Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
The Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Mississippi River
downstream from St. Louis, Missouri
. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex
.
The refuge consists of three parcels of Mississippi River bottomland, nearly all of it wetland
. They are Meissner Island, near Valmeyer, Illinois
; Harlow Island, near Festus, Missouri
; and Wilkinson Island, near Gorham, Illinois
.
The Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge has a local headquarters at Rockwood, Illinois
in Randolph County
. In all, the refuge is located in parts of Jackson
, Monroe
, and Randolph
counties in Illinois, and Jefferson
and Perry
counties in Missouri. The refuge relies for much of its staffing on the nearby Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
near Carbondale, Illinois
.
This Refuge was created in response to the Great Flood of 1993
. The three parcels of bottomland that now make up this Refuge had been riverine polder
s, agricultural land protected by dikes
. After the dikes were breached by this flood, the damaged land parcels were transferred to the federal government. The Fish and Wildlife Service has announced plans to slowly return these three parcels to the status of semi-natural bottomlands. Pursuant to these plans, the Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge was established in May 2000.
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
downstream from St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex
The Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex was established for the protection of migratory birds including waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds. It is located along the Mississippi Flyway, one of the major routes for migrating waterfowl...
.
The refuge consists of three parcels of Mississippi River bottomland, nearly all of it wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
. They are Meissner Island, near Valmeyer, Illinois
Valmeyer, Illinois
Valmeyer is a village in Monroe County, Illinois, United States, on the Mississippi River. The population was 1200 at the 2006 census.-History:...
; Harlow Island, near Festus, Missouri
Festus, Missouri
Festus is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,367 at the 2009 estimated census. Festus and its neighbor Crystal City are often collectively known as the "Twin Cities"; however, they are incorporated separately....
; and Wilkinson Island, near Gorham, Illinois
Gorham, Illinois
Gorham is a village in Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 256 at the 2000 census. It is known locally for its near-annihilation during the deadly Tri-State Tornado of 1925....
.
The Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge has a local headquarters at Rockwood, Illinois
Rockwood, Illinois
Rockwood is a village in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. The population was 41 at the 2000 census. It is the headquarters of the Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge.-Geography:Rockwood is located at ....
in Randolph County
Randolph County, Illinois
Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 33,476, which is a decrease of 1.2% from 33,893 in 2000. Its county seat is Chester....
. In all, the refuge is located in parts of Jackson
Jackson County, Illinois
Jackson County, incorporated January 10, 1816, is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 60,218, which is an increase of 1.0% from 59,612 in 2000...
, Monroe
Monroe County, Illinois
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 32,957, which is an increase of 19.3% from 27,619 in 2000. Its county seat is Waterloo...
, and Randolph
Randolph County, Illinois
Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 33,476, which is a decrease of 1.2% from 33,893 in 2000. Its county seat is Chester....
counties in Illinois, and Jefferson
Jefferson County, Missouri
Jefferson County is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. The county was included as the mean center of U.S. population in 1980. It is the sixth most-populous county in Missouri. Census 2010 put the population at 218,733 Its county seat is Hillsboro. The county was...
and Perry
Perry County, Missouri
Perry County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,132. In 2008 the population was estimated to be 18,743. Its county seat is Perryville. The county was officially organized on November 16, 1820 from Ste...
counties in Missouri. The refuge relies for much of its staffing on the nearby Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is a 43,890 acre National Wildlife Refuge primarily in southwestern Williamson County, but with small extensions into adjacent eastern Jackson and northeastern Union counties of southern Illinois, in the United States. Its land and water contain a wide...
near Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale is a city in Jackson County, in the state of Illinois, within the Southern Illinois region. It is located at the junction of Illinois Route 13 and U.S. Route 51, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, on the northern edge of the Shawnee National Forest...
.
This Refuge was created in response to the Great Flood of 1993
Great Flood of 1993
The Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood of 1993 occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries, from April to October 1993. The flood was among the most costly and devastating to ever occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages...
. The three parcels of bottomland that now make up this Refuge had been riverine polder
Polder
A polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments known as dikes, that forms an artificial hydrological entity, meaning it has no connection with outside water other than through manually-operated devices...
s, agricultural land protected by dikes
Levee
A levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels...
. After the dikes were breached by this flood, the damaged land parcels were transferred to the federal government. The Fish and Wildlife Service has announced plans to slowly return these three parcels to the status of semi-natural bottomlands. Pursuant to these plans, the Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge was established in May 2000.