There is still some jockeying and posturing on what Gov. Bruce Rauner’s shutdown will actually mean for the outdoors around Illinois, but The Nature Conservancy is already planning for the shutdown of Dickson Mounds Museum and has announced plans for changes to boating and fishing registration at Emiquon Preserve.
Here is the update from TNC:
On-site registration for boating and fishing available at The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve LEWISTOWN— The Nature Conservancy announced today that starting October 1 it will allow the public to register on site for boating and fishing at its Emiquon Preserve due to the closure of Dickson Mounds Museum. The Emiquon Preserve is located six miles southeast of Lewistown in Fulton County. Public boating and fishing are allowed on the western half of Thompson Lake, but registration is required. Detailed registration instructions are provided at the small shed in the parking lot near the boat launch in our Visitor Use Area. Minors must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or old and authorized by the minor’s parent or legal guardian. Pets and gasoline motors are prohibited (cannot even be on the boat). Registration is not required for use of the Observatories and walking trail. No other public access is allowed on the Preserve without the Conservancy’s permission. Hours for boating and fishing are sunrise to sunset except during the waterfowl season when hours are noon until sunset. Observatory and walking trail hours are sunrise to sunset. For a complete listing of rules and regulations visit Web http://www.nature.org/emiquon. The Nature Conservancy is restoring and managing Emiquon Preserve as part of an effort to conserve ecological processes and the plant and animal communities of the Illinois River ecosystem. Recreation opportunities are offered as a public service and to share some of the many multiple-use benefits provided by restored wetlands.
