Southwestern Illinois RC&D, Inc.

Southwestern Illinois RC&D - Partners

Issues and Opportunities Report - (HTML)

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The American Bottoms Partnership is committed to the protection, enhancement, and development of the natural resources of the metro-east area including the watershed of Cahokia Creek.

The American Bottoms Partnership is an area that is bordered by the Mississippi River on the west, with the exception of Kaskaskia Island on the south, the face of the bluffs on the east and including the watershed of Cahokia Creek. This area primarily consists of the floodplain of the Mississippi River commonly known as the American Bottoms. It is USGS catalog unit 7140101 plus Kaskaskia Island.

The American Bottoms Partnership contains a wealth of natural, cultural, historic and human resources.

This area of the state is where early settlers established the first of Illinois' communities, which include Cahokia and Prairie du Rocher, and was a major center of influence in the Mississippi Valley in the late 1600's and early 1700. The American Bottoms, however, was settled even much earlier and was home to the largest native American Indian communities of the United Sates centered at Cahokia Mounds. Satellite communities of Cahokia were located up and down the American Bottoms.

The earlier settlers were attracted to the American Bottoms because of the rich natural resources in wildlife, timber, and water. As settlements grew, the rich farmland of the American Bottoms helped the area prosper and attract new people. Lewis & Clark, in 1804, set off on their historic journey from the American Bottoms at a site near Wood River.

The area is uniquely situated along the Mississippi River with approximately 84 miles of riverfront and is a major link in the Northern American Flyway. Over 20% of the nations duck population feeds and rests along the river during migration.

As the area developed, the natural resources that the early settlers saw as an asset of the region were discounted and/or ignored. As a result, today the area has seen a tremendous decrease in the natural wetlands by drainage or having been filled in. Forests were cut over and destroyed. Factories and businesses were built on the floodplain and sedimentation from neighboring uplands have filled in drainage ditches and wetlands. Floods have caused major damage in recent years.

The flood of 1993 sent a wakeup call to residents and elected officials that the past development practices were unsustainable. Many traditional development practices and policies now are being questioned and to some extent changed.

The counties of Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe have worked hard since 1993 to address stormwater issues and propose solutions. Legislation to allow counties to manage stormwater has been proposed. Resource plans have been produced that document damages and benefits, and provide alternative solutions. A major strategy in the overall stormwater effort is the protection and purchase of natural wetlands for natural storage.

The Southwestern Illinois Regional Greenway Plan identifies strategies and areas that link state facilities and wetland corridors. The plan provides to local unit of government support for acquisition of wetlands and open space.

The area contains several large state owned facilities that include Horseshoe Lake, Frank Holten State Park, Kidd Lake, Cahokia Mounds, and Fort de Chartres.

The Natural Divisions map of Illinois classifies this area of the state as the Lower Mississippi River Bottomlands Division - Northern Section.

This area is also part of a larger planning effort called St. Louis 2004. As an outcome of the input from grassroot citizens a parks and open space priority has been developed. Legislation to create a regional parks and open space funding mechanism based on a sales tax, has passed in both Illinois and Missouri. The legislation is awaiting the signature of the governors in both states. Part of the region is included in both MEGA (Metro-East Greenway Alliance) and Confluence Greenway. These two groups are working to promote trails, greenways, and open space protection.

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