Natural Resources

Illinois is bordered by 880 miles of rivers and has 87,110 miles of rivers and streams within its borders. The Mississippi River, Ohio River and Wabash River are the bordering rivers of the state. The Mississippi River forms the western border of Illinois in a 581 mile stretch of its course and, as such, is the longest river in the state.

The Ice Age had major impacts on Illinois and its rivers. Glaciers blocked and buried some rivers and created new ones. Some ancient rivers, such as the Teays, Cumberland, Paw Paw and Ticona, no longer exist. The Missouri River once flowed in much of what is now the Mississippi River bed but was blocked and filled during the Kansas glacier and diverted to a new channel. The Teays River was diverted south of the glacier and became the Ohio River.

Alton hosted its classic Riverbend Earth Day Festival on April 11 this year and the event drew hundreds. The event featured live music, food and eco-friendly vendors, plant sellers and artisans. Many local businesses, musicians and restaurants were highlighted with an emphasis on eco-conscious shopping. A portion of the proceeds went to the Piasa Palisades Sierra Club, whose work includes supporting native pollinators and local ecosystems. 

The community on the river has been committed to protecting the Mississippi River watershed, managing forests and restoring native prairies. National Great Rivers conducts research, education and outreach on wetland protection. The Nature Institute manages and maintains prairie land in the Alton area through the Heartland Prairie Project and the Great Rivers Land Trust promotes the preservation and improvement of natural resources in the watershed of the Mississippi for the benefit of the general public.

To learn more about conservation, hunting, Illinois investments in parks and historic sites click here.

Illinois is home to a wide variety of fish species. At present, 34 families of fishes are represented in the state's waters.

Illinois’ official state fish is the bluegill. Illinois school children selected the bluegill as the state fish in 1986. The bluegill is a very common fish throughout Illinois. It is the most common member of the sunfish family and is recognized by its stripy olive to yellow colors and its distinctive black spot behind the gills. It grows to about nine inches in length. Bluegill are most abundant in clear lakes with large amounts of aquatic vegetation, but they also occur in a variety of habitats, such as pools, overflow ponds, oxbows, swamps and man-made impoundments. In the summer bluegills build nests in water less than about two feet deep.

Did you know that every third Friday of May, May 16 this year, is observed as Endangered Species Day? The day was designated by Congress in 2006. In Illinois alone, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has listed over 400 such species, ranging from birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and more! Wildlife refuges, gardens, schools, libraries, museums, community groups, nonprofits, and individuals will hold special programs or events on this day.

Each species plays an important role in Illinois’ ecosystem. By bringing awareness to these species, both threatened and endangered, the day reminds the public of the importance in supporting conservation organizations, encouraging action to protect wildlife and advocating for policy changes to ensure that the state’s ecosystem is environmentally stable.

As Earth Day nears, it is important to recognize efforts to keep our planet healthier, safer and viable for the future. One organization, Living Lands and Waters, founded by Chad Pregracke, is a remarkable example of what happens when we come together to make our communities a better place to live.

Pregracke grew up in East Moline on the banks of the Mississippi River, witnessing firsthand the amount of trash and debris collected along the banks of the river from human activity. At 17, he decided to begin single-handedly removing the garbage. A few years later, in 1998, he founded Living Lands and Waters.

Since the founding of the organization, Pregracke, his crew and volunteers have conducted over 1,400 community cleanups on 25 rivers in 23 states, removed a remarkable 13.5 million pounds of garbage and planted over 2.1 million trees in their efforts to reclaim waterfronts.