among the deer herd."

The Department is also implementing regulations to minimize the threat of chronic wasting disease entering Illinois through the interstate transportation of captive deer and elk and to monitor captive herds already in Illinois. DNR shares responsibility with the Department of Agriculture in regulating captive deer and elk on game farms. DNR's new rule complements new regulations being adopted by the Agriculture Department for diseased animals. Currently an emergency rule banning the importation of captive deer and elk into Illinois is in place, but it expires Sept. 15, 2002.

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease found in deer and elk. The disease affects the brains of infected animals, causing them to become emaciated, display abnormal behavior, lose coordination and eventually die. It is not known to be contagious to livestock or humans.

CWD has been diagnosed in wild, free-ranging deer and elk as well as in captive animals in a number of western states but recently has been found in neighboring Wisconsin. Illinois has been testing suspect animals for the last five years, as well as taking samples during deer hunting season.

"The consequences of a chronic wasting disease outbreak in Illinois are potentially great," said Manning, who noted deer hunting in Illinois contributes an estimated $400 million to Illinois' economy. "We must take all appropriate actions that good science call for. For the health of the deer herd, as well as its impact on the economy of this state, we will continue to work with the Illinois Department of Agriculture on this matter."

A task force, comprised of key staff from both agencies, has been working for months to develop plans to address surveillance of wild deer and captive herds, import and export of deer and elk and a planned response to a potential chronic wasting disease outbreak in Illinois.

Listen to the IDNR's audio regarding this topic - http://dnr.state.il.us/pubaffairs/2002/July/cwdregsjuly02.mp3

07/29/02

Here's an interesting story about the recent Lake Erie fish kill:

Lake Erie fish kill puzzles scientists

Dead fish littering the shores of Lake Erie are baffling experts.

For the third consecutive year, dead fish dot the beaches east of Port Dover to Port Colborne and although there are theories, nobody knows exactly what is causing the fish kills.

"It's amazing the scale of what's going on," said Phil Ryan, the manager for the Port Dover Ministry of Natural Resources station.

"It's a big research mystery."

While the ministry suspects it is the toxin created by type E botulism that is killing the fish, they don't know anything for a scientific fact.

"Hopefully it's temporary," Ryan said. "We're keeping our fingers crossed."

The ministry also suspects that exotic zebra mussels and gobies are involved, but they aren't certain how they factor in exactly. "We only have circumstantial evidence," Ryan said.

Jeff Robinson, a biologist with Environment Canada, said the whole situation is "really puzzling."

Robinson said he shares the ministry's theory and believes that botulism is a side-effect from the introduction of species like zebra mussels into Lake Erie.

"This whole episode of exotic species (zebra mussels and gobies) coming in from the Caspian Sea has really turned the ecology of Lake Erie on its head," he said.

Robinson speculated that with the introduction of gobies and zebra mussels, bottom-feeding animals have taken over and become very effective in moving things around, including botulism.

"People are starting to do research with the idea that there might be something done to prevent this," he said.

Ryan said the ministry wants to make sure everybody knows to cook their fish.

"This is where we all step very carefully but people can die from botulism if they ingest the toxin," he said.

Health Canada is joining with Environment Canada and the Ministry of Natural Resources to research the levels of toxins in fish meat from Lake Erie.

"Right now, we haven't done that so we can't say what the risk is," said Dr. John Austin, the chair of the Botulism Reference Service for Canada.

Austin said botulism is a relatively new phenomenon in the Great Lakes.

The Haldimand Health Unit is not aware of the potential outbreak, according to spokesperson Glen Steen.

"We have not been officially notified by anyone," he said. "We are not aware of any fish kill."

John Cooper, spokesperson for the Ministry of Natural Resources, said: "Type E has caused illness and death in other areas of Canada. We may be having an outbreak of botulism, but we don't have anything to confirm it." - Sun, 7/28/2002

Here are a couple of interesting articles about the Asian carp problem:

Keep Asian carp out of lakes, or we will regret it

Editorial from Eric Sharp: Free Press Columnist

When the fight against the sea lamprey in the Great Lakes started 50 years ago, no one dreamed the parasites would still be destroying large numbers of lake trout, especially after governments had spent $250 million on the battle.

Probably the most important lesson we have learned from the lamprey mess is that once an exotic species gets established in the Great Lakes, it's there to stay. Efforts to keep the damage caused by sea lampreys to tolerable levels will be unending and expensive.

By the late 1990s, it looked as if attempts to poison lampreys and keep them out of spawning streams with electrical barriers and raised weirs were working. But we forgot about the St. Marys River, which turned out to be a lamprey factory, producing so many each year that virtually every lake trout in northern Lake Huron was killed before it reached spawning age.

Scientists have since found ways to minimize the number of lampreys the St. Marys and other streams churn out, but if we ever stop those control efforts, we'll see lake trout disappear again.

The lamprey also taught us some lessons about the politics of controlling exotic species. And those lessons are important, because we might be on the verge of repeating the mistakes of the lamprey era in dealing with a new threat to the lakes, exotic Asian carp.

Bighead and silver carp either escaped from or were released by catfish farms in the South. In less than 10 years they have spread up the Mississippi River system and been collected in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal only 25 miles below Lake Michigan. Some people say they have seen them 11 miles below the lake.

About a month ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers turned on an electrical barrier in the Chicago canal designed to keep the bighead carp at bay.

But it took so long to get the money to build and run the barrier that no one knows if the carp, which can exceed 100 pounds, are already above it. In addition, the barrier is an experimental project, and the money to operate it runs out in about 18 months.

And an even more immediate problem is the lack of a backup generator to keep the barrier going if the commercial power supply fails.

"One power failure could jeopardize the effectiveness of the barrier," said Mark Gaden, a spokesman for the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission. "We've asked Congress for funds to mediate that."

So far, Congress hasn't come through. Maybe that's because the amount needed is too small to draw attention. A $150,000 generator could be all that's standing between the Great Lakes and another environmental disaster, but things like that tend to get overlooked by people who hold onto their jobs by funneling millions or even billions of dollars to get votes and campaign contributions.

But failure to act on these environmental threats can be incredibly costly. Chris Goddard, executive secretary of the fisheries commission, figures that in the past 15 years, fixing damage from zebra mussels has cost governments and business along the Great Lakes hundred of millions of dollars.

A second barrier in the Chicago canal would cost about $350,000 to install and $100,000 a year to maintain. Even the larger figure is a fraction of the cost of some junkets the State Department puts on for bigwigs.

Like zebra mussels, bighead and silver carp are filter feeders. But they also are thousands of times the size of a zebra mussel. They don't filter plankton from open waters but live by sucking in algae and detritus from the bottom.

Asian carp aren't much use as a sport fish, and they have the ability to root up bottom vegetation and turn rivers and lakes into mud pits. But even scarier is that in some of the big pools along the Mississippi, they have multiplied so quickly that in less than a decade they make up 90 percent or more of the fish life.

Biologists worry that a few million of them sucking up the water of the Great Lakes could disrupt the food chain and lead to a collapse of major sport and commercial species like salmon, walleyes and perch.

They also worry about what would happen if bighead and silver carp get into tributary rivers.

The truth is that no one is sure what bighead and silver carp would do to the ecology of the Great Lakes if they become established there. But if our experience with sea lampreys and zebra mussels is anything to go by, we probably don't want to find out.

Group wants permanent barrier to stop Asian carp

By Maura Kelly
The Associated Press
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They're huge, hungry and have been known to hop into passing boats.
The Asian carp — now found in the Mississippi River — is about 25 miles away from invading the Great Lakes, where it could threaten native fish species by eating their food, experts say.

An international commission had hoped a temporary electrical barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal could stop the fish, which can grow to 100 pounds and four feet long.

But one barrier in the canal — the only connection between the Mississippi River basin and the Great Lakes basin — isn't enough, officials say.

Leaders of the International Joint Commission on Thursday said they want a second, similar barrier to be permanently installed in the canal as a backup. That barrier could be located a quarter- to a half-mile away from the existing one, officials said.

"We feel we need redundancy — a second barrier — to have complete effectiveness," said Dennis Schornack, chairman of the commission's U.S. section. "What if the first one were to fail?"

Scientists say the barriers cause fish to feel a tingling sensation that repels them so they turn around instead of swimming into Lake Michigan.

The commission, a Canadian-American authority that regulates waters on the countries' border, has sent a letter to United States and Canadian government officials asking to install the permanent barrier as well as continued operation of the temporary one.

Charles Barclay, a spokesman for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs for the U.S. State Department, said the department received the letter.

"The issue is one that we take seriously. We're studying the letter and don't have a determination as to how we'll proceed," he said.

The temporary barrier in the canal, which connects the Mississippi and Chicago rivers, was turned on in April and is scheduled to be removed after 18 months. The commission also wants a backup electrical generator for that barrier to guard against power outages.

The barrier is a series of cables under the canal that send a low-level charge to the fish, and is located near Romeoville.

The $2.2 million device originally was set up to control the round goby, another invasive fish. It is being monitored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"We're confident it's working, but we don't know how effective it is overall. That depends on the monitoring," said Roy Deda, deputy for project management at the Corps' Chicago office.

The Asian carp threatens the plankton food supply of paddlefish, gizzard shad, bigmouth buffalo and other filter feeders. They also compete with larval and juvenile fish and mussels. The fish can eat up to half their body weight in a day in plankton, leaving little food for other fish.

Arkansas fish farmers imported the Asian carp from China in the 1970s to improve water quality in their pens. Some escaped and began appearing in the Mississippi River in the 1990s.

"Their migration has reached a critical stage," Schornack said. "We really run the threat of potentially turning the Great Lakes into a carp pond."

© 2002 Associated Press — All rights reserved.

NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources main headquarters in Springfield is in a new location and has a new address. The headquarters is located on the northwest corner of the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Mail to the facility should be addressed as follows: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271. The main telephone number remains unchanged at 217/782-6302. Telephone numbers for all other offices of the Department also remain unchanged.

Springfield-area residents should be advised that the License/Permit office at the old facility at 524 S. 2nd Street will be closed beginning the week of July 28. Staff will be moving to the new building that week. For license sales, please see an area vendor or contact the Department via the internet at http://dnr.state.il.us. The License/Permit office in the new facility will open for business to the public beginning Monday, Aug. 5 and be open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The telephone number is 217/782-7305. A drive-up window will be available later in the fall.

The Illinois State Fair is Aug. 9-18. The public will be able to access the new DNR headquarters, but will need to pay a State Fair per-person entrance fee as well as a $6 parking fee to park on the Fairgrounds in designated public parking. For individuals who do not wish to enter the fairgrounds, an auxiliary License/Permit office will be set up at the DNR Service Center (blue building) located north of the Fairgrounds, between Taintor Road and Veterans Parkway. Hours for that facility are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On the two weekends of the State Fair, Aug. 10-11 and Aug. 17-18, licenses will be available at the Law Enforcement tent at Conservation World from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Beginning Aug. 19 after the close of the Illinois State Fair, the public once again will have access to the new DNR headquarters. The Department apologizes for any inconvenience to the public during this time.

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The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board will meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 16, 2002, in the Illinois Authors Room of the Illinois State Library, 300 S. Second St., Springfield. The Board determines what species are threatened or endangered in the state and advises the Department of Natural Resources on the means of conserving them. The Board meets quarterly, revises the list of protected species every five years and completed its most recent revisions in 1999. For more information, contact the Board at 217/785-8687.

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Communities seeking to add to their recreation opportunities can apply for a variety of state outdoor recreation grants provided through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Grant Administration.

Local government units authorized by law to operate and maintain land for public recreation purposes are eligible to apply for the grants. Grant programs with application periods open through September 1 are:

• Boat Access Area Development Program - financed with revenues derived from marine motor fuel tax and boat/canoe registration fees, the program provides financial assistance to local government agencies for acquisition, construction, expansion and rehabilitation of public boat and canoe access areas on Illinois lakes and rivers. Grant awards are limited to a $200,000 annual maximum for motorized access projects and $50,000 for non-motorized/canoe access projects.

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MUSSEL HARVEST CONTRACTS AVAILABLE: Contracts to harvest commercial mussels will be available for a portion of the lower Illinois River from Aug. 1-31. Mussel harvest will be allowed by contract from the railroad bridge near Pearl at river mile 43.3 to the LaGrange Lock and Dam at river mile 80.1. The Illinois River was closed to commercial mussel harvest in 1994. At that time, biologists believed that the zebra mussel would cause the extermination of native mussel species.
In recent years, zebra mussels have declined in the lower river while native mussels appear to be healthy and abundant. This conservative approach to the mussel harvest is designed to allow limited harvest and to gather information to be used in setting future harvest regulations.
Individuals interested in obtaining a contract must be have an Illinois mussel harvest license and not have been guilty of a fishing violation for the past 12 months. A signed contract will be required of each mussel harvester and a daily report of mussel harvest must be completed.
For additional information or to obtain a contract, contact Commercial Fishing Program Manager Rob Maher at 8450 Montclaire Ave., Brighton, IL 62012, 618/ 466-3451.

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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is stocking channel catfish in 13 lakes and ponds in Moultrie and Shelby counties on July 30. The catfish will, on average, weigh approximately one pound and be approximately 14 inches in length, providing immediate improvements in fishing quality in the stocked waters.

The stocking will occur at Hidden Springs State Forest (Shelby County) in Hickory Ridge Pond, Sassafras Pond and White Oak Pond; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project Ponds and Lakes (Shelby and Moultrie counties) including Beaver Pond, McClure Pond, Sand Pond, Stone Pond and Wood Lake; Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Management Area (Moultrie County) in Elder Pond, Ringneck Pond and Wood Duck Pond; and, in Wyman Park Pond in Sullivan (Shelby County). For more information, contact, Mike Mounce, IDNR Division of Fisheries, 217/345-2420.

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An updated Landowners Guide to Natural Resources Management Incentives is now on the web and can be found at: http://dnr.state.il.us/OREP/C2000/Incentives.htm. There is a link to the document on both C2000 and Conservation Congress web pages of the Department of Natural Resources web site, which is http://dnr.state.il.us.

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If you enjoy the outdoors, be alert to the possibility of West Nile Virus. While not a common occurrence, individuals can become infected with the West Nile virus by being bitten by an infected mosquito. Most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms of illness, but some may become ill, usually three to 15 days after being bitten.West Nile is similar to the St. Louis Encephalitis virus. Symptoms can be mild, such as a fever and headache. In some individuals, however, particularly the elderly, West Nile virus can cause serious disease that includes muscle weakness, brain inflammation, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, coma or death. No human case has been reported in Illinois to date.

WNV is carried from infected birds through mosquitoes to humans. It is not spread by person-to-person contact or directly from birds or mammals to people. However, hunters are urged to take proper precautions and to wear rubber gloves when field dressing game. Proper cooking kills WNV, so health officials believe there is no danger associated with eating wild game that might be infected.
To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, a number of precautions are recommended: --Whenever outdoors between dusk and dawn, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Loose-fitting, light colored clothing is best.

--Use mosquito repellent containing 25 percent to 35 percent DEET when it is necessary to be outdoors, applied sparingly to exposed skin or clothing, as indicated on the repellent label. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children.
--Check residential screens, including porches and patios, for tears and other openings.
--Eliminate stagnant water in bird baths, ponds, flower pots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles in which mosquitoes might breed.

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The Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger program's One Million Meals Crusade will present one winner with a Realtree Camouflage Muzzleloading Shotgun donated by Knight Rifles of Centerville, Iowa. From August 1 - December 31, anyone making a tax deductible donation of $35 or more to Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger will be entered in the drawing.

Louis Cambier of Pecatonica, IL. and Thomas Headrick of Summit, IL. were the recent winners of deer and turkey hunting equipment prizes donated by Hunter's Specialties, Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa for this summers raffle which took place from April 1 to July 1.

The One Million Meals Crusade was launched by ISAH to encourage donations to cover the costs of processing deer donated to the program hunters. In 2001, 20,204 pound of deer meat was donated to ISAH, which has provided more than 110,000 pounds of venison and 440,000 meals to needy families through food banks and food pantries in Illinois since 1994.

To make a tax deductible contribution, contact Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield , IL. 62702, or call 217/ 782-4963.

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The Ron Ward Memorial Bass Fishing Tournament will be held on August 4 on Lake Shelbyville. The Tournament, sponsored by the Champaign-Urbana Bass Club, raises money in memory of long-time member Ronnie Ward, who died suddenly last year. Proceeds from the Tournament are used to sponsor scholarships for graduate students conducting bass research. Last year's scholarship recipient was Steve Cooke, a student of David Philipp at the Illinois Natural History Survey working on the physiological effects of tournament catch and release. For more information about the Ron Ward Memorial Tournament or the scholarship given in his honor, visit the Champaign-Urbana Bass Club web site at http://www.cubass.com.

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During the next nine months, the boat ramp at Fort Massac State Park will be closed periodically while construction is underway to upgrading the ramp, boat dock, parking facility, lighting and other items. To check the status of the boat ramp call 618/524-4712 or 618/524-9321.

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Roadwork has been completed at Mermet Lake Fish & Wildlife Area and the site is reopened to vehicular traffic. For more information about the park call 618/524-5577.

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Join us for the Calumet Biodiversity Blitz, a 24-hour inventory to find as many species as possible. The event is from 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 at William W. Powers State Recreation Area, 12949 Avenue O (123rd Street and Avenue O), Chicago. Here you will be able to observe scientists engaged in an actual biological inventory; join special tours of Eggers Woods, Wolf Lake and Powderhorn Lake; attend short presentations by experts on birds, mammals, fishes and fungi; participate in volunteer stewardship activities and learn how you can become involved in the Calumet Stewardship Initiative. For more information, contact bioblitz@fieldmuseum.org

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REMINDER: Local governments, privately owned marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs have until Aug. 16 to apply for grants available to provide temporary docking facilities for large boats. Funds for the program come from federal excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels through the Sport Fishing and Boating Safety program, and can provide up to 75 percent of an approved project's cost. The program is intended to enhance boating for transient, non-trailerable recreational boats – those 26 feet long or longer. The applicant must provide the other 25 percent of a project's cost.

Eligible facilities must accommodate boats of 26 feet or longer, must be used by transient boaters who do not stay more than 10 consecutive days and must be open to the public. Projects could include boat slips, mooring buoys, navigational aids, safe harbors and initial dredging to provide transient boats with safe channel depths.

Projects which are not eligible include routine maintenance, construction of boat slips for long-term rental, maintenance dredging, dry land storage or non-public facilities.
The program has two levels of funding. Tier 1 projects have a limit of $50,000 per applicant with a total of $100,000 available for IDNR projects this year. Tier 2 projects are for larger projects, have no funding limit and will compete nationally for grants. The amount of funds available for larger projects will depend on the number of small projects funded nationwide. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to announce grant recipients in early 2003. All proposals must be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR); the administering unit of the IDNR is the Federal Aid/Special Funds Section of the Office of Resource Conservation. For additional information, call the Federal Aid/Special Funds Section at 217/ 782-2602, TDD 217/782-9175.

07/06/02

Road construction in the area will require a detour to reach Clinton Lake State Recreation. Area/Mascoutin State Recreation Area for the next few weeks. Friends Creek Road ( formerly DeWitt Road [ County Highway 14 ] ) is impacted. The detour route to access Clinton Lake headquarters / Mascoutin is via State Route 48. Turn west on Rainbow Road ( 700N ) and take this to Friends Creek Road. Turn right, cross the lake, and Clinton Lake Headquarters /Mascoutin State Recreation Area ( campground ) is on the left. For updates and additional information please call Clinton Lake State Recreation Area during office hours of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday at 217/935-8722.

* * *
 
IDNR WORKERS RESCUE MAN FROM FLOODED FOX RIVER:
Three employees of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Water Resources and a citizen fishing nearby participated in the rescue of a man being carried by fast-moving flood waters near the William G. Stratton Lock and Dam on the Fox River in McHenry County on June 8.
IDNR Lockmaster Frank Novak reports that employees Todd Miller, Jacqueline Webster and Jeff Thompson assisted in the rescue of 26 year old Miroslaw Polanski of Chicago. Miller and Webster were recording gauge readings near the lock and dam at approximately 3:40 p.m. when they noticed a person wearing a life jacket float by in the river channel approaching the water control gates.
Miller and Webster retrieved life preserver rings and threw them to the man in the water. Webster retreated to the lock house to summon help. Fisherman Michael Green and employee Jeff Thompson joined in the rescue effort and Polanski was pulled from the water to a catwalk near dam control gate.
Novak said Polanski reported that he and two companions had been boating upriver when their boat stalled, Polanski entered the water to attempt to pull the boat ashore and was swept away by the river current. Polanski declined medical treatment.
Todd Miller and Jeff Thompson are employed as lock and dam tenders, while Jacqueline Webster is an assistant lock and dam tender at William G. Stratton Lock and Dam.

* * *

PROTECT OUR WATERS - DON'T DUMP BAIT: Anglers in Illinois are reminded not to release bait minnows, game fish, or other native or exotic species into local lakes and ponds. Those who believe they are helping feed the fish in those bodies of water by adding bait fish or other species are mistaken and are more likely damaging the local fishery.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Mike Mounce notes that bait fish and other species added to a body of water can actually reduce fishing quality.

"Two- to three-inch golden shiner minnows sold at the bait shop can escape being eaten and quickly grow to eight inches, successfully reproduce and compete with bluegill and fingerling bass for the same limited food supply, leading to stunted bluegill and the demise of the bass," Mounce said. "Anglers should never dispose of their leftover minnows in the water but should save them for the next trip, give them to another fisherman, or leave them on shore."

Biologists also say anglers should not release fish taken from one body of water into another lake or pond. Moving sport fish from one body of water into another can result in long term damage to the fishery by spreading disease or introducing a species incompatible with the fish already in the body of water.

"People shouldn't put pet goldfish in a lake or pond, either," said Mounce. "Goldfish can grow to 10 to 12 inches and their young compete with hatchlings of native fish for food, reducing survival rates for the fish species already there.

"Fish biologists spend a significant amount of time studying which species will do well in a particular body of water, and they also spend a lot of time and money eliminating exotic or undesirable fish and plants that have been improperly added to those bodies of water."

The IDNR is offering a free "Protect Our Waters - Don't Dump Bait" sticker for anglers to apply to their bait buckets. For more information about bait dumping and invasive species issues, contact Kristin TePas, Illinois Natural History Survey/Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Lake Michigan Biological Station, 400 17th St., Zion, IL 60099, phone 847/872-0141. To obtain a "Protect Our Waters - Don't Dump Bait" sticker, contact Robin Goettel, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, 63 Mumford Hall, 1301 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, phone 217/333-9448.

* * *

Mermet Lake Fish & Wildlife Area will be closing to all vehicle traffic beginning June 24 at 7 a.m. and remain closed up to July 19. The closure is necessary to complete the road work and apply the oil & chip surface to the eastside roadway and parking areas. Mermet Lake Fish & Wildlife Area will be closed ONLY to vehicle traffic and will remain open for walk in fishing and walk in sight seeing. The site will reopen before July 19 if all construction has been completed before the projected completion date. For more information and/or an update about the progress of the construction, please call 618/524-5577.

* * *

Recent flooding has impacted state parks. Some sites may be completely closed, while parts of other areas may be closed. Please call ahead before visiting a state park in the next few weeks.

* * *

Join us for the Calumet Biodiversity Blitz, a 24-hour inventory to find as many species as possible. The event is from 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 at William W. Powers State Recreation Area, 12949 Avenue O (123rd Street and Avenue O), Chicago. Here you will be able to observe scientists engaged in an actual biological inventory; join special tours of Eggers Woods, Wolf Lake and Powderhorn Lake; attend short presentations by experts on birds, mammals, fishes and fungi; participate in volunteer stewardship activities and learn how you can become involved in the Calumet Stewardship Initiative. For more information, contact bioblitz@fieldmuseum.org

06/18/02

NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

Recent flooding has impacted state parks. Some sites may be completely closed, while parts of other areas may be closed. Please call ahead before visiting a state park in the next few weeks.

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Eldon Hazlet State Park on Carlyle Lake is expected to reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 7. It has been closed due to flooding in the area. The Carlyle lakefront cabins, 227 Class A camp sites with electricity, 35 Class C camp sites that are walk-in with tent camping and two Rent-A-Camp cabins will be available. The high water boat ramp at Apache also will be open, as will four of six day-use areas. For more information call 618/594-3015.

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If you enjoy the outdoors, be alert to the possibility of West Nile Virus. While not a common occurrence, individuals can become infected with the West Nile virus by being bitten by an infected mosquito. Most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms of illness, but some may become ill, usually three to 15 days after being bitten.West Nile is similar to the St. Louis Encephalitis virus. Symptoms can be mild, such as a fever and headache. In some individuals, however, particularly the elderly, West Nile virus can cause serious disease that includes muscle weakness, brain inflammation, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, coma or death. No human case has been reported in Illinois to date.

WNV is carried from infected birds through mosquitoes to humans. It is not spread by person-to-person contact or directly from birds or mammals to people. However, hunters are urged to take proper precautions and to wear rubber gloves when field dressing game. Proper cooking kills WNV, so health officials believe there is no danger associated with eating wild game that might be infected.

To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, a number of precautions are recommended:

--Whenever outdoors between dusk and dawn, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Loose-fitting, light colored clothing is best.

--Use mosquito repellent containing 25 percent to 35 percent DEET when it is necessary to be outdoors, applied sparingly to exposed skin or clothing, as indicated on the repellent label. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children.

--Check residential screens, including porches and patios, for tears and other openings.

--Eliminate stagnant water in bird baths, ponds, flower pots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles in which mosquitoes might breed.

***********************

Local governments, privately owned marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs have until Aug. 16 to apply for grants available to provide temporary docking facilities for large boats. Funds for the program come from federal excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels through the Sport Fishing and Boating Safety program, and can provide up to 75 percent of an approved project's cost. The program is intended to enhance boating for transient, non-trailerable recreational boats - those 26 feet long or longer. The applicant must provide the other 25 percent of a project's cost.

Eligible facilities must accommodate boats of 26 feet or longer, must be used by transient boaters who do not stay more than 10 consecutive days and must be open to the public. Projects could include boat slips, mooring buoys, navigational aids, safe harbors and initial dredging to provide transient boats with safe channel depths.

Projects which are not eligible include routine maintenance, construction of boat slips for long-term rental, maintenance dredging, dry land storage or non-public facilities.

The program has two levels of funding. Tier 1 projects have a limit of $50,000 per applicant with a total of $100,000 available for IDNR projects this year. Tier 2 projects are for larger projects, have no funding limit and will compete nationally for grants. The amount of funds available for larger projects will depend on the number of small projects funded nationwide. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to announce grant recipients in early 2003. All proposals must be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR); the administering unit of the IDNR is the Federal Aid/Special Funds Section of the Office of Resource Conservation. For additional information, call the Federal Aid/Special Funds Section at 217/ 782-2602, TDD 217/782-9175.

05/20/02

2002 URBAN FISHING CLINICS AND ACCESS TO FISHING EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM LOCATIONS ANNOUNCED

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. - Children, families and would-be anglers of all ages are invited to participate in free urban fishing clinics throughout Illinois this summer, while anyone interested in fishing can borrow the needed equipment through the state's popular Access to Fishing equipment loan program, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning announced today.
"There is no better way for families to enjoy time together than through fishing, and the urban fishing clinics help spark an interest in fishing for thousands of youngsters every summer," Manning said. "Anyone interested in fishing can give it a try by visiting one of the Access to Fishing equipment loan locations, borrowing some fishing tackle and heading to a local fishing hole. When kids and adults experience how much fun fishing can be, they will be hooked on it and enjoy it for the rest of their lives."
The free Urban Fishing Program clinics are geared toward children ages 16 and younger, but anyone interested in learning basic fishing techniques may attend. Clinics can also be arranged for special needs or senior groups. The clinics are presented on weekdays during the late spring and summer months at 29 locations throughout the state.

Check out the ChicagoFishingLinks IDNR information section for the entire listing.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS STUDENTS RAISE FUNDS TO HELP ENDANGERED RIVER MUSSELS

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. - Students at Rogers Elementary School in the Tazewell County community of Marquette Heights are combining classroom lessons with real-world environmental activism by raising funds for endangered river mussels in Illinois.

"Each year the students at Rogers Elementary School pitch in to help a species in trouble," said John Schmitt, Executive Director of the Illinois Conservation Foundation. "Guided by their teacher, Patty Massaglia, the students blend their science studies with a project to improve the natural resources in Illinois. They've learned about and raised money for threatened or endangered otters, mud turtles, bats, rattlesnakes, barn owls and now mussels."

Students at Rogers raised $1,400 this year for management and recovery efforts of endangered mussel species in the Mississippi River. Funds will pay for surveys and inventories of historic and recently discovered mussel beds in the river as well as possible relocations to more pristine portions of the river. Students presented a check to the Foundation on Friday.

"I continue to be amazed at the dedication and enthusiasm the students show toward each year's project," Schmitt said.

The students were presented a plaque recognizing their contribution. In addition, Joe Kath, Endangered Species Project Manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, presented students with a barn owl box in thanks for their efforts to raise funds for that endangered species last year. Kath has frequently made presentations to the students.

Dean Corgiat and Tim Kelley, two Department of Natural Resources biologists who specialize in Natural Heritage issues, made a presentation to the students about mussels, this year's focus species, kicking off the fund-raising effort.

Fresh-water mussels, also known as naiades, are direct descendants of mollusks that evolved in the oceans around the continental land masses. Mussels filled an important niche in the ecosystem, contributing to the food requirements of many animals and were, to some extent, food for the native American Indians. In some areas of the Unites States, the Indians relied so heavily on mussels for food that entire villages lived for prolonged periods in places where mussels were plentiful. The Indians also found a multitude of uses for mussel shells. Some were fashioned into hoes, scrapers, spoons, and other tools.

Throughout the world today, freshwater mussels represent one of the most imperiled animals. In Illinois, nearly 30 species of native mussels appear on the states's Endangered and Threatened Species list. DNR has been actively participating in mussel recovery efforts in the Mississippi River for many years, especially in the stretch of the river extending from Pike County north to JoDaviess County.

Mussels are extremely sensitive to changes in water quality and are an excellent barometer of the biological condition of Illinois' creeks, streams, and rivers. Increased siltation, domestic, industrial, and agricultural pollution, and competition from exotic mussel species (such as the zebra mussel) are all potential threats to mussels in Illinois and throughout North America. Dredging, impoundment construction, siltation and pollution all have negative impacts on these fragile organisms.

During the last few years Rogers Elementary students have raised more than $7,500 to help fund a variety of projects, including a river otter reintroduction, acquisition of habitat in Mason County for the endangered Illinois mud turtle, installation of a metal gate to protect endangered Indiana bats hibernating in a cave in Pope County and recovery efforts for the state endangered barn owl.

The donations were made through the Illinois Conservation Foundation, established in 1994 to allow financial contributions for specific IDNR initiatives. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised more than $14 million in support of Department of Natural Resources programs.

For more information on the Illinois Conservation Foundation, contact John D. Schmitt, Executive Director, Illinois Conservation Foundation, 100 W. Randolph, Suite 4-300, Chicago, Ill. 60601, or phone 312/814-7237.

(Media advisory: John D. Schmitt and Joe Kath will accept the donation for mussel restoration on Friday, May 10 at 2 p.m. at Rogers Elementary School, 109 Rogers Road, Marquette Heights)

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There were eight fatalities and 75 injuries in boating accidents last year in Illinois. Let's all work together to make 2002 a safe boating year. Current safety classes are available on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources web site at the following address: http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/SAFETY/index.htm Select the type of course: hunting, boating, snowmobile or trapping; click on the text that says "where are courses available". You will see a map of Illinois divided by regions. Select a region of the state and then select a county. All current classes for that area will be listed. You can also call toll-free in Illinois at 1-800-832-2599.

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The 20th Annual Kid's Only Free Fishing Event, hosted by the Springfield Jaycees and Illinois Department of Natural Resources, will be held at the University of Illinois-Springfield on Saturday, June 8 as part of the Illinois Free Fishing Days weekend. The kids' fishing derby is from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. at the campus pond, located on the north side of the UIS campus near the intersection of the campus ring road and Shepherd Road. Participating sponsors include the University of Illinois-Springfield, local businesses, and the Central Illinois Fantails chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Kids ages 12 and younger are eligible to participate. Limited fishing bait will be provided. Youngsters should bring their own fishing gear. Parents are not allowed to fish during the event, but are encouraged to bring a camera. Each participant is limited to taking two catfish.

Lunch and prizes will be provided. In addition to fishing, the event will include a petting zoo, casting contests, a fishing seminar for kids by IDNR fisheries biologist Dan Stephenson, a talk on fishing regulations by an IDNR Conservation Police Officer, and clowns with balloons.

Pre-registration is required by contacting any Springfield Jaycees member or by calling 217/782-6232 weekdays or 217/546-1266 on weekends or evenings.

This year's Illinois Free Fishing Days are June 7-10.

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REMINDER: The Illinois Conservation Foundation is inviting nominations for the 2003 Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame, which honors individuals who have made significant commitments to natural resource protection and outdoor recreation in Illinois.

Nominees to the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame should include those select outdoor sportsmen and women who truly have made significant contributions or exhibited unparalleled dedication in preserving, promoting, enhancing or supporting natural resources or outdoor recreational opportunities in Illinois.

All nominations must be submitted on an official nomination form. Nomination forms are now available and completed nominations should be submitted no later than June 15, 2002. Forms can be obtained by writing or calling Ron Allen at 217/785-9371, rallen@dnrmail.state.il.us, Illinois Conservation Foundation, Attn: Ron Allen, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271 or from the Foundation's special events section of its web site at http://www.ilcf.org/SpecialEvents.htm.

Each nomination must be accompanied by a letter of nomination. It is suggested applications also include up to three letters of support, news clippings and any other documentation that might help the selection committee.

The Illinois Conservation Foundation is an IRS 501 (c)(3) organization which has raised more than $14 million in support of programs and projects of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources since 1995.

NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

ILLINOIS STATE MUSEUM'S 125TH ANNIVERSARY BASH IS MAY 25: On May 25, 1877, Governor Shelby M. Cullom signed into law an act establishing "a State Historical Library and a State Museum of Natural History." On Saturday evening, May 25 - on the 125th anniversary of its founding - the Illinois State Museum will host a step back in time for an evening of fun and celebration. The ISM 125th Anniversary Bash Lawn Chair Drive-in Block Party will be held from 6-10 p.m. outside the museum at Spring and Edwards Streets in downtown Springfield. The free admission, alcohol-free event will include a drive-in theater-style 3-D movie, kids activities, the T.G. Dalyrmple Circus, musical entertainment, a Museum Store porch sale, food and refreshments, and a fireworks finale. For more information, contact the Illinois State Museum at 217/782-5661.

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There's a new record muskie in Illinois. Matt Carmean of Mattoon was fishing on the east side of the spillway at Lake Shelbyville recently when he caught a big muskie. How big? Well, IDNR district fisheries manager Mike Mounce has taken official statistics and recorded the fish as 50.75 inches and 38 pounds, 8 ounces. Tissue samples of the fish demonstrated it is a true muskie. The new catch eclipses the current record held by Chris Kim since 1997, with a 37 pound, 13 ounce fish caught at Lake Shabbona.

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LAST CALL: The Department of Natural Resources is seeking Illinois organizations that want to participate in the fifth Conservation Congress. The deadline is May 31. Membership in the Conservation Congress is composed of representatives from recognized organizations in Illinois, including non-for-profit corporations, businesses and other entities whose goals and actions demonstrate a commitment to the protection, conservation, sustainable use and/or recreational enjoyment of Illinois' natural resources.

Later this year, a series of caucuses will be held in each of the Department's five regions to identify issues, draft recommendations and elect delegates for the next Congress scheduled for September 2003. Further information is available on the Department's home page at http://dnr.state.il.us or from IDNR's Constituency Services Office, 524 S. Second St., Room 500, Springfield, IL 62701. Questions should be directed to Brenda Potts or Curt Conrad at 217/782-4963; TDD: 217/782-9175; e-mail: bpotts@dnrmail.state.il.us or cconrad@dnrmail.state.il.us.

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Here's what's happening at Dickson Mounds Museum:

BISON!

Scientists have long debated the question of when exactly there were bisons in Illinois. Dr. R. Bruce McMillan, Director of the Illinois State Museum, will review all the current evidence in a slide talk on "A History of Bison in Illinois," based on a book he is current editing, Bison Remains from the Illinois River Valley. Sunday, May 26, 2:00 p.m.

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Project WILD

An Environmental Education Workshop for Teachers grades K-12. The national award-winning environmental education program promotes ecology awareness and stewardship and integrates this knowledge into school projects. For more information and advance registration call 309/547-3721. Wednesday, June 19, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Current Special Exhibit at Dickson Mounds

Travels in the Interior of North America: The Maximilian Bodmer Expedition.

This exhibit includes 41 (half) of the famous drawings of the 'Western wilderness' created by Swiss artist Karl Bodmer in the early 1830s, on the first western expedition to combine the talents of both a professional scientist (Prince Maximilan) and an artist. Considered to be among the most illuminating documentation of the 19th century. A program of ExhibitsUSA, through June 20.

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The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board will meet at10 a.m. on Friday, May 17, in the Linnaeus Room of the Education Center, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. The Board determines what species are threatened or endangered in the state and advises the Department of Natural Resources on the means of conserving them. The Board meets quarterly, revises the list of protected species every five years and completed its most recent revisions in 1999. For more information, contact the Board at 217/785-8687.

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ICF DOWNSTATE GOLF OUTING JUNE 4: The Illinois Conservation Foundation's 7th Annual Downstate Golf Benefit to support youth fishing, hunting and other educational programs will be held on Tuesday, June 4 at the Piper Glen Golf Club in Springfield. The golf registration fee is $150 per person, or $500 per foursome. The fee includes golf greens fees and cart, lunch, dinner, beverages, awards and prizes. The field is limited to 144 players. Hole sponsorships are available for $500 each. The event opens with lunch from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. The four-person scramble golf competition will begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m, followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m. and an awards program at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Bob Ruff, IDNR Public Events and Promotions, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, or call 217/785-8955, Ameritech Relay 800/526-0844, TDD 217/782-9175, e-mail at events@dnrmail.state.il.us

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PROMOTING FREE FISHING DAYS EVENTS: Dozens of organizations are expected to conduct fishing derbies and other special events as part of Illinois Free Fishing Days, June 7-10. The four-day celebration promotes sport fishing by allowing anglers to fish without purchasing an annual fishing license, salmon stamp or inland trout stamp. It is co-sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Plano Molding Co., the world's largest manufacturer of fishing tackle boxes.

Organizations interested in receiving promotional and educational materials to be used in conjunction with a Free Fishing Days event, or for more information, should contact Gary Watson, IDNR Public Events & Promotions, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone 217/782-9990.

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THINK SAFETY FIRST WHEN BOATING: WEAR LIFE JACKETS, BE ALERT, STAY SOBER

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning is reminding boat operators and passengers to play it safe on the water this boating season by wearing life jackets, being alert to others on the water and by staying sober.

"There is no question that wearing a life jacket can save your life if you're boating and become involved in an accident," Manning said. "Last year, seven of the eight boating fatalities that occurred in Illinois involved boaters who were not wearing life jackets. Alcohol use was a factor in five of the eight fatalities. Those facts speak for themselves."

Statistics compiled by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Law Enforcement include eight fatalities and 75 injuries in boating accidents in Illinois in 2001. Those compare with 14 fatalities and 76 injuries in boating accidents in the state in 2000, 13 deaths and 75 injuries in 1999, 19 fatalities and 107 injuries in 1998, and 14 deaths and 81 injuries in 1997.

There were a total of 112 boating accidents involving 171 vessels last year in Illinois, compared with 155 boating accidents involving 231 vessels in 2000, and 159 boating accidents involving 238 vessels in 1999. There were a total of 176 boating accidents in 1998 and146 boating accidents in 1997.

"While any boating related death is one too many, the statistics for the 2001 boating season are encouraging in that they show a dramatic decrease in the numbers of deaths," said IDNR Law Enforcement Chief Tom Wakolbinger. "Perhaps more boaters are getting the message about the need to wear life jackets and be sober while on the water."

Illinois law requires that life jackets, also known as personal floatation devices (PFDs), be available for each person aboard a boat or other watercraft. State law also requires anyone operating a personal watercraft to wear a life jacket, and anyone under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket while aboard any watercraft under 26 feet in length at all times the boat is underway, unless they are below deck in an enclosed cabin.

Wakolbinger said the IDNR offers free boating safety courses to review boating laws and provide instruction on safe and attentive operation of watercraft. Course schedules are available by contacting the IDNR Safety Education Office at 800/832-2599, Ameritech Relay 800/526-0844, TDD 217/782-9175, or by checking the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us.

"The courses are an important part of the boating safety effort, taught by hundreds of dedicated volunteer instructors who know the importance of safe, sober boating," said Wakolbinger.

In 2001, as many as three in four of those injured in boating accidents had not participated in a boating safety course. Of the 75 people injured, 36 were operators or passengers on open motor boats, 27 were using jet skis or other personal watercraft, while the others were on cabin motor boats, sail boats or pontoons.

Alcohol use was listed as the primary cause of eight boating accidents, 10 injuries and three fatalities in the state last year, and boaters are reminded that strict enforcement of laws against operating under the influence (OUI) will continue.

"Boat operators will be arrested by our Conservation Police Officers and other law enforcement agencies if testing shows the operators' blood alcohol concentration exceeds .08," Wakolbinger said.

National Safe Boating Week is observed annually during the week preceding the Memorial Day holiday weekend. This year's National Safe Boating Week observance is May 18-24. For the full text of the 2001 boating accident report, see the Department's web site at http://www.dnr.state.il.us/law3/02/01boatacc.htm.

04/15/02

RECENT IDNR NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

The Illinois Conservation Foundation is inviting nominations for the 2003 Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame, which honors individuals who have made significant commitments to natural resource protection and outdoor recreation in Illinois.

Nominees to the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame should include those select outdoor sportsmen and women who truly have made significant contributions or exhibited unparalleled dedication in preserving, promoting, enhancing or supporting natural resources or outdoor recreational opportunities in Illinois.

All nominations must be submitted on an official nomination form. Nomination forms are now available and completed nominations should be submitted no later than June 15, 2002. Forms can be obtained by writing or calling Ron Allen at 217/785-9371, rallen@dnrmail.state.il.us, Illinois Conservation Foundation, Attn: Ron Allen, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271 or from the Foundation's special events section of its web site at http://www.ilcf.org/SpecialEvents.htm.

Each nomination must be accompanied by a letter of nomination. It is suggested applications also include up to three letters of support, news clippings and any other documentation that might help the selection committee.

The Illinois Conservation Foundation is an IRS 501 (c)(3) organization which has raised more than $13 million in support of programs and projects of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources since 1995.

FREE FISHING DAYS EVENTS PLANNED FOR JUNE 7-10

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Family fishing clinics, kids fishing derbies and other special events are planned throughout the state as part of the annual Illinois Free Fishing Days celebration, slated for June 7-10.

"Free Fishing Days events help our citizens -- no matter their age or experience level -- discover that fishing is a fun, family activity available to all Illinoisans in nearly every corner of the state," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning. "I want to encourage any local scout troop, outdoor recreation agency, senior citizens organization, civic group, local fishing club or anyone else planning a special event for the free fishing weekend to let us know about it so we can help get the word out." 

Free Fishing Days is a four-day celebration of fishing in Illinois in which anglers can fish without purchasing an annual fishing license, salmon stamp or inland trout stamp. It is co-sponsored by Plano Molding Co., the world's largest manufacturer of fishing tackle boxes.

Organizations interested in receiving promotional and educational materials to be used in conjunction with a Free Fishing Days event, or for more information, should contact Gary Watson, IDNR Public Events & Promotions, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone 217/782-9990.

04/06/02

The following stories of interest appeared in this week's local newspapers from the Associated Press:

EPA chief announces plan to restore Great Lakes

MUSKEGON, Mich. — Christie Whitman, chief of the Environmental Protection Agency, visited this Lake Michigan city on Tuesday to announce a Bush administration plan to clean up and restore the Great Lakes.

Whitman said the plan addresses the most serious problems facing the five lakes, including sediment contamination, the proliferation of non-native species, loss of habitat and the production of fish unsafe for eating.

The plan sets specific goals for the cleanup and calls on the federal government to work more closely with state and local governments.

It includes monitoring contaminants in fish, requiring factories that discharge into the lakes to limit contaminants, enlisting cooperation from corporations and tracking cleanup efforts under way by state and local agencies.

"Everyone who enjoys the Great Lakes can appreciate the goals the partnership has set to ensure that the Great Lakes basin is a healthy, natural environment for wildlife and people," Whitman said, speaking at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Great Lakes field station in Muskegon.

State issues new warning about fish consumption

Children under 15 and women who are pregnant, nursing or of childbearing age should not eat sport fish more than once a week if it was caught in an Illinois body of water, according to a new statewide advisory issued by public health officials.

The advisory comes after new scientific studies showed methylmercury is more toxic than previously thought. Last year, the methylmercury advisory only applied to two southern Illinois lakes: Cedar Lake and Kinkaid Lake.

Illinois joins several other states, including Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania, who already have statewide methylmercury advisories.

Fish on the state's list include all species of black bass (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted), striped bass, white bass, hybrid striped bass, walleye, sauger, saugeye, flathead catfish, muskellunge and northern pike. Nearly all fish contain trace amounts of methylmercury, but these larger fish that feed on other fish accumulate more and pose the greatest risk.

04/03/02

ILLINOIS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION'S POPULAR DOWNSTATE GOLF BENEFIT JUNE 4 AT PIPER GLEN GOLF CLUB IN SPRINGFIELD

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. -- The Illinois Conservation Foundation's 7th Annual Downstate Golf Benefit to support youth fishing, hunting and other educational programs will be held on Tuesday, June 4 at the Piper Glen Golf Club in Springfield. 

"The downstate golf outing continues to be one of the most popular events held by the Foundation, raising money to support youth deer, turkey and waterfowl hunts, along with family-oriented activities including Free Fishing Days and National Hunting and Fishing Days," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning, who serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Illinois Conservation Foundation. "Golfers and sponsors make this annual event a tremendous success and we are looking forward to another great day June 4."

The golf registration fee is $150 per person, while foursomes may register for just $500. The fee includes golf greens fees and cart, lunch, dinner, beverages, awards and prizes. The field is limited to 144 players.

Individuals, businesses and organizations are invited to support the ICF golf benefit by becoming a hole sponsor for $500 each.

The four-person scramble format golf competition will begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Lunch will precede golf between 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. with the awards program beginning at 6 p.m.

Piper Glen Golf Club is located on Illinois Rt. 4 (Veterans Parkway) on Springfield's far southwest side, just north of Chatham. 

To register for the golf outing, become a sponsor, or for more information, contact Bob Ruff, IDNR Public Events and Promotions, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, or call 217/785-8955, Ameritech Relay 800/526-0844, TDD 217/782-9175.

The Illinois Conservation Foundation is an IRS 501(c)(3) organization. Established in 1994, the Foundation has raised more than $13.5 million in support of the programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. For further information about the Foundation, contact John D. Schmitt at 312/814-7237, or learn more at the Foundation's web site at www.ilcf.org.

04/01/02

Indiana DNR launches St. Joseph River walleye study

DNR fisheries biologists are surveying St. Joseph River walleyes in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties. Walleye survival and growth information gleaned from the study will help biologists better tailor future St. Joe walleye stockings.

On March 20, biologists captured 61 walleyes below the Elkhart Dam. The sampled fish were all males ranging from 13 to 19 inches long. Researchers will be looking for larger females as the river water warms. 

"During spring, walleyes tend to move upstream to spawn. That's why they concentrate below the dam. Male walleyes are the first to show up and spawning in the St. Joe typically peaks in early April," said DNR biologist Neil Ledet. 

Ledet and his crew captured the fish with an electrofishing boat that temporarily stuns fish and allows them to be netted. Once weighed and measured, the fish were released unharmed back into the river. Joe Foy, City of Elkhart fisheries biologist, is also tagging some of the larger walleye before they are released in order to track their movements. Anglers are urged to report tagged walleye by calling (574) 293-2572. The tags look like short pieces of plastic spaghetti. 

Since 1995, the Indiana DNR has annually stocked about 65,000 walleye fingerlings into the St. Joseph River above the Elkhart Dam. Over the past four years, 35,000 additional walleye fingerlings were also stocked into the Twin Branch river section in Mishawaka.

Ledet says young walleyes have a tendency to move downstream, so the majority are stocked above Elkhart to offset their movement. The DNR also conducts a fall survey when young walleyes move into shallow sections of the
river.

Anglers seeking walleye usually do well early or late in the day fishing in eddies near swift current.

"One of the most productive baits is a lead-head jig with a white or chartreuse plastic grub body," said Ledet. "If the action is slow, tip the jig with a minnow or bounce a minnow along the bottom using a single hook and 2 or 3 size split shot sinker."

Ledet suggests that anglers leave their boats at home and fish from shore during spring.

"The swift water between Elkhart's Main Street and dam is especially dangerous, even for experienced boaters," said Ledet. Elkhart city parks provide easy access to several walleye areas on the St. Joe and lower Elkhart River. 

The St. Joseph River has a special size limit on walleye. In cooperation with the State of Michigan, a 15-inch minimum size limit and a six-fish bag limit has been established for walleye taken from the St. Joseph River. Indiana does not have a closed season on walleye. However, many anglers voluntarily release female walleyes at this time of year. 

More walleye fishing information:
http://www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/fishing/wallfish.htm

03/28/02

From Illinois Outdoors:

The following news item was provided to us by Don Dziedzina of Illinois Outdoors:

I talked to the DNR at Braidwood Lake today (3/28) at about 1 PM and they
informed me that Braidwood would open on Saturday, 3/30/02 at 6 AM. 

At about 1:20 PM on 3/28, I talked to Joe Nihoff (sp) of the DNR at
Heidecke Lake. He informed me that they have not yet got confirmation on
an opening date (normally 1 Apr) and he is still waiting.

Don Dz...
Illinois Outdoors, Inc. 
http://www.illinoisoutdoors.com

03/21/02

RECENT IDNR NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

COOLING LAKES UPDATE:

Exelon has reopened the majority of Clinton Lake. An area that will remain closed and not open to the public is the portion of the lake closest to the plant, which is from the Illinois Route 54 bridge to just west of the Energy and Environmental Center. The portion being re-opened is available to boat traffic and recreational activities, following the applicable rules and regulations.

Exelon also has reopened LaSalle Lake. The lake is open from 6 a.m. until dusk Wednesday through Sunday. The lake will open on Mondays and Tuesdays later in the spring, once summer help has been hired for the site.

Exelon has indicated it plans to reopen Braidwood Lake sometime in April. No further information is available on that opening at this time. Any announcement on reopening will come from the utility, with approval of the appropriate state security agencies.

It is unknown when Heidecke Lake, which is owned by Midwest Generation, will open. Any announcement on reopening will come from the utility, with approval of the appropriate state security agencies.

DNR ENDS TWO YEAR UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION

Sixteen individuals from Southern Illinois face state and/or federal game violation charges as a result of a two-year undercover investigation involving Odle's Hunting Club near West Frankfort, including the club's owners and some of its clients. Illinois Department of Natural Resources law enforcement officers as well as agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently issued citations for a variety of violations including the unlawful taking of deer and waterfowl, permit violations and the unlawful sale of sportfish, which is a Class 3 felony. As many as 28 individuals could be charged as a result of the investigation. Two ATVs have been seized as evidence. The operation was supported through the Jake Wolf Fund, a fund supported by sportsmen and others concerned about Illinois' natural resources. If you have a tip about Natural Resource law violations, call IDNR's hot line at 1-877/236-7529 (1-877/2DNRLAW).

REMINDER: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources invites women ages 18 and over for a weekend of adventurous outdoor activities with the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program. Try your hand at charting a course, calling a bird, shooting a bow, firing a shot, tying a fly, catching a fish, paddling a canoe, building a campfire or going on a photo safari. The event is scheduled for June 7-9 at the Lorado Taft Campus of Northern Illinois University in Oregon, Illinois. Enrollment is limited to the first 75 applicants. Registration is open to first-time participants through March 31. Open registration is April 1-May 1. For more information call 217/524-4126, email us at educevents@dnrmail.state.il.us or visit the Department's web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/bow/index.htm

2002 SPRING TROUT SEASON OPENS APRIL 6

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The 2002 Illinois spring trout fishing season opens at 5 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning announced today.

"Each year, the first Saturday in April is a big day for families to go fishing in Illinois thanks to the opener of spring trout season," Manning said. "More than 60,000 catchable-size trout will be stocked at 41 locations throughout the state to provide a great opportunity for those who love fishing to catch some trout." 

The trout stocking program is supported by the sale of inland trout stamps. The stamps are available for $6.50 each at IDNR offices in Springfield, Chicago, Alton, Benton, Champaign, Spring Grove and Sterling, at many municipal, township and county clerks' offices, and at many sporting goods stores and bait shops. Inland trout stamps, as well as fishing licenses, also may be purchased with a credit card through the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us

To legally participate in the catchable trout fishing program, anglers must have a valid Illinois fishing license and an inland trout stamp, or a 24-hour fishing license, which includes trout fishing privileges. A license is required unless the angler is under age 16, blind or disabled, or an Illinois serviceman or servicewoman home on leave. Annual fishing licenses now being sold for the 2002 season are valid through March 31, 2003.

Anglers are prohibited from taking trout from any of the stocked sites from March 15 to April 6 at 5 a.m. Anyone attempting to take trout before the legal opening will be issued citations. The daily possession limit for the spring trout season is five fish. 

For more information about the trout stocking program, contact the IDNR Division of Fisheries at 217/782-6424, Ameritech Relay 800/526-0844, TDD 217/782-9175, or by calling 1-800/ASK-FISH.

Stocking sites (by county) for the spring catchable trout program:

•Adams County: Siloam Springs State Park Lake. 
•Boone County: Mill Race Ponds in Belvidere. 
•Bureau County: Hennepin Canal Parkway. 
•Cass County: Gurney Road Pond at Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area. 
•Champaign County: Lake of the Woods. 
•Cook County: Axehead Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District. 
•Cook County: Belleau Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District. 
•Cook County: Sag Quarry East, Cook County Forest Preserve District. 
•Coles County: Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond in Charleston. 
•DuPage County: Silver Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District. 
•Grundy County: Gebhard Woods State Park Pond. 
•Jefferson County: Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond. 
•Jo Daviess County: Apple River Canyon State Park. 
•Johnson County: Ferne Clyffe State Park Lake. 
•Kankakee County: Bird Park Quarry in Kankakee. 
•Kankakee County: Rock Creek in Kankakee River State Park. 
•Kendall County: Big Lake at Silver Springs State Park. 
•Lake County: Banana Lake, Lake County Forest Preserve District. 
•LaSalle County: Illinois and Michigan Canal at Uttica 
•Lake County: Sand Lake at Illinois Beach State Park. 
•Macon County: Rock Springs Pond, Macon County Conservation District. 
•Marion County: Boston Pond at Stephen A. Forbes State Park. 
•Massac County: Fairgrounds Pond in Fort Massac State Park, Metropolis. 
•McLean County: Miller Park Lake in Bloomington. 
•McHenry County: Lake Atwood, Hollows Conservation Area, McHenry County Conservation District. 
•McHenry County: Piscasaw Creek. 
•Moultrie County: Wyman Lake in Sullivan. 
•Ogle County: Pine Creek in White Pines state Forest. 
•St. Clair County: Frank Holten State Park main lake. 
•St. Clair County: Jones Park Lake in East St. Louis. 
•Sangamon County: Illinois Department of Transportation Lake in Springfield. 
•Sangamon County: Washington Park Pond in Springfield. 
•Shelby County: Forest Park Lagoon in Shelbyville. 
•Stephenson County: Waddams Creek at Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park 
•Stephenson County: Yellow Creek in Krape Park, Freeport. 
•Vermilion County: Clear Lake at Kickapoo State Park. 
•Wabash County: Beall Woods Lake, Beall Woods State Park 
•Wayne County: Sam Dale Lake Conservation Area Trout Pond. 
•Whiteside County: Coleta Trout Ponds. 
•Will County: Lake Milliken at Des Plaines Conservation Area. 
•Winnebago County: Kent Creek in Page Park, Rockford. 

SHABBONA UPDATE:

The Department of Natural Resources does not intend to move forward with a plan to remove the 10-horsepower motor limit for boats using Shabbona Lake (DeKalb County). Shabbona was one of six lakes where the Department proposed lifting the horsepower restriction this year as a pilot to determine whether IDNR could provide greater access for anglers and others who operate larger boats without disrupting traditional users of those lakes. The larger motors would be allowed to operate at idle speed with no wake only. IDNR Director Brent Manning said constituents objected to the change at Shabbona by a two-to-one margin during a recent public comment period. 
The proposed administrative rule lifting the horsepower restriction at five other lakes has not yet been adopted by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, but the proposal may be considered at JCAR's April meeting. Meanwhile, traditional 10-horsepower motor restrictions remain in place and will be enforced. The lakes include: Pierce Lake (Winnebago County), Wolf Lake (Cook County), Dawson Lake (McLean County), Washington County Lake (Washington County), and Mermet Lake (Massac County). These lakes have surface waters of between 60-500 acres. 

2002 SMELT SEASON UNDERWAY

Smelt fishing season on Lake Michigan runs from March 1 to April 30 in most areas outside the City of Chicago. (Check local seasonal regulations for smelt fishing from Chicago Park District properties). Smelters must have an Illinois fishing license, may operate no more than one device, and must immediately return all fish other than smelt to the water. Smelt may be taken with a seine or gill net not more than 12 feet long and six feet deep with a mesh size of not more than 1 ½ inches diagonal stretch; or by dip nets not more than 12 feet in diameter with a mesh size of not less than one inch diagonal stretch. Trolley or power lines may also be used. Areas where fishing dates differ from the statewide regulation are as follows: North Point Marina (authorized areas only), Illinois Beach State Park (south unit only), Waukegan Power Plant and Chicago Park District property, April 1-30.

REMINDER: Individuals can visit the Departments Internet Page at http://dnr.state.il.us to purchase their license and stamps( except for Federal Migratory stamps) online and receive their license back to their computer monitor for immediate printing. If they loose their license they can go back into the system and retrieve a replacement as no additional cost.

Individuals can also call a toll free number 1-888-6-PERMIT or 1-888-673-7648 to buy licenses and stamps by telephone. Buyers will receive a confirmation number for their transaction and their license will be in the mail within 24 hours. If they want to fish or hunt before they receive the license, they need to write down the confirmation number on a piece of paper along with the date they purchased the license. They also should record on the piece of paper what they purchased.

The public is invited to attend the Natural Resources Advisory Board meeting on March 26 at 7 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. The Board advises the Department on long range policies. There will be presentations by IDNR staff and time allotted for public comments. For information call 217/782-4963. 

In an effort to improve the quality of the Rend Lake crappie fishery, the Department of Natural Resoures and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are implementing two new crappie regulations. Beginning April 1, anglers will be allowed to harvest a maximum of 25 crappie per day from Rend Lake. In addition, no more than 5 of these crappie may be greater than 10 inches in length.

Limiting the maximum number of crappie that anglers can keep each day will help to more equitably distribute the harvest. Without a daily limit, large numbers of crappie are harvested by a relatively small number of anglers. Some anglers are currently harvesting as many as 200 or more crappie per day. Restricting anglers to 25 crappie per day will prevent individual fishermen from harvesting excessive numbers of fish and allow a larger number of anglers to participate in the harvest.

The new regulation allowing anglers to harvest no more than 5 crappie per day greater than 10" in length is designed to encourage the harvest of smaller fish. The smaller crappie in Rend Lake are especially slow growing. Increasing the harvest of smaller fish in the population should allow growth rates for the remaining fish to improve. As growth rates of these smaller crappie improve, the size structure of the population should increase. This will result in a significant increase in the number and percentage of large crappie present in the lake, improving the quality of the crappie fishery.

The effects of these regulations on the Rend Lake crappie population will be carefully monitored. Improvement in the size structure of the crappie population as a result of these new regulations should be gradual, and will likely require at least 2-3 years to create a noticeable change. If effective, these regulations can be adjusted in the future to allow a more liberal harvest of larger crappie. 

Is it ever too cold to fish? Chad Cain of Carbondale doesn't think so. Cain is an experienced musky fisherman, but who would have thought his first fish of the new year would have been a 47-inch muskie? Cain caught this "non-keeper fish" on Kinkaid Lake in Jackson County in mid-February and was on the lake for just a short time when he hooked and landed this trophy fish. He took time to take a couple of pictures, then released it back into the lake so another lucky angler could experience the thrill of catching a true monster!

RECENT INDIANA NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

WOMEN'S OUTDOOR WORK SHOPS

Two weekend-long outdoor skill workshops for women are filling up fast.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman weekends are scheduled for May 3-5 near West Lafayette and June 7-9 near Ft. Wayne. The workshops offer low-pressure outdoor experiences such as canoeing, nature craft, fly fishing, camping,
outdoor cooking, birdwatching, hunting dog training, shooting and mountain biking and kayaking.

Workshop enrollment is limited. Participants must be 18 years or older.

The workshops are sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources, Ft.Wayne Journal Gazette, and Galyan's.

For more information or to register, visit Indiana's Becoming an
Outdoors-Woman web site at: http://www.IN.gov/dnr/outdoorwoman

Or contact Theresa Mack at (317) 232-4010

03/04/02

RECENT IDNR NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

REMINDER: The experimental lifting of the horsepower restriction on six select lakes DOES NOT take affect until April 1. Traditional regulations remain in place and will be enforced until that time. The lakes include: Shabbona Lake (DeKalb County, Pierce Lake (Winnebago County), Wolf Lake (Cook County), Dawson Lake (McLean County), Washington County Lake (Washington County), and Mermet Lake (Massac County).

Smelt fishing season on Lake Michigan runs from March 1 to April 30 in most areas outside the City of Chicago. (Check local seasonal regulations for smelt fishing from Chicago Park District properties). Smelters must have an Illinois fishing license, may operate no more than one device, and must immediately return all fish other than smelt to the water. Smelt may be taken with a seine or gill net not more than 12 feet long and six feet deep with a mesh size of not more than 1 ½ inches diagonal stretch; or by dip nets not more than 12 feet in diameter with a mesh size of not less than one inch diagonal stretch. Trolley or power lines may also be used. Areas where fishing dates differ from the statewide regulation are as follows: North Point Marina, Illinois Beach State Park, Winnetka and Chicago, April 1-30.

The traditional opening dates for Braidwood Lake (March 1) and LaSalle Lake (March 15) will not take place this year. These lakes may open later in the spring. The lakes are managed by the Department of Natural Resources, but are owned by Exelon Nuclear.

Anglers can enjoy fishing at Ponderosa Lake, Mazonia South and Mazonia which now are open.

Rob Stecher, 32, Antioch recently pled guilty to one count of violating the Clean Water Act and to one amended count of attempting to violate the Pesticide Act involving a fish kill that occurred on the Channel Lake, Chain-O-Lakes, Lake County last summer. Two other charges were dismissed. The plea agreement requires the following: 1 year court supervision, court costs related to the Clean Water Act violation, a $500 fine on the Pesticide Act violation, 75 hours of community service to be served at the Fox Waterway Agency, a $2,000 donation to the Fox Waterway Agency with the money earmarked for fish habitat improvement and restitution to IDNR for the fish kill in the amount of $174.88.

No arrests have been made and Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police officers are asking for the assistance of the public in the investigation into the discovery of a bald eagle found shot to death last month along the Mississippi River near the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison County, Illinois. The immature bald eagle was found dead in debris near the water's edge on January 13. Investigators determined that the bald eagle had been shot with a shotgun shell.

The unlawful killing of a bald eagle is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 upon conviction.

Conservation Police ask anyone who may have been eagle watching, waterfowl hunting or otherwise in the vicinity near the Chain of Rocks Bridge on January 13, and may have information related to the shooting of the eagle, to please contact investigators. Contact IDNR Conservation Police Alton regional headquarters at 618/462-1181 or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents in St. Peters, Missouri at 636/441-1909. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $1,000 reward for information resulting in a conviction in this case. 

The Captain area of Pyramid State Park will open to limited fishing on March 1. In addition, the Denmark area, which was closed for waterfowl season, will reopen to fishing on that same date. For specific fishing regulations, see the Department of Natural Resources 2002 Illinois Fishing Information Guide. Pyramid State Park can be reached at 618/357-2574.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources invites women ages 18 and over for a weekend of adventurous outdoor activities with the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program. Try your hand at charting a course, calling a bird, shooting a bow, firing a shot, tying a fly, catching a fish, paddling a canoe, building a campfire or going on a photo safari. The event is scheduled for June 7-9 at the Lorado Taft Campus of Northern Illinois University in Oregon, Illinois. Enrollment is limited to the first 75 applicants. Registration is open to first-time participants March 1-31. Open registration is April 1-May 1. For more information call 217/524-4126, email us at educevents@dnrmail.state.il.us or visit the Department's web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/bow/index.htm

Indiana DNR news:

Federal lake trout losses will impact 2002 Lake Michigan stocking

Problems at a federal fish hatchery will result in a reduction to the number of lake trout stocked into Indiana's Lake Michigan waters this year.

Indiana typically receives about 60,000 lake trout, which are stocked offshore in an area called the Michiana reef. Due to the hatchery losses, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) plans to stock only 23,000 fish in Indiana this spring.

Stocking sites are prioritized based on habitat quality. Although Indiana's site is classified as a "secondary" site, it will receive fish despite the shortage. Seven other secondary sites around Lake Michigan will not be stocked this spring.

Problems at Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery in Brimley, Mich. have resulted in a shortfall of 700,000 fingerling lake trout that were destined to be stocked in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Hatchery personnel indicate that a combination of unusual environmental factors and disease caused the losses.

"We're confident that that the federal hatcheries will work out the problems," said Brian Breidert, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan fisheries biologist. "Lake trout restoration is important to all Lake Michigan agencies and we recognize that problems occur despite scientists' best efforts."

Several USFWS hatcheries produce lake trout as part of a program to restore this native fish to the Great Lakes. During the last century, lake trout numbers were decimated by overfishing coupled with an invasion of sea lampreys, a parasitic, eel-like fish that attaches to larger fish. A highly successful sea lamprey control program led to the revitalization of Great Lakes fisheries.

Scientists are striving to establish self-sustaining lake trout populations in the Great Lakes through stocking, research and fishing regulation.

USFWS biologists have stocked more than 23 million lake trout in the three Upper Great Lakes from 1995 through 2001. Last year, these lakes were stocked with a record 3.8 million fish. In 2001, Indiana waters were stocked with 72,000 lake trout, which was 20 percent more than usual.

Despite the temporary stocking setback, Breidert is encouraged by recent research.

"We collected 361 lake trout at the Port of Indiana last November. These were big fish in spawning condition, averaging seven years old. We've still got a lot of research to do, but having concentrations of adult fish is a vital first step to natural reproduction," said Breidert.

02/20/02

Cooling Lakes Update:

Chicago Sun-times Outdoors writer Dale Bowman reported today that Braidwood, LaSalle and Clinton lakes may be open to the public in early April.  Dale's information was provided by Exelon spokeswoman Ann Mary Carley.  Let's hope that all goes as planned.  Keep checking Dale's Column (http://www.suntimes.com/index/outdoors.html) and ChicagoFishingLinks.com for updates.

02/19/02

Michigan DNR News:

Michigan Licenses can be obtained on-line at www.michigandnr.com

Some Indiana DNR news:

FISHING LICENSES NOW OFFERED ON-LINE:

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and accessIndiana, the state’s official Web site, have teamed up to offer all Indiana resident and non-resident hunting, trapping and fishing licenses online. Trout/salmon, waterfowl and game bird stamps are also available on DNR’s Web site. 

No longer will a hunter or angler need to postpone or delay his trip into the Indiana wilds. In less time than it takes to drive to the store, the license can be in hand and ready to be used. 

"It was easy. It took me just five minutes to purchase my 2002 fishing license online," said John Goss, director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. "This new online service will ensure that hunters, trappers and anglers can get the licenses they want with no fuss or bother. The licenses are now available anytime…at the buyer’s convenience." 

"Online licensing is one more way accessIndiana is providing ease and convenience to Hoosiers and non-residents alike," said Laura Larimer, Indiana’s chief information officer. "We’re pleased to add yet another service to the growing number of interactive services available on the state’s Web site." 

The steps are simple. Users need only provide some basic personal information, such as name, address and date-of-birth, and then select which licenses to purchase. In addition to the standard license fee, there is a convenience charge of $1.00 for each license plus a small processing fee. 

To learn more about the hunting, trapping and fishing licenses available on accessIndiana please go to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Web site at www.wildlife.IN.gov. 

DNR makes federal dollars available for Lake Michigan projects:
Some improvements to the natural resources of the Lake Michigan area are now more likely to be funded thanks to a federal grant coming to Indiana. 
The $1.75 million, Indiana’s share of a one-time Congressional appropriation of $30 million, is ear marked for projects that protect and restore coastal resources and reduce or control threats to Lake Michigan from non-point pollution sources. 

Examples of eligible projects include restoration and protection of wetlands, river corridors, streams and lakes, conservation buffers, storm water management, contaminated site clean-up, and planning activities for coastal resource protection, restoration and management. 

"Our Lake Michigan coastal region is one of Indiana’s great natural resources," said John R. Goss, DNR director. "The area has the greatest biological diversity in Indiana and is home for plants and wildlife that cannot be found anywhere else. 

"In these times of tough budget decisions, an infusion of federal dollars is always welcome. This program will be important to us by financing projects that we would otherwise not have been able to afford." 

The grants will be made to local and state government agencies with at least 50 percent allocated to local government agencies. The program will encourage projects that include cooperation between government and local, non-profit groups. Applicants must match 25 percent of the grant and can include in-kind services as part of the match. Each project must cost less than $125,000, must begin after August 1, 2002 and completed no later than July 31, 2004. 

To oversee the expenditure of the funds in Indiana, the Natural Resources Commission established the Indiana Great Lakes Coastal Restoration Grants Program. The grant program will be administered by the DNR’s Lake Michigan Coastal Program. 

A program explanation and application packet is available on the DNR Web site at http://www.in.gov/dnr/lakemich/proj.html or by request to the Lake Michigan Coastal Program. The Lake Michigan Coastal Program will also present workshops to answer questions about the grants program and assist with the application process. For more information about the program or workshops, or to request an application, please contact Jenny Kintzele, by March 15, at (219) 983-9912. 

NIPSCO Closes Dean Mitchell plant in Gary:

With the recent closing of this plant came rumors of another company coming in and taking over.  As of yet, there has been no confirmation that the plant will ever be back in operation.  Here is a look at the original press release that announces the closing:

NIPSCO ANNOUNCES SHUTDOWN OF DEAN H. MITCHELL GENERATING STATION
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. -Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), today announced plans to indefinitely shut down its Dean H. Mitchell Generating Station (DHMGS) located in Gary, Ind. This decision is based on declining electric demand as a result of the economic downturn and the significant cost required to maintain the aging facility. 

There will be no impact on service or reliability to NIPSCO electric customers due to the shutdown of DHMGS. 

"As always, the safe, reliable delivery of electricity and natural gas is our primary mission," said Barrett Hatches, NIPSCO president and chief executive officer. "Given the current economic climate, the decision to shut down the Mitchell Generating Station allows us to more efficiently serve our customers while ensuring long-term benefits to customers and NiSource shareholders." 

Originally constructed in 1955, DHMGS has the oldest active operating units and is the least efficient station in the NIPSCO electric production system. 

Due to the station's age, extensive capital expenditures would be required in the next several years to ensure continued reliability. Furthermore, substantial capital investment would be needed to comply with current and future environmental standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). 

NIPSCO has notified the 112 employees who work at DHMGS that their current positions will be eliminated. Of these employees, 84 are represented by the United Steelworkers of America, and 28 are salaried employees. 

DHMGS will cease production of electricity as early as the end of 2001, with completion of the shutdown process expected by March 1, 2002. 

NIPSCO, with headquarters in Merrillville, Ind., is one of the 10 energy distribution companies of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI). With approximately 700,000 natural gas customers and 430,000 electric customers across the northern third of Indiana, NIPSCO is the largest natural gas distribution company, and the second largest electric distribution company, in the state. NiSource distribution companies serve 3.6 million natural gas and electric customers primarily in nine states. More information about NIPSCO is available at www.nipsco.com

02/10/01

Recent IDNR Press Releases:

MEETING ON LAKE MICHIGAN YELLOW PERCH, SMALLMOUTH BASS:
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will host a public informational meeting on the Lake Michigan fishery, with the focus on yellow perch and smallmouth bass, on Thursday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the IDNR Suburban North Regional Office Facility, 9511 Harrison St., Des Plaines. 

The abundance of yellow perch has declined since the late 1980s in Lake Michigan. Managers and researchers from the IDNR Division of Fisheries Lake Michigan Program and Illinois Natural History Survey will present information on the current status of the yellow perch population in the Illinois waters of the lake and describe factors that appear to be limiting survival between the larval and young-of-year life stages.

The Lake Michigan smallmouth bass sport fishery has grown in popularity in recent years, operating under a catch-and-release regulation since 1998. Biologists and researchers will discuss monitoring and new studies on the smallmouth bass population, including monitoring near the new artificial reef off the Chicago lakefront. 

The public is invited to the meeting, and time will be reserved for questions and open discussion. For more information, phone 847/294-4134. (For those attending the meeting at the IDNR Des Plaines office, please park on the south side of the building and enter through the south doors).

* * *

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police officers are asking for the assistance of the public in the investigation into the discovery of a bald eagle found shot to death last month along the Mississippi River near the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison County, Illinois. The immature bald eagle was found dead in debris near the water's edge on January 13. Investigators determined that the bald eagle had been shot with a shotgun shell.

The unlawful killing of a bald eagle is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 upon conviction.

Conservation Police ask anyone who may have been eagle watching, waterfowl hunting or otherwise in the vicinity near the Chain of Rocks Bridge on January 13, and may have information related to the shooting of the eagle, to please contact investigators. Contact IDNR Conservation Police Alton regional headquarters at 618/462-1181 or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents in St. Peters, Missouri at 636/441-1909. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $1,000 reward for information resulting in a conviction in this case. 

* * *

INAUGURAL ILLINOIS OUTDOOR HALL OF FAME DINNER A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The inaugural Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet, honoring five individuals, two companies and a conservation organization for their commitment to the protection and enhancement of the state's natural resources and outdoor recreation, was a tremendous success, grossing more than $145,000.

The event, held at the Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace, was a sellout with nearly 700 individuals attending.

"It was incredible to see all of our friends and supporters at the event," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning. "The response to this first annual event was inspiring. I can't begin to express how much we appreciated the show of support for the Illinois Conservation Foundation and its work on behalf of outdoor Illinois."

John Schmitt, Executive Director of the Foundation, echoed Manning's sentiments and said planning for next year's event is already underway.

"An event the size of this one takes a tremendous effort. I want to thank everyone involved for putting their hearts and souls into making the evening such a success," Schmitt said. "We already are planning next year's dinner. It will definitely be the hottest ticket in town."

Schmitt noted that net proceeds from the event will provide grants to assist grassroots conservation groups throughout Illinois. The grant program, in its second year, provides funding to projects and educational programs that preserve and enhance the natural resources of Illinois.

Funding provides school children with hands-on experiences in the outdoors, helps restore fragile habitats and helps connect classroom learning with conservation stewardship.

Examples of recently funded programs include a mobile nature center in Macon County, classroom materials and tours about Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve in Cook County, an outdoor sports festival for kids at Lake Shelbyville, IFOR's Youth Skills Camp at Carlyle Lake and an outdoors summer camp for kids in the Metropolis Area.

The first class of inductees in the new Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame included:

•Frank Bellrose of Havana, one of the world's foremost authorities on waterfowl and wetlands; 
•Jack Ehresman, retired outdoors columnist for the Peoria Journal-Star; 
•James Helfrich, a 33-year employee of the Illinois Department of Conservation, who served as the agency's assistant director from 1977 until his death in 1986; 
•John Husar, award-winning sportswriter and columnist for the Chicago Tribune, who died in 2000; and, 
•Gene Morgan, a high school biology teacher and founder of the Sesser-Valier High School Outdoorsmen's Club. 
Also honored with presentations of Director's Awards for their commitment to natural resource protection in Illinois were Dynegy Inc., Plano Molding Co., and the Illinois Chapter of the Safari Club International.

The banquet featured a raffle, a silent auction and a live auction including all-inclusive golf trips, fishing trips and hunting trips, several boats, shotguns, and a state park lodge tour. In addition, a final drawing of the night for all attendees offered a complete family camp site package.

The Illinois Conservation Foundation, an IRS 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, has raised more than $13 million to support the programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. For more information, contact Executive Director John Schmitt, Illinois Conservation Foundation, 524 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62701-1787, phone 312/814-7237, or check the ICF web site at http://www.ilcf.org.

01/29/02

Cook County Forest Preserve District Changes Ice Fishing Regulations

Last week's Cook County Board meeting resulted in a change to the ice fishing regulations. The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a new "Ice Fish at Your Own Risk" regulation. This new regulation also covers ice skating. The regulations DO NOT include all Cook County lakes, they are specific to the following lakes:

Arrowhead, Axehead, Beck, Belleau, Big Bend, Bode Lake South, Busse Main and south pools, Maple, Papoose, Powderhorn, Saganashkee Slough, both Sag Quarries, Tampier and Wampum.

The Forest Preserve District is in the process of posting updated signs, and should have most if not all erected this week.  Keep in mind that the new regulation only means that the Forest Preserve will not be checking the ice, and therefore will not regulate when ice is or is not safe. Therefore it is up to each individual angler to ensure that the ice is safe for fishing.
So play it safe. Don't venture out unless the ice is at least four inches thick, fish with a partner, and always have appropriate safety devices handy.

01/20/02

NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

MEETING ON LAKE MICHIGAN YELLOW PERCH, SMALLMOUTH BASS: 
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will host a public informational meeting on the Lake Michigan fishery, with the focus on yellow perch and smallmouth bass, on Thursday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the IDNR Suburban North Regional Office Facility, 9511 Harrison St., Des Plaines.

The abundance of yellow perch has declined since the late 1980s in Lake Michigan. Managers and researchers from the IDNR Division of Fisheries Lake Michigan Program and Illinois Natural History Survey will present information on the current status of the yellow perch population in the Illinois waters of the lake and describe factors that appear to be limiting survival between the larval and young-of-year life stages.

The Lake Michigan smallmouth bass sport fishery has grown in popularity in recent years, operating under a catch-and-release regulation since 1998. Biologists and researchers will discuss monitoring and new studies on the smallmouth bass population, including monitoring near the new artificial reef off the Chicago lakefront. 

The public is invited to the meeting, and time will be reserved for questions and open discussion. For more information, phone 847/294-4134. (For those attending the meeting at the IDNR Des Plaines office, please park on the south side of the building and enter through the south doors). 

The Department of Natural Resources is seeking Illinois organizations that want to participate in the fifth Conservation Congress.

Membership in the Conservation Congress is composed of representatives from recognized organizations in Illinois, including non-for-profit corporations, businesses and other entities whose goals and actions demonstrate a commitment to the protection, conservation, sustainable use and/or recreational enjoyment of Illinois' natural resources.

Later this year, a series of caucuses will be held in each of the Department's five regions to identify issues, draft recommendations and elect delegates for the next Congress scheduled for September 2003.

Further information is available on the Department's home page at http://dnr.state.il.us or from IDNR's Constituency Services Office, 524 S. Second St., Room 500, Springfield, IL 62701. Questions should be directed to Brenda Potts or Curt Conrad at 217/782-4963; TDD: 217/782-9175; e-mail: bpotts@dnrmail.state.il.us or cconrad@dnrmail.state.il.us.

01/13/02

Chicagoland- Fishing, Hunting, Travel & Outdoors Show:

This Wednesday is the first day of the Chicagoland- Fishing, Hunting, Travel & Outdoors Show.  During a Wednesday night dinner, the show's producers  will be presenting it's 2002 Outdoor Achievement Awards.  The awards cover three categories: Conservation, Humanitarian, and Youth Services.  This year, the awards will be presented to three area men:

Bruce Caruso (Conservation) is from Brookfield, IL 
Bruce is the man who made the effort to get Wolf Lake stocked privately with larger walleye both from private individuals and public.  He is also a member of Perch American and the Smallmouth (bass) Alliance.  He was one of the moving forces behind tighter regulations on Lake Michigan smallmouth.

John Vrett (Humanitarian) is from Woodstock, IL
John Vrett is with McHenry County Sportsmen.  He group was finally successful in a 30 year struggle to introduce hunting to the McHenry County Conservation District.  The struggle was a national story.

John Christofiles (Youth Support Award) is from Munster, Indianna
John Christofiles is one of the active members of the Hofman Dam River Rats and he works freely with kids, introducing them to the Des Plaines River.

Chicago Fishing Links would like to congratulate each of the three winners, and thank them for their time and dedication.

Reminder:  Let's Talk Fishing Opens New Season with TV Show Taping - News from Illinois Outdoors:

On January 19th, 2002 the Let's Talk Fishing Show will begin a new season with a live taping of two All Outdoors Television Shows. Let's Talk Fishing is a fund raising show that is held at the Edge Restaurant and Lounge in Midlothian every Saturday from January to April from 1to 6 PM to help support the Duke O'Malley Kids Fishing Derby. This derby held each summer at Tampier Lake for local kids at no cost. Over a thousand children come to the fishing derby to have a great day at the water's edge with their family. Every kid receives a fishing pole to fish on derby day and goes home with an assortment of prizes supplied by O'Malley through his efforts and those of outdoor writer "Catfish" Bill Wesolowski, owner of The Edge.
The public is invited to be part of the audience at this live taping of the All Outdoors Television Shows. The All Outdoors is aired on various affiliates of AT&T Broadband every week and will celebrate the beginning of it's 4th year for TV show. Co-hosts Don Dziedzina and Rich Komar will be showing some new and unusual fishing products and talk about fishing with guest experts. Ron Miltzow will be sharing some of his All Outdoors fishing and hunting tips and a live band will be on hand to entertain the audience before the show and during commercial breaks. While supplies last, free fishing tackle will be given away to the audience from the All Outdoors TV Show sponsors. 
Wesolowski says that free food will be served to the people in the audience as he normally does at all of the Let's Talk Fishing shows that are held every Saturday starting at 1 PM. As part of the fund raiser for the Kids Fishing Derby, raffle tickets are sold for great prizes including rods, reels, tackle boxes, lures and an assortment of other outdoor related items. All proceeds will go to the Kids Fishing Derby fund.
Last year when the All Outdoors TV Show taped two shows at the Edge, there was an audience of over 250 sportsmen and women who all had an enjoyable time. The crew from The Edge and the All Outdoors TV Show are hoping for a bigger turn out this year. 
The doors will open at noon and there is no charge for admission. The TV shows are scheduled to begin taping at 1:30 PM and 3 PM. The Edge Restaurant and Lounge is located at 4810 W. 148th St., Midlothian on the south end of the plaza.

06/18/02

NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

Recent flooding has impacted state parks. Some sites may be completely closed, while parts of other areas may be closed. Please call ahead before visiting a state park in the next few weeks.

***********************

Eldon Hazlet State Park on Carlyle Lake is expected to reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 7. It has been closed due to flooding in the area. The Carlyle lakefront cabins, 227 Class A camp sites with electricity, 35 Class C camp sites that are walk-in with tent camping and two Rent-A-Camp cabins will be available. The high water boat ramp at Apache also will be open, as will four of six day-use areas. For more information call 618/594-3015.

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If you enjoy the outdoors, be alert to the possibility of West Nile Virus. While not a common occurrence, individuals can become infected with the West Nile virus by being bitten by an infected mosquito. Most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms of illness, but some may become ill, usually three to 15 days after being bitten.West Nile is similar to the St. Louis Encephalitis virus. Symptoms can be mild, such as a fever and headache. In some individuals, however, particularly the elderly, West Nile virus can cause serious disease that includes muscle weakness, brain inflammation, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, coma or death. No human case has been reported in Illinois to date.

WNV is carried from infected birds through mosquitoes to humans. It is not spread by person-to-person contact or directly from birds or mammals to people. However, hunters are urged to take proper precautions and to wear rubber gloves when field dressing game. Proper cooking kills WNV, so health officials believe there is no danger associated with eating wild game that might be infected.

To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, a number of precautions are recommended:

--Whenever outdoors between dusk and dawn, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Loose-fitting, light colored clothing is best.

--Use mosquito repellent containing 25 percent to 35 percent DEET when it is necessary to be outdoors, applied sparingly to exposed skin or clothing, as indicated on the repellent label. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children.

--Check residential screens, including porches and patios, for tears and other openings.

--Eliminate stagnant water in bird baths, ponds, flower pots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles in which mosquitoes might breed.

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Local governments, privately owned marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs have until Aug. 16 to apply for grants available to provide temporary docking facilities for large boats. Funds for the program come from federal excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels through the Sport Fishing and Boating Safety program, and can provide up to 75 percent of an approved project's cost. The program is intended to enhance boating for transient, non-trailerable recreational boats - those 26 feet long or longer. The applicant must provide the other 25 percent of a project's cost.

Eligible facilities must accommodate boats of 26 feet or longer, must be used by transient boaters who do not stay more than 10 consecutive days and must be open to the public. Projects could include boat slips, mooring buoys, navigational aids, safe harbors and initial dredging to provide transient boats with safe channel depths.

Projects which are not eligible include routine maintenance, construction of boat slips for long-term rental, maintenance dredging, dry land storage or non-public facilities.

The program has two levels of funding. Tier 1 projects have a limit of $50,000 per applicant with a total of $100,000 available for IDNR projects this year. Tier 2 projects are for larger projects, have no funding limit and will compete nationally for grants. The amount of funds available for larger projects will depend on the number of small projects funded nationwide. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to announce grant recipients in early 2003. All proposals must be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR); the administering unit of the IDNR is the Federal Aid/Special Funds Section of the Office of Resource Conservation. For additional information, call the Federal Aid/Special Funds Section at 217/ 782-2602, TDD 217/782-9175.

05/20/02

2002 URBAN FISHING CLINICS AND ACCESS TO FISHING EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM LOCATIONS ANNOUNCED

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. - Children, families and would-be anglers of all ages are invited to participate in free urban fishing clinics throughout Illinois this summer, while anyone interested in fishing can borrow the needed equipment through the state's popular Access to Fishing equipment loan program, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning announced today.
"There is no better way for families to enjoy time together than through fishing, and the urban fishing clinics help spark an interest in fishing for thousands of youngsters every summer," Manning said. "Anyone interested in fishing can give it a try by visiting one of the Access to Fishing equipment loan locations, borrowing some fishing tackle and heading to a local fishing hole. When kids and adults experience how much fun fishing can be, they will be hooked on it and enjoy it for the rest of their lives."
The free Urban Fishing Program clinics are geared toward children ages 16 and younger, but anyone interested in learning basic fishing techniques may attend. Clinics can also be arranged for special needs or senior groups. The clinics are presented on weekdays during the late spring and summer months at 29 locations throughout the state.

Check out the ChicagoFishingLinks IDNR information section for the entire listing.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS STUDENTS RAISE FUNDS TO HELP ENDANGERED RIVER MUSSELS

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. - Students at Rogers Elementary School in the Tazewell County community of Marquette Heights are combining classroom lessons with real-world environmental activism by raising funds for endangered river mussels in Illinois.

"Each year the students at Rogers Elementary School pitch in to help a species in trouble," said John Schmitt, Executive Director of the Illinois Conservation Foundation. "Guided by their teacher, Patty Massaglia, the students blend their science studies with a project to improve the natural resources in Illinois. They've learned about and raised money for threatened or endangered otters, mud turtles, bats, rattlesnakes, barn owls and now mussels."

Students at Rogers raised $1,400 this year for management and recovery efforts of endangered mussel species in the Mississippi River. Funds will pay for surveys and inventories of historic and recently discovered mussel beds in the river as well as possible relocations to more pristine portions of the river. Students presented a check to the Foundation on Friday.

"I continue to be amazed at the dedication and enthusiasm the students show toward each year's project," Schmitt said.

The students were presented a plaque recognizing their contribution. In addition, Joe Kath, Endangered Species Project Manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, presented students with a barn owl box in thanks for their efforts to raise funds for that endangered species last year. Kath has frequently made presentations to the students.

Dean Corgiat and Tim Kelley, two Department of Natural Resources biologists who specialize in Natural Heritage issues, made a presentation to the students about mussels, this year's focus species, kicking off the fund-raising effort.

Fresh-water mussels, also known as naiades, are direct descendants of mollusks that evolved in the oceans around the continental land masses. Mussels filled an important niche in the ecosystem, contributing to the food requirements of many animals and were, to some extent, food for the native American Indians. In some areas of the Unites States, the Indians relied so heavily on mussels for food that entire villages lived for prolonged periods in places where mussels were plentiful. The Indians also found a multitude of uses for mussel shells. Some were fashioned into hoes, scrapers, spoons, and other tools.

Throughout the world today, freshwater mussels represent one of the most imperiled animals. In Illinois, nearly 30 species of native mussels appear on the states's Endangered and Threatened Species list. DNR has been actively participating in mussel recovery efforts in the Mississippi River for many years, especially in the stretch of the river extending from Pike County north to JoDaviess County.

Mussels are extremely sensitive to changes in water quality and are an excellent barometer of the biological condition of Illinois' creeks, streams, and rivers. Increased siltation, domestic, industrial, and agricultural pollution, and competition from exotic mussel species (such as the zebra mussel) are all potential threats to mussels in Illinois and throughout North America. Dredging, impoundment construction, siltation and pollution all have negative impacts on these fragile organisms.

During the last few years Rogers Elementary students have raised more than $7,500 to help fund a variety of projects, including a river otter reintroduction, acquisition of habitat in Mason County for the endangered Illinois mud turtle, installation of a metal gate to protect endangered Indiana bats hibernating in a cave in Pope County and recovery efforts for the state endangered barn owl.

The donations were made through the Illinois Conservation Foundation, established in 1994 to allow financial contributions for specific IDNR initiatives. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised more than $14 million in support of Department of Natural Resources programs.

For more information on the Illinois Conservation Foundation, contact John D. Schmitt, Executive Director, Illinois Conservation Foundation, 100 W. Randolph, Suite 4-300, Chicago, Ill. 60601, or phone 312/814-7237.

(Media advisory: John D. Schmitt and Joe Kath will accept the donation for mussel restoration on Friday, May 10 at 2 p.m. at Rogers Elementary School, 109 Rogers Road, Marquette Heights)

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There were eight fatalities and 75 injuries in boating accidents last year in Illinois. Let's all work together to make 2002 a safe boating year. Current safety classes are available on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources web site at the following address: http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/SAFETY/index.htm Select the type of course: hunting, boating, snowmobile or trapping; click on the text that says "where are courses available". You will see a map of Illinois divided by regions. Select a region of the state and then select a county. All current classes for that area will be listed. You can also call toll-free in Illinois at 1-800-832-2599.

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The 20th Annual Kid's Only Free Fishing Event, hosted by the Springfield Jaycees and Illinois Department of Natural Resources, will be held at the University of Illinois-Springfield on Saturday, June 8 as part of the Illinois Free Fishing Days weekend. The kids' fishing derby is from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. at the campus pond, located on the north side of the UIS campus near the intersection of the campus ring road and Shepherd Road. Participating sponsors include the University of Illinois-Springfield, local businesses, and the Central Illinois Fantails chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Kids ages 12 and younger are eligible to participate. Limited fishing bait will be provided. Youngsters should bring their own fishing gear. Parents are not allowed to fish during the event, but are encouraged to bring a camera. Each participant is limited to taking two catfish.

Lunch and prizes will be provided. In addition to fishing, the event will include a petting zoo, casting contests, a fishing seminar for kids by IDNR fisheries biologist Dan Stephenson, a talk on fishing regulations by an IDNR Conservation Police Officer, and clowns with balloons.

Pre-registration is required by contacting any Springfield Jaycees member or by calling 217/782-6232 weekdays or 217/546-1266 on weekends or evenings.

This year's Illinois Free Fishing Days are June 7-10.

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REMINDER: The Illinois Conservation Foundation is inviting nominations for the 2003 Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame, which honors individuals who have made significant commitments to natural resource protection and outdoor recreation in Illinois.

Nominees to the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame should include those select outdoor sportsmen and women who truly have made significant contributions or exhibited unparalleled dedication in preserving, promoting, enhancing or supporting natural resources or outdoor recreational opportunities in Illinois.

All nominations must be submitted on an official nomination form. Nomination forms are now available and completed nominations should be submitted no later than June 15, 2002. Forms can be obtained by writing or calling Ron Allen at 217/785-9371, rallen@dnrmail.state.il.us, Illinois Conservation Foundation, Attn: Ron Allen, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271 or from the Foundation's special events section of its web site at http://www.ilcf.org/SpecialEvents.htm.

Each nomination must be accompanied by a letter of nomination. It is suggested applications also include up to three letters of support, news clippings and any other documentation that might help the selection committee.

The Illinois Conservation Foundation is an IRS 501 (c)(3) organization which has raised more than $14 million in support of programs and projects of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources since 1995.

NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

ILLINOIS STATE MUSEUM'S 125TH ANNIVERSARY BASH IS MAY 25: On May 25, 1877, Governor Shelby M. Cullom signed into law an act establishing "a State Historical Library and a State Museum of Natural History." On Saturday evening, May 25 - on the 125th anniversary of its founding - the Illinois State Museum will host a step back in time for an evening of fun and celebration. The ISM 125th Anniversary Bash Lawn Chair Drive-in Block Party will be held from 6-10 p.m. outside the museum at Spring and Edwards Streets in downtown Springfield. The free admission, alcohol-free event will include a drive-in theater-style 3-D movie, kids activities, the T.G. Dalyrmple Circus, musical entertainment, a Museum Store porch sale, food and refreshments, and a fireworks finale. For more information, contact the Illinois State Museum at 217/782-5661.

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There's a new record muskie in Illinois. Matt Carmean of Mattoon was fishing on the east side of the spillway at Lake Shelbyville recently when he caught a big muskie. How big? Well, IDNR district fisheries manager Mike Mounce has taken official statistics and recorded the fish as 50.75 inches and 38 pounds, 8 ounces. Tissue samples of the fish demonstrated it is a true muskie. The new catch eclipses the current record held by Chris Kim since 1997, with a 37 pound, 13 ounce fish caught at Lake Shabbona.

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LAST CALL: The Department of Natural Resources is seeking Illinois organizations that want to participate in the fifth Conservation Congress. The deadline is May 31. Membership in the Conservation Congress is composed of representatives from recognized organizations in Illinois, including non-for-profit corporations, businesses and other entities whose goals and actions demonstrate a commitment to the protection, conservation, sustainable use and/or recreational enjoyment of Illinois' natural resources.

Later this year, a series of caucuses will be held in each of the Department's five regions to identify issues, draft recommendations and elect delegates for the next Congress scheduled for September 2003. Further information is available on the Department's home page at http://dnr.state.il.us or from IDNR's Constituency Services Office, 524 S. Second St., Room 500, Springfield, IL 62701. Questions should be directed to Brenda Potts or Curt Conrad at 217/782-4963; TDD: 217/782-9175; e-mail: bpotts@dnrmail.state.il.us or cconrad@dnrmail.state.il.us.

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Here's what's happening at Dickson Mounds Museum:

BISON!

Scientists have long debated the question of when exactly there were bisons in Illinois. Dr. R. Bruce McMillan, Director of the Illinois State Museum, will review all the current evidence in a slide talk on "A History of Bison in Illinois," based on a book he is current editing, Bison Remains from the Illinois River Valley. Sunday, May 26, 2:00 p.m.

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Project WILD

An Environmental Education Workshop for Teachers grades K-12. The national award-winning environmental education program promotes ecology awareness and stewardship and integrates this knowledge into school projects. For more information and advance registration call 309/547-3721. Wednesday, June 19, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Current Special Exhibit at Dickson Mounds

Travels in the Interior of North America: The Maximilian Bodmer Expedition.

This exhibit includes 41 (half) of the famous drawings of the 'Western wilderness' created by Swiss artist Karl Bodmer in the early 1830s, on the first western expedition to combine the talents of both a professional scientist (Prince Maximilan) and an artist. Considered to be among the most illuminating documentation of the 19th century. A program of ExhibitsUSA, through June 20.

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The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board will meet at10 a.m. on Friday, May 17, in the Linnaeus Room of the Education Center, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. The Board determines what species are threatened or endangered in the state and advises the Department of Natural Resources on the means of conserving them. The Board meets quarterly, revises the list of protected species every five years and completed its most recent revisions in 1999. For more information, contact the Board at 217/785-8687.

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ICF DOWNSTATE GOLF OUTING JUNE 4: The Illinois Conservation Foundation's 7th Annual Downstate Golf Benefit to support youth fishing, hunting and other educational programs will be held on Tuesday, June 4 at the Piper Glen Golf Club in Springfield. The golf registration fee is $150 per person, or $500 per foursome. The fee includes golf greens fees and cart, lunch, dinner, beverages, awards and prizes. The field is limited to 144 players. Hole sponsorships are available for $500 each. The event opens with lunch from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. The four-person scramble golf competition will begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m, followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m. and an awards program at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Bob Ruff, IDNR Public Events and Promotions, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, or call 217/785-8955, Ameritech Relay 800/526-0844, TDD 217/782-9175, e-mail at events@dnrmail.state.il.us

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PROMOTING FREE FISHING DAYS EVENTS: Dozens of organizations are expected to conduct fishing derbies and other special events as part of Illinois Free Fishing Days, June 7-10. The four-day celebration promotes sport fishing by allowing anglers to fish without purchasing an annual fishing license, salmon stamp or inland trout stamp. It is co-sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Plano Molding Co., the world's largest manufacturer of fishing tackle boxes.

Organizations interested in receiving promotional and educational materials to be used in conjunction with a Free Fishing Days event, or for more information, should contact Gary Watson, IDNR Public Events & Promotions, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone 217/782-9990.

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THINK SAFETY FIRST WHEN BOATING: WEAR LIFE JACKETS, BE ALERT, STAY SOBER

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning is reminding boat operators and passengers to play it safe on the water this boating season by wearing life jackets, being alert to others on the water and by staying sober.

"There is no question that wearing a life jacket can save your life if you're boating and become involved in an accident," Manning said. "Last year, seven of the eight boating fatalities that occurred in Illinois involved boaters who were not wearing life jackets. Alcohol use was a factor in five of the eight fatalities. Those facts speak for themselves."

Statistics compiled by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Law Enforcement include eight fatalities and 75 injuries in boating accidents in Illinois in 2001. Those compare with 14 fatalities and 76 injuries in boating accidents in the state in 2000, 13 deaths and 75 injuries in 1999, 19 fatalities and 107 injuries in 1998, and 14 deaths and 81 injuries in 1997.

There were a total of 112 boating accidents involving 171 vessels last year in Illinois, compared with 155 boating accidents involving 231 vessels in 2000, and 159 boating accidents involving 238 vessels in 1999. There were a total of 176 boating accidents in 1998 and146 boating accidents in 1997.

"While any boating related death is one too many, the statistics for the 2001 boating season are encouraging in that they show a dramatic decrease in the numbers of deaths," said IDNR Law Enforcement Chief Tom Wakolbinger. "Perhaps more boaters are getting the message about the need to wear life jackets and be sober while on the water."

Illinois law requires that life jackets, also known as personal floatation devices (PFDs), be available for each person aboard a boat or other watercraft. State law also requires anyone operating a personal watercraft to wear a life jacket, and anyone under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket while aboard any watercraft under 26 feet in length at all times the boat is underway, unless they are below deck in an enclosed cabin.

Wakolbinger said the IDNR offers free boating safety courses to review boating laws and provide instruction on safe and attentive operation of watercraft. Course schedules are available by contacting the IDNR Safety Education Office at 800/832-2599, Ameritech Relay 800/526-0844, TDD 217/782-9175, or by checking the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us.

"The courses are an important part of the boating safety effort, taught by hundreds of dedicated volunteer instructors who know the importance of safe, sober boating," said Wakolbinger.

In 2001, as many as three in four of those injured in boating accidents had not participated in a boating safety course. Of the 75 people injured, 36 were operators or passengers on open motor boats, 27 were using jet skis or other personal watercraft, while the others were on cabin motor boats, sail boats or pontoons.

Alcohol use was listed as the primary cause of eight boating accidents, 10 injuries and three fatalities in the state last year, and boaters are reminded that strict enforcement of laws against operating under the influence (OUI) will continue.

"Boat operators will be arrested by our Conservation Police Officers and other law enforcement agencies if testing shows the operators' blood alcohol concentration exceeds .08," Wakolbinger said.

National Safe Boating Week is observed annually during the week preceding the Memorial Day holiday weekend. This year's National Safe Boating Week observance is May 18-24. For the full text of the 2001 boating accident report, see the Department's web site at http://www.dnr.state.il.us/law3/02/01boatacc.htm.

04/15/02

RECENT IDNR NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

The Illinois Conservation Foundation is inviting nominations for the 2003 Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame, which honors individuals who have made significant commitments to natural resource protection and outdoor recreation in Illinois.

Nominees to the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame should include those select outdoor sportsmen and women who truly have made significant contributions or exhibited unparalleled dedication in preserving, promoting, enhancing or supporting natural resources or outdoor recreational opportunities in Illinois.

All nominations must be submitted on an official nomination form. Nomination forms are now available and completed nominations should be submitted no later than June 15, 2002. Forms can be obtained by writing or calling Ron Allen at 217/785-9371, rallen@dnrmail.state.il.us, Illinois Conservation Foundation, Attn: Ron Allen, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271 or from the Foundation's special events section of its web site at http://www.ilcf.org/SpecialEvents.htm.

Each nomination must be accompanied by a letter of nomination. It is suggested applications also include up to three letters of support, news clippings and any other documentation that might help the selection committee.

The Illinois Conservation Foundation is an IRS 501 (c)(3) organization which has raised more than $13 million in support of programs and projects of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources since 1995.

FREE FISHING DAYS EVENTS PLANNED FOR JUNE 7-10

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Family fishing clinics, kids fishing derbies and other special events are planned throughout the state as part of the annual Illinois Free Fishing Days celebration, slated for June 7-10.

"Free Fishing Days events help our citizens -- no matter their age or experience level -- discover that fishing is a fun, family activity available to all Illinoisans in nearly every corner of the state," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning. "I want to encourage any local scout troop, outdoor recreation agency, senior citizens organization, civic group, local fishing club or anyone else planning a special event for the free fishing weekend to let us know about it so we can help get the word out." 

Free Fishing Days is a four-day celebration of fishing in Illinois in which anglers can fish without purchasing an annual fishing license, salmon stamp or inland trout stamp. It is co-sponsored by Plano Molding Co., the world's largest manufacturer of fishing tackle boxes.

Organizations interested in receiving promotional and educational materials to be used in conjunction with a Free Fishing Days event, or for more information, should contact Gary Watson, IDNR Public Events & Promotions, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone 217/782-9990.

04/06/02

The following stories of interest appeared in this week's local newspapers from the Associated Press:

EPA chief announces plan to restore Great Lakes

MUSKEGON, Mich. — Christie Whitman, chief of the Environmental Protection Agency, visited this Lake Michigan city on Tuesday to announce a Bush administration plan to clean up and restore the Great Lakes.

Whitman said the plan addresses the most serious problems facing the five lakes, including sediment contamination, the proliferation of non-native species, loss of habitat and the production of fish unsafe for eating.

The plan sets specific goals for the cleanup and calls on the federal government to work more closely with state and local governments.

It includes monitoring contaminants in fish, requiring factories that discharge into the lakes to limit contaminants, enlisting cooperation from corporations and tracking cleanup efforts under way by state and local agencies.

"Everyone who enjoys the Great Lakes can appreciate the goals the partnership has set to ensure that the Great Lakes basin is a healthy, natural environment for wildlife and people," Whitman said, speaking at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Great Lakes field station in Muskegon.

State issues new warning about fish consumption

Children under 15 and women who are pregnant, nursing or of childbearing age should not eat sport fish more than once a week if it was caught in an Illinois body of water, according to a new statewide advisory issued by public health officials.

The advisory comes after new scientific studies showed methylmercury is more toxic than previously thought. Last year, the methylmercury advisory only applied to two southern Illinois lakes: Cedar Lake and Kinkaid Lake.

Illinois joins several other states, including Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania, who already have statewide methylmercury advisories.

Fish on the state's list include all species of black bass (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted), striped bass, white bass, hybrid striped bass, walleye, sauger, saugeye, flathead catfish, muskellunge and northern pike. Nearly all fish contain trace amounts of methylmercury, but these larger fish that feed on other fish accumulate more and pose the greatest risk.

04/03/02

ILLINOIS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION'S POPULAR DOWNSTATE GOLF BENEFIT JUNE 4 AT PIPER GLEN GOLF CLUB IN SPRINGFIELD

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. -- The Illinois Conservation Foundation's 7th Annual Downstate Golf Benefit to support youth fishing, hunting and other educational programs will be held on Tuesday, June 4 at the Piper Glen Golf Club in Springfield. 

"The downstate golf outing continues to be one of the most popular events held by the Foundation, raising money to support youth deer, turkey and waterfowl hunts, along with family-oriented activities including Free Fishing Days and National Hunting and Fishing Days," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning, who serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Illinois Conservation Foundation. "Golfers and sponsors make this annual event a tremendous success and we are looking forward to another great day June 4."

The golf registration fee is $150 per person, while foursomes may register for just $500. The fee includes golf greens fees and cart, lunch, dinner, beverages, awards and prizes. The field is limited to 144 players.

Individuals, businesses and organizations are invited to support the ICF golf benefit by becoming a hole sponsor for $500 each.

The four-person scramble format golf competition will begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Lunch will precede golf between 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. with the awards program beginning at 6 p.m.

Piper Glen Golf Club is located on Illinois Rt. 4 (Veterans Parkway) on Springfield's far southwest side, just north of Chatham. 

To register for the golf outing, become a sponsor, or for more information, contact Bob Ruff, IDNR Public Events and Promotions, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, or call 217/785-8955, Ameritech Relay 800/526-0844, TDD 217/782-9175.

The Illinois Conservation Foundation is an IRS 501(c)(3) organization. Established in 1994, the Foundation has raised more than $13.5 million in support of the programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. For further information about the Foundation, contact John D. Schmitt at 312/814-7237, or learn more at the Foundation's web site at www.ilcf.org.

04/01/02

Indiana DNR launches St. Joseph River walleye study

DNR fisheries biologists are surveying St. Joseph River walleyes in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties. Walleye survival and growth information gleaned from the study will help biologists better tailor future St. Joe walleye stockings.

On March 20, biologists captured 61 walleyes below the Elkhart Dam. The sampled fish were all males ranging from 13 to 19 inches long. Researchers will be looking for larger females as the river water warms. 

"During spring, walleyes tend to move upstream to spawn. That's why they concentrate below the dam. Male walleyes are the first to show up and spawning in the St. Joe typically peaks in early April," said DNR biologist Neil Ledet. 

Ledet and his crew captured the fish with an electrofishing boat that temporarily stuns fish and allows them to be netted. Once weighed and measured, the fish were released unharmed back into the river. Joe Foy, City of Elkhart fisheries biologist, is also tagging some of the larger walleye before they are released in order to track their movements. Anglers are urged to report tagged walleye by calling (574) 293-2572. The tags look like short pieces of plastic spaghetti. 

Since 1995, the Indiana DNR has annually stocked about 65,000 walleye fingerlings into the St. Joseph River above the Elkhart Dam. Over the past four years, 35,000 additional walleye fingerlings were also stocked into the Twin Branch river section in Mishawaka.

Ledet says young walleyes have a tendency to move downstream, so the majority are stocked above Elkhart to offset their movement. The DNR also conducts a fall survey when young walleyes move into shallow sections of the
river.

Anglers seeking walleye usually do well early or late in the day fishing in eddies near swift current.

"One of the most productive baits is a lead-head jig with a white or chartreuse plastic grub body," said Ledet. "If the action is slow, tip the jig with a minnow or bounce a minnow along the bottom using a single hook and 2 or 3 size split shot sinker."

Ledet suggests that anglers leave their boats at home and fish from shore during spring.

"The swift water between Elkhart's Main Street and dam is especially dangerous, even for experienced boaters," said Ledet. Elkhart city parks provide easy access to several walleye areas on the St. Joe and lower Elkhart River. 

The St. Joseph River has a special size limit on walleye. In cooperation with the State of Michigan, a 15-inch minimum size limit and a six-fish bag limit has been established for walleye taken from the St. Joseph River. Indiana does not have a closed season on walleye. However, many anglers voluntarily release female walleyes at this time of year. 

More walleye fishing information:
http://www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/fishing/wallfish.htm

03/28/02

From Illinois Outdoors:

The following news item was provided to us by Don Dziedzina of Illinois Outdoors:

I talked to the DNR at Braidwood Lake today (3/28) at about 1 PM and they
informed me that Braidwood would open on Saturday, 3/30/02 at 6 AM. 

At about 1:20 PM on 3/28, I talked to Joe Nihoff (sp) of the DNR at
Heidecke Lake. He informed me that they have not yet got confirmation on
an opening date (normally 1 Apr) and he is still waiting.

Don Dz...
Illinois Outdoors, Inc. 
http://www.illinoisoutdoors.com

03/21/02

RECENT IDNR NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

COOLING LAKES UPDATE:

Exelon has reopened the majority of Clinton Lake. An area that will remain closed and not open to the public is the portion of the lake closest to the plant, which is from the Illinois Route 54 bridge to just west of the Energy and Environmental Center. The portion being re-opened is available to boat traffic and recreational activities, following the applicable rules and regulations.

Exelon also has reopened LaSalle Lake. The lake is open from 6 a.m. until dusk Wednesday through Sunday. The lake will open on Mondays and Tuesdays later in the spring, once summer help has been hired for the site.

Exelon has indicated it plans to reopen Braidwood Lake sometime in April. No further information is available on that opening at this time. Any announcement on reopening will come from the utility, with approval of the appropriate state security agencies.

It is unknown when Heidecke Lake, which is owned by Midwest Generation, will open. Any announcement on reopening will come from the utility, with approval of the appropriate state security agencies.

DNR ENDS TWO YEAR UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION

Sixteen individuals from Southern Illinois face state and/or federal game violation charges as a result of a two-year undercover investigation involving Odle's Hunting Club near West Frankfort, including the club's owners and some of its clients. Illinois Department of Natural Resources law enforcement officers as well as agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently issued citations for a variety of violations including the unlawful taking of deer and waterfowl, permit violations and the unlawful sale of sportfish, which is a Class 3 felony. As many as 28 individuals could be charged as a result of the investigation. Two ATVs have been seized as evidence. The operation was supported through the Jake Wolf Fund, a fund supported by sportsmen and others concerned about Illinois' natural resources. If you have a tip about Natural Resource law violations, call IDNR's hot line at 1-877/236-7529 (1-877/2DNRLAW).

REMINDER: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources invites women ages 18 and over for a weekend of adventurous outdoor activities with the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program. Try your hand at charting a course, calling a bird, shooting a bow, firing a shot, tying a fly, catching a fish, paddling a canoe, building a campfire or going on a photo safari. The event is scheduled for June 7-9 at the Lorado Taft Campus of Northern Illinois University in Oregon, Illinois. Enrollment is limited to the first 75 applicants. Registration is open to first-time participants through March 31. Open registration is April 1-May 1. For more information call 217/524-4126, email us at educevents@dnrmail.state.il.us or visit the Department's web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/bow/index.htm

2002 SPRING TROUT SEASON OPENS APRIL 6

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The 2002 Illinois spring trout fishing season opens at 5 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning announced today.

"Each year, the first Saturday in April is a big day for families to go fishing in Illinois thanks to the opener of spring trout season," Manning said. "More than 60,000 catchable-size trout will be stocked at 41 locations throughout the state to provide a great opportunity for those who love fishing to catch some trout." 

The trout stocking program is supported by the sale of inland trout stamps. The stamps are available for $6.50 each at IDNR offices in Springfield, Chicago, Alton, Benton, Champaign, Spring Grove and Sterling, at many municipal, township and county clerks' offices, and at many sporting goods stores and bait shops. Inland trout stamps, as well as fishing licenses, also may be purchased with a credit card through the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us

To legally participate in the catchable trout fishing program, anglers must have a valid Illinois fishing license and an inland trout stamp, or a 24-hour fishing license, which includes trout fishing privileges. A license is required unless the angler is under age 16, blind or disabled, or an Illinois serviceman or servicewoman home on leave. Annual fishing licenses now being sold for the 2002 season are valid through March 31, 2003.

Anglers are prohibited from taking trout from any of the stocked sites from March 15 to April 6 at 5 a.m. Anyone attempting to take trout before the legal opening will be issued citations. The daily possession limit for the spring trout season is five fish. 

For more information about the trout stocking program, contact the IDNR Division of Fisheries at 217/782-6424, Ameritech Relay 800/526-0844, TDD 217/782-9175, or by calling 1-800/ASK-FISH.

Stocking sites (by county) for the spring catchable trout program:

•Adams County: Siloam Springs State Park Lake. 
•Boone County: Mill Race Ponds in Belvidere. 
•Bureau County: Hennepin Canal Parkway. 
•Cass County: Gurney Road Pond at Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area. 
•Champaign County: Lake of the Woods. 
•Cook County: Axehead Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District. 
•Cook County: Belleau Lake, Cook County Forest Preserve District. 
•Cook County: Sag Quarry East, Cook County Forest Preserve District. 
•Coles County: Eastern Illinois University Campus Pond in Charleston. 
•DuPage County: Silver Lake, DuPage County Forest Preserve District. 
•Grundy County: Gebhard Woods State Park Pond. 
•Jefferson County: Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond. 
•Jo Daviess County: Apple River Canyon State Park. 
•Johnson County: Ferne Clyffe State Park Lake. 
•Kankakee County: Bird Park Quarry in Kankakee. 
•Kankakee County: Rock Creek in Kankakee River State Park. 
•Kendall County: Big Lake at Silver Springs State Park. 
•Lake County: Banana Lake, Lake County Forest Preserve District. 
•LaSalle County: Illinois and Michigan Canal at Uttica 
•Lake County: Sand Lake at Illinois Beach State Park. 
•Macon County: Rock Springs Pond, Macon County Conservation District. 
•Marion County: Boston Pond at Stephen A. Forbes State Park. 
•Massac County: Fairgrounds Pond in Fort Massac State Park, Metropolis. 
•McLean County: Miller Park Lake in Bloomington. 
•McHenry County: Lake Atwood, Hollows Conservation Area, McHenry County Conservation District. 
•McHenry County: Piscasaw Creek. 
•Moultrie County: Wyman Lake in Sullivan. 
•Ogle County: Pine Creek in White Pines state Forest. 
•St. Clair County: Frank Holten State Park main lake. 
•St. Clair County: Jones Park Lake in East St. Louis. 
•Sangamon County: Illinois Department of Transportation Lake in Springfield. 
•Sangamon County: Washington Park Pond in Springfield. 
•Shelby County: Forest Park Lagoon in Shelbyville. 
•Stephenson County: Waddams Creek at Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park 
•Stephenson County: Yellow Creek in Krape Park, Freeport. 
•Vermilion County: Clear Lake at Kickapoo State Park. 
•Wabash County: Beall Woods Lake, Beall Woods State Park 
•Wayne County: Sam Dale Lake Conservation Area Trout Pond. 
•Whiteside County: Coleta Trout Ponds. 
•Will County: Lake Milliken at Des Plaines Conservation Area. 
•Winnebago County: Kent Creek in Page Park, Rockford. 

SHABBONA UPDATE:

The Department of Natural Resources does not intend to move forward with a plan to remove the 10-horsepower motor limit for boats using Shabbona Lake (DeKalb County). Shabbona was one of six lakes where the Department proposed lifting the horsepower restriction this year as a pilot to determine whether IDNR could provide greater access for anglers and others who operate larger boats without disrupting traditional users of those lakes. The larger motors would be allowed to operate at idle speed with no wake only. IDNR Director Brent Manning said constituents objected to the change at Shabbona by a two-to-one margin during a recent public comment period. 
The proposed administrative rule lifting the horsepower restriction at five other lakes has not yet been adopted by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, but the proposal may be considered at JCAR's April meeting. Meanwhile, traditional 10-horsepower motor restrictions remain in place and will be enforced. The lakes include: Pierce Lake (Winnebago County), Wolf Lake (Cook County), Dawson Lake (McLean County), Washington County Lake (Washington County), and Mermet Lake (Massac County). These lakes have surface waters of between 60-500 acres. 

2002 SMELT SEASON UNDERWAY

Smelt fishing season on Lake Michigan runs from March 1 to April 30 in most areas outside the City of Chicago. (Check local seasonal regulations for smelt fishing from Chicago Park District properties). Smelters must have an Illinois fishing license, may operate no more than one device, and must immediately return all fish other than smelt to the water. Smelt may be taken with a seine or gill net not more than 12 feet long and six feet deep with a mesh size of not more than 1 ½ inches diagonal stretch; or by dip nets not more than 12 feet in diameter with a mesh size of not less than one inch diagonal stretch. Trolley or power lines may also be used. Areas where fishing dates differ from the statewide regulation are as follows: North Point Marina (authorized areas only), Illinois Beach State Park (south unit only), Waukegan Power Plant and Chicago Park District property, April 1-30.

REMINDER: Individuals can visit the Departments Internet Page at http://dnr.state.il.us to purchase their license and stamps( except for Federal Migratory stamps) online and receive their license back to their computer monitor for immediate printing. If they loose their license they can go back into the system and retrieve a replacement as no additional cost.

Individuals can also call a toll free number 1-888-6-PERMIT or 1-888-673-7648 to buy licenses and stamps by telephone. Buyers will receive a confirmation number for their transaction and their license will be in the mail within 24 hours. If they want to fish or hunt before they receive the license, they need to write down the confirmation number on a piece of paper along with the date they purchased the license. They also should record on the piece of paper what they purchased.

The public is invited to attend the Natural Resources Advisory Board meeting on March 26 at 7 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. The Board advises the Department on long range policies. There will be presentations by IDNR staff and time allotted for public comments. For information call 217/782-4963. 

In an effort to improve the quality of the Rend Lake crappie fishery, the Department of Natural Resoures and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are implementing two new crappie regulations. Beginning April 1, anglers will be allowed to harvest a maximum of 25 crappie per day from Rend Lake. In addition, no more than 5 of these crappie may be greater than 10 inches in length.

Limiting the maximum number of crappie that anglers can keep each day will help to more equitably distribute the harvest. Without a daily limit, large numbers of crappie are harvested by a relatively small number of anglers. Some anglers are currently harvesting as many as 200 or more crappie per day. Restricting anglers to 25 crappie per day will prevent individual fishermen from harvesting excessive numbers of fish and allow a larger number of anglers to participate in the harvest.

The new regulation allowing anglers to harvest no more than 5 crappie per day greater than 10" in length is designed to encourage the harvest of smaller fish. The smaller crappie in Rend Lake are especially slow growing. Increasing the harvest of smaller fish in the population should allow growth rates for the remaining fish to improve. As growth rates of these smaller crappie improve, the size structure of the population should increase. This will result in a significant increase in the number and percentage of large crappie present in the lake, improving the quality of the crappie fishery.

The effects of these regulations on the Rend Lake crappie population will be carefully monitored. Improvement in the size structure of the crappie population as a result of these new regulations should be gradual, and will likely require at least 2-3 years to create a noticeable change. If effective, these regulations can be adjusted in the future to allow a more liberal harvest of larger crappie. 

Is it ever too cold to fish? Chad Cain of Carbondale doesn't think so. Cain is an experienced musky fisherman, but who would have thought his first fish of the new year would have been a 47-inch muskie? Cain caught this "non-keeper fish" on Kinkaid Lake in Jackson County in mid-February and was on the lake for just a short time when he hooked and landed this trophy fish. He took time to take a couple of pictures, then released it back into the lake so another lucky angler could experience the thrill of catching a true monster!

RECENT INDIANA NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

WOMEN'S OUTDOOR WORK SHOPS

Two weekend-long outdoor skill workshops for women are filling up fast.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman weekends are scheduled for May 3-5 near West Lafayette and June 7-9 near Ft. Wayne. The workshops offer low-pressure outdoor experiences such as canoeing, nature craft, fly fishing, camping,
outdoor cooking, birdwatching, hunting dog training, shooting and mountain biking and kayaking.

Workshop enrollment is limited. Participants must be 18 years or older.

The workshops are sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources, Ft.Wayne Journal Gazette, and Galyan's.

For more information or to register, visit Indiana's Becoming an
Outdoors-Woman web site at: http://www.IN.gov/dnr/outdoorwoman

Or contact Theresa Mack at (317) 232-4010

03/04/02

RECENT IDNR NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

REMINDER: The experimental lifting of the horsepower restriction on six select lakes DOES NOT take affect until April 1. Traditional regulations remain in place and will be enforced until that time. The lakes include: Shabbona Lake (DeKalb County, Pierce Lake (Winnebago County), Wolf Lake (Cook County), Dawson Lake (McLean County), Washington County Lake (Washington County), and Mermet Lake (Massac County).

Smelt fishing season on Lake Michigan runs from March 1 to April 30 in most areas outside the City of Chicago. (Check local seasonal regulations for smelt fishing from Chicago Park District properties). Smelters must have an Illinois fishing license, may operate no more than one device, and must immediately return all fish other than smelt to the water. Smelt may be taken with a seine or gill net not more than 12 feet long and six feet deep with a mesh size of not more than 1 ½ inches diagonal stretch; or by dip nets not more than 12 feet in diameter with a mesh size of not less than one inch diagonal stretch. Trolley or power lines may also be used. Areas where fishing dates differ from the statewide regulation are as follows: North Point Marina, Illinois Beach State Park, Winnetka and Chicago, April 1-30.

The traditional opening dates for Braidwood Lake (March 1) and LaSalle Lake (March 15) will not take place this year. These lakes may open later in the spring. The lakes are managed by the Department of Natural Resources, but are owned by Exelon Nuclear.

Anglers can enjoy fishing at Ponderosa Lake, Mazonia South and Mazonia which now are open.

Rob Stecher, 32, Antioch recently pled guilty to one count of violating the Clean Water Act and to one amended count of attempting to violate the Pesticide Act involving a fish kill that occurred on the Channel Lake, Chain-O-Lakes, Lake County last summer. Two other charges were dismissed. The plea agreement requires the following: 1 year court supervision, court costs related to the Clean Water Act violation, a $500 fine on the Pesticide Act violation, 75 hours of community service to be served at the Fox Waterway Agency, a $2,000 donation to the Fox Waterway Agency with the money earmarked for fish habitat improvement and restitution to IDNR for the fish kill in the amount of $174.88.

No arrests have been made and Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police officers are asking for the assistance of the public in the investigation into the discovery of a bald eagle found shot to death last month along the Mississippi River near the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison County, Illinois. The immature bald eagle was found dead in debris near the water's edge on January 13. Investigators determined that the bald eagle had been shot with a shotgun shell.

The unlawful killing of a bald eagle is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 upon conviction.

Conservation Police ask anyone who may have been eagle watching, waterfowl hunting or otherwise in the vicinity near the Chain of Rocks Bridge on January 13, and may have information related to the shooting of the eagle, to please contact investigators. Contact IDNR Conservation Police Alton regional headquarters at 618/462-1181 or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents in St. Peters, Missouri at 636/441-1909. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $1,000 reward for information resulting in a conviction in this case. 

The Captain area of Pyramid State Park will open to limited fishing on March 1. In addition, the Denmark area, which was closed for waterfowl season, will reopen to fishing on that same date. For specific fishing regulations, see the Department of Natural Resources 2002 Illinois Fishing Information Guide. Pyramid State Park can be reached at 618/357-2574.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources invites women ages 18 and over for a weekend of adventurous outdoor activities with the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program. Try your hand at charting a course, calling a bird, shooting a bow, firing a shot, tying a fly, catching a fish, paddling a canoe, building a campfire or going on a photo safari. The event is scheduled for June 7-9 at the Lorado Taft Campus of Northern Illinois University in Oregon, Illinois. Enrollment is limited to the first 75 applicants. Registration is open to first-time participants March 1-31. Open registration is April 1-May 1. For more information call 217/524-4126, email us at educevents@dnrmail.state.il.us or visit the Department's web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/bow/index.htm

Indiana DNR news:

Federal lake trout losses will impact 2002 Lake Michigan stocking

Problems at a federal fish hatchery will result in a reduction to the number of lake trout stocked into Indiana's Lake Michigan waters this year.

Indiana typically receives about 60,000 lake trout, which are stocked offshore in an area called the Michiana reef. Due to the hatchery losses, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) plans to stock only 23,000 fish in Indiana this spring.

Stocking sites are prioritized based on habitat quality. Although Indiana's site is classified as a "secondary" site, it will receive fish despite the shortage. Seven other secondary sites around Lake Michigan will not be stocked this spring.

Problems at Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery in Brimley, Mich. have resulted in a shortfall of 700,000 fingerling lake trout that were destined to be stocked in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Hatchery personnel indicate that a combination of unusual environmental factors and disease caused the losses.

"We're confident that that the federal hatcheries will work out the problems," said Brian Breidert, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan fisheries biologist. "Lake trout restoration is important to all Lake Michigan agencies and we recognize that problems occur despite scientists' best efforts."

Several USFWS hatcheries produce lake trout as part of a program to restore this native fish to the Great Lakes. During the last century, lake trout numbers were decimated by overfishing coupled with an invasion of sea lampreys, a parasitic, eel-like fish that attaches to larger fish. A highly successful sea lamprey control program led to the revitalization of Great Lakes fisheries.

Scientists are striving to establish self-sustaining lake trout populations in the Great Lakes through stocking, research and fishing regulation.

USFWS biologists have stocked more than 23 million lake trout in the three Upper Great Lakes from 1995 through 2001. Last year, these lakes were stocked with a record 3.8 million fish. In 2001, Indiana waters were stocked with 72,000 lake trout, which was 20 percent more than usual.

Despite the temporary stocking setback, Breidert is encouraged by recent research.

"We collected 361 lake trout at the Port of Indiana last November. These were big fish in spawning condition, averaging seven years old. We've still got a lot of research to do, but having concentrations of adult fish is a vital first step to natural reproduction," said Breidert.

02/20/02

Cooling Lakes Update:

Chicago Sun-times Outdoors writer Dale Bowman reported today that Braidwood, LaSalle and Clinton lakes may be open to the public in early April.  Dale's information was provided by Exelon spokeswoman Ann Mary Carley.  Let's hope that all goes as planned.  Keep checking Dale's Column (http://www.suntimes.com/index/outdoors.html) and ChicagoFishingLinks.com for updates.

02/19/02

Michigan DNR News:

Michigan Licenses can be obtained on-line at www.michigandnr.com

Some Indiana DNR news:

FISHING LICENSES NOW OFFERED ON-LINE:

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and accessIndiana, the state’s official Web site, have teamed up to offer all Indiana resident and non-resident hunting, trapping and fishing licenses online. Trout/salmon, waterfowl and game bird stamps are also available on DNR’s Web site. 

No longer will a hunter or angler need to postpone or delay his trip into the Indiana wilds. In less time than it takes to drive to the store, the license can be in hand and ready to be used. 

"It was easy. It took me just five minutes to purchase my 2002 fishing license online," said John Goss, director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. "This new online service will ensure that hunters, trappers and anglers can get the licenses they want with no fuss or bother. The licenses are now available anytime…at the buyer’s convenience." 

"Online licensing is one more way accessIndiana is providing ease and convenience to Hoosiers and non-residents alike," said Laura Larimer, Indiana’s chief information officer. "We’re pleased to add yet another service to the growing number of interactive services available on the state’s Web site." 

The steps are simple. Users need only provide some basic personal information, such as name, address and date-of-birth, and then select which licenses to purchase. In addition to the standard license fee, there is a convenience charge of $1.00 for each license plus a small processing fee. 

To learn more about the hunting, trapping and fishing licenses available on accessIndiana please go to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Web site at www.wildlife.IN.gov. 

DNR makes federal dollars available for Lake Michigan projects:
Some improvements to the natural resources of the Lake Michigan area are now more likely to be funded thanks to a federal grant coming to Indiana. 
The $1.75 million, Indiana’s share of a one-time Congressional appropriation of $30 million, is ear marked for projects that protect and restore coastal resources and reduce or control threats to Lake Michigan from non-point pollution sources. 

Examples of eligible projects include restoration and protection of wetlands, river corridors, streams and lakes, conservation buffers, storm water management, contaminated site clean-up, and planning activities for coastal resource protection, restoration and management. 

"Our Lake Michigan coastal region is one of Indiana’s great natural resources," said John R. Goss, DNR director. "The area has the greatest biological diversity in Indiana and is home for plants and wildlife that cannot be found anywhere else. 

"In these times of tough budget decisions, an infusion of federal dollars is always welcome. This program will be important to us by financing projects that we would otherwise not have been able to afford." 

The grants will be made to local and state government agencies with at least 50 percent allocated to local government agencies. The program will encourage projects that include cooperation between government and local, non-profit groups. Applicants must match 25 percent of the grant and can include in-kind services as part of the match. Each project must cost less than $125,000, must begin after August 1, 2002 and completed no later than July 31, 2004. 

To oversee the expenditure of the funds in Indiana, the Natural Resources Commission established the Indiana Great Lakes Coastal Restoration Grants Program. The grant program will be administered by the DNR’s Lake Michigan Coastal Program. 

A program explanation and application packet is available on the DNR Web site at http://www.in.gov/dnr/lakemich/proj.html or by request to the Lake Michigan Coastal Program. The Lake Michigan Coastal Program will also present workshops to answer questions about the grants program and assist with the application process. For more information about the program or workshops, or to request an application, please contact Jenny Kintzele, by March 15, at (219) 983-9912. 

NIPSCO Closes Dean Mitchell plant in Gary:

With the recent closing of this plant came rumors of another company coming in and taking over.  As of yet, there has been no confirmation that the plant will ever be back in operation.  Here is a look at the original press release that announces the closing:

NIPSCO ANNOUNCES SHUTDOWN OF DEAN H. MITCHELL GENERATING STATION
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. -Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), today announced plans to indefinitely shut down its Dean H. Mitchell Generating Station (DHMGS) located in Gary, Ind. This decision is based on declining electric demand as a result of the economic downturn and the significant cost required to maintain the aging facility. 

There will be no impact on service or reliability to NIPSCO electric customers due to the shutdown of DHMGS. 

"As always, the safe, reliable delivery of electricity and natural gas is our primary mission," said Barrett Hatches, NIPSCO president and chief executive officer. "Given the current economic climate, the decision to shut down the Mitchell Generating Station allows us to more efficiently serve our customers while ensuring long-term benefits to customers and NiSource shareholders." 

Originally constructed in 1955, DHMGS has the oldest active operating units and is the least efficient station in the NIPSCO electric production system. 

Due to the station's age, extensive capital expenditures would be required in the next several years to ensure continued reliability. Furthermore, substantial capital investment would be needed to comply with current and future environmental standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). 

NIPSCO has notified the 112 employees who work at DHMGS that their current positions will be eliminated. Of these employees, 84 are represented by the United Steelworkers of America, and 28 are salaried employees. 

DHMGS will cease production of electricity as early as the end of 2001, with completion of the shutdown process expected by March 1, 2002. 

NIPSCO, with headquarters in Merrillville, Ind., is one of the 10 energy distribution companies of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI). With approximately 700,000 natural gas customers and 430,000 electric customers across the northern third of Indiana, NIPSCO is the largest natural gas distribution company, and the second largest electric distribution company, in the state. NiSource distribution companies serve 3.6 million natural gas and electric customers primarily in nine states. More information about NIPSCO is available at www.nipsco.com

02/10/01

Recent IDNR Press Releases:

MEETING ON LAKE MICHIGAN YELLOW PERCH, SMALLMOUTH BASS:
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will host a public informational meeting on the Lake Michigan fishery, with the focus on yellow perch and smallmouth bass, on Thursday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the IDNR Suburban North Regional Office Facility, 9511 Harrison St., Des Plaines. 

The abundance of yellow perch has declined since the late 1980s in Lake Michigan. Managers and researchers from the IDNR Division of Fisheries Lake Michigan Program and Illinois Natural History Survey will present information on the current status of the yellow perch population in the Illinois waters of the lake and describe factors that appear to be limiting survival between the larval and young-of-year life stages.

The Lake Michigan smallmouth bass sport fishery has grown in popularity in recent years, operating under a catch-and-release regulation since 1998. Biologists and researchers will discuss monitoring and new studies on the smallmouth bass population, including monitoring near the new artificial reef off the Chicago lakefront. 

The public is invited to the meeting, and time will be reserved for questions and open discussion. For more information, phone 847/294-4134. (For those attending the meeting at the IDNR Des Plaines office, please park on the south side of the building and enter through the south doors).

* * *

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police officers are asking for the assistance of the public in the investigation into the discovery of a bald eagle found shot to death last month along the Mississippi River near the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison County, Illinois. The immature bald eagle was found dead in debris near the water's edge on January 13. Investigators determined that the bald eagle had been shot with a shotgun shell.

The unlawful killing of a bald eagle is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 upon conviction.

Conservation Police ask anyone who may have been eagle watching, waterfowl hunting or otherwise in the vicinity near the Chain of Rocks Bridge on January 13, and may have information related to the shooting of the eagle, to please contact investigators. Contact IDNR Conservation Police Alton regional headquarters at 618/462-1181 or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents in St. Peters, Missouri at 636/441-1909. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $1,000 reward for information resulting in a conviction in this case. 

* * *

INAUGURAL ILLINOIS OUTDOOR HALL OF FAME DINNER A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The inaugural Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet, honoring five individuals, two companies and a conservation organization for their commitment to the protection and enhancement of the state's natural resources and outdoor recreation, was a tremendous success, grossing more than $145,000.

The event, held at the Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace, was a sellout with nearly 700 individuals attending.

"It was incredible to see all of our friends and supporters at the event," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning. "The response to this first annual event was inspiring. I can't begin to express how much we appreciated the show of support for the Illinois Conservation Foundation and its work on behalf of outdoor Illinois."

John Schmitt, Executive Director of the Foundation, echoed Manning's sentiments and said planning for next year's event is already underway.

"An event the size of this one takes a tremendous effort. I want to thank everyone involved for putting their hearts and souls into making the evening such a success," Schmitt said. "We already are planning next year's dinner. It will definitely be the hottest ticket in town."

Schmitt noted that net proceeds from the event will provide grants to assist grassroots conservation groups throughout Illinois. The grant program, in its second year, provides funding to projects and educational programs that preserve and enhance the natural resources of Illinois.

Funding provides school children with hands-on experiences in the outdoors, helps restore fragile habitats and helps connect classroom learning with conservation stewardship.

Examples of recently funded programs include a mobile nature center in Macon County, classroom materials and tours about Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve in Cook County, an outdoor sports festival for kids at Lake Shelbyville, IFOR's Youth Skills Camp at Carlyle Lake and an outdoors summer camp for kids in the Metropolis Area.

The first class of inductees in the new Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame included:

•Frank Bellrose of Havana, one of the world's foremost authorities on waterfowl and wetlands; 
•Jack Ehresman, retired outdoors columnist for the Peoria Journal-Star; 
•James Helfrich, a 33-year employee of the Illinois Department of Conservation, who served as the agency's assistant director from 1977 until his death in 1986; 
•John Husar, award-winning sportswriter and columnist for the Chicago Tribune, who died in 2000; and, 
•Gene Morgan, a high school biology teacher and founder of the Sesser-Valier High School Outdoorsmen's Club. 
Also honored with presentations of Director's Awards for their commitment to natural resource protection in Illinois were Dynegy Inc., Plano Molding Co., and the Illinois Chapter of the Safari Club International.

The banquet featured a raffle, a silent auction and a live auction including all-inclusive golf trips, fishing trips and hunting trips, several boats, shotguns, and a state park lodge tour. In addition, a final drawing of the night for all attendees offered a complete family camp site package.

The Illinois Conservation Foundation, an IRS 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, has raised more than $13 million to support the programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. For more information, contact Executive Director John Schmitt, Illinois Conservation Foundation, 524 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62701-1787, phone 312/814-7237, or check the ICF web site at http://www.ilcf.org.

01/29/02

Cook County Forest Preserve District Changes Ice Fishing Regulations

Last week's Cook County Board meeting resulted in a change to the ice fishing regulations. The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved a new "Ice Fish at Your Own Risk" regulation. This new regulation also covers ice skating. The regulations DO NOT include all Cook County lakes, they are specific to the following lakes:

Arrowhead, Axehead, Beck, Belleau, Big Bend, Bode Lake South, Busse Main and south pools, Maple, Papoose, Powderhorn, Saganashkee Slough, both Sag Quarries, Tampier and Wampum.

The Forest Preserve District is in the process of posting updated signs, and should have most if not all erected this week.  Keep in mind that the new regulation only means that the Forest Preserve will not be checking the ice, and therefore will not regulate when ice is or is not safe. Therefore it is up to each individual angler to ensure that the ice is safe for fishing.
So play it safe. Don't venture out unless the ice is at least four inches thick, fish with a partner, and always have appropriate safety devices handy.

01/20/02

NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSBITS

MEETING ON LAKE MICHIGAN YELLOW PERCH, SMALLMOUTH BASS: 
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will host a public informational meeting on the Lake Michigan fishery, with the focus on yellow perch and smallmouth bass, on Thursday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the IDNR Suburban North Regional Office Facility, 9511 Harrison St., Des Plaines.

The abundance of yellow perch has declined since the late 1980s in Lake Michigan. Managers and researchers from the IDNR Division of Fisheries Lake Michigan Program and Illinois Natural History Survey will present information on the current status of the yellow perch population in the Illinois waters of the lake and describe factors that appear to be limiting survival between the larval and young-of-year life stages.

The Lake Michigan smallmouth bass sport fishery has grown in popularity in recent years, operating under a catch-and-release regulation since 1998. Biologists and researchers will discuss monitoring and new studies on the smallmouth bass population, including monitoring near the new artificial reef off the Chicago lakefront. 

The public is invited to the meeting, and time will be reserved for questions and open discussion. For more information, phone 847/294-4134. (For those attending the meeting at the IDNR Des Plaines office, please park on the south side of the building and enter through the south doors). 

The Department of Natural Resources is seeking Illinois organizations that want to participate in the fifth Conservation Congress.

Membership in the Conservation Congress is composed of representatives from recognized organizations in Illinois, including non-for-profit corporations, businesses and other entities whose goals and actions demonstrate a commitment to the protection, conservation, sustainable use and/or recreational enjoyment of Illinois' natural resources.

Later this year, a series of caucuses will be held in each of the Department's five regions to identify issues, draft recommendations and elect delegates for the next Congress scheduled for September 2003.

Further information is available on the Department's home page at http://dnr.state.il.us or from IDNR's Constituency Services Office, 524 S. Second St., Room 500, Springfield, IL 62701. Questions should be directed to Brenda Potts or Curt Conrad at 217/782-4963; TDD: 217/782-9175; e-mail: bpotts@dnrmail.state.il.us or cconrad@dnrmail.state.il.us.

01/13/02

Chicagoland- Fishing, Hunting, Travel & Outdoors Show:

This Wednesday is the first day of the Chicagoland- Fishing, Hunting, Travel & Outdoors Show.  During a Wednesday night dinner, the show's producers  will be presenting it's 2002 Outdoor Achievement Awards.  The awards cover three categories: Conservation, Humanitarian, and Youth Services.  This year, the awards will be presented to three area men:

Bruce Caruso (Conservation) is from Brookfield, IL 
Bruce is the man who made the effort to get Wolf Lake stocked privately with larger walleye both from private individuals and public.  He is also a member of Perch American and the Smallmouth (bass) Alliance.  He was one of the moving forces behind tighter regulations on Lake Michigan smallmouth.

John Vrett (Humanitarian) is from Woodstock, IL
John Vrett is with McHenry County Sportsmen.  He group was finally successful in a 30 year struggle to introduce hunting to the McHenry County Conservation District.  The struggle was a national story.

John Christofiles (Youth Support Award) is from Munster, Indianna
John Christofiles is one of the active members of the Hofman Dam River Rats and he works freely with kids, introducing them to the Des Plaines River.

Chicago Fishing Links would like to congratulate each of the three winners, and thank them for their time and dedication.

Reminder:  Let's Talk Fishing Opens New Season with TV Show Taping - News from Illinois Outdoors:

On January 19th, 2002 the Let's Talk Fishing Show will begin a new season with a live taping of two All Outdoors Television Shows. Let's Talk Fishing is a fund raising show that is held at the Edge Restaurant and Lounge in Midlothian every Saturday from January to April from 1to 6 PM to help support the Duke O'Malley Kids Fishing Derby. This derby held each summer at Tampier Lake for local kids at no cost. Over a thousand children come to the fishing derby to have a great day at the water's edge with their family. Every kid receives a fishing pole to fish on derby day and goes home with an assortment of prizes supplied by O'Malley through his efforts and those of outdoor writer "Catfish" Bill Wesolowski, owner of The Edge.
The public is invited to be part of the audience at this live taping of the All Outdoors Television Shows. The All Outdoors is aired on various affiliates of AT&T Broadband every week and will celebrate the beginning of it's 4th year for TV show. Co-hosts Don Dziedzina and Rich Komar will be showing some new and unusual fishing products and talk about fishing with guest experts. Ron Miltzow will be sharing some of his All Outdoors fishing and hunting tips and a live band will be on hand to entertain the audience before the show and during commercial breaks. While supplies last, free fishing tackle will be given away to the audience from the All Outdoors TV Show sponsors. 
Wesolowski says that free food will be served to the people in the audience as he normally does at all of the Let's Talk Fishing shows that are held every Saturday starting at 1 PM. As part of the fund raiser for the Kids Fishing Derby, raffle tickets are sold for great prizes including rods, reels, tackle boxes, lures and an assortment of other outdoor related items. All proceeds will go to the Kids Fishing Derby fund.
Last year when the All Outdoors TV Show taped two shows at the Edge, there was an audience of over 250 sportsmen and women who all had an enjoyable time. The crew from The Edge and the All Outdoors TV Show are hoping for a bigger turn out this year. 
The doors will open at noon and there is no charge for admission. The TV shows are scheduled to begin taping at 1:30 PM and 3 PM. The Edge Restaurant and Lounge is located at 4810 W. 148th St., Midlothian on the south end of the plaza.

If you see any newsworthy items, please send a link or copy of the item to Info@chicagofishinglinks.com.  Be sure to include your name, e-mail address and source of information.

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