History Dixon Waterfowl Refuge

the dixon waterfowl refuge in 1999. area lined clay drain tile , mechanically drained create arable farmland.

historically, banks of illinois river lined shallow lakes , wetlands, through broad shallow river flowed in slow, braided course. broad, bluff-lined river basin rich in fish, shellfish, waterfowl, , peltry, exploited native americans , 1800s pioneers. hennepin area rich in wetland productivity new york city-based american fur company operated fur-trading post here in 1810s. illinois pioneer gurdon saltonstall hubbard traded furs on banks of hennepin lake in 1818-1819.

in decades of 1900s, invention of steam shovel seemed make possible commoditize , exploit of river lowlands, including hennepin lake , hopper lake. in 1908, local landowners formed hennepin drainage , levee district. financial institutions lent money levees, ditches, tile lines, , drainage pumps. watery, muddy ground remapped arable cropland.

with recurring crop surpluses in closing years of 20th century, many of illinois river drainage districts came seen mistakes. in cases, including hennepin drainage , levee district, landowners found ongoing cost of maintaining , repairing levee energy cost of necessary pumping difficult support farming receipts. in 2000 8 farm families agreed sell of hennepin drainage district young not-for-profit conservation organization, wetlands initiative. in 2001 organization turned off pump, began plugging or removing agricultural drainage tiles, , initiated various types of restoration work. complex pattern of wet meadows, wet , dry prairies, marshes, , small waterbodies emerged in addition historic backwater lakes.

in december 2014, wetlands initiative purchased of 417 acres of adjacent upland, hickory hollow parcel adjoining illinois route 26. parcel, of 283 acres kept permanent addition , restored mix of habitats, includes primary groundwater drainage zone refuge s dore seep, 26-acre dedicated illinois nature preserve located near site s southern end.