#nutrient pollution

Which came first, your name or the state name? The state was named after me. In 1679, French explorer Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle named me after the Illinois and Peoria tribes he found living in the river valley. The Native American word “iliniwok” means men or warriors, and the French translated this to Illinois. Because I am the largest river flowing solely inside the state, it’s fitting that the state would later be named after me.

What other historical roles have you played? I have long been an important transportation source. In fact, the first European settlement in the state, the Jesuit mission, was founded by Father Jacques Marquette on my banks across from what is known today as Starved Rock. Before the railroad reached central Illinois, goods that were not made in the area, like window glass, cedar shingles, cast-iron stoves, cookware, fine tableware, and furniture, were made available to communities across the state because of my navigable waters. River travel was easier, safer, and faster than traveling through the thick, untamed, and often muddy terrain of the Illinois wilderness.

My direct connection to the Mississippi River opened the possibilities for shipment of goods, and personal travel to cities like St. Louis and New Orleans—especially after the Chicago River was reversed in 1900. And thanks to the Mississippi’s connection to the Ohio River at the tip of southern Illinois, goods and people could travel from my waters to Louisville and Cincinnati. In the early 1900s, large steamboats travelled to Pekin from New Orleans and the Ohio River each spring to collect up to 36,000 hogs for shipment to the south.

But my role hasn’t been limited to shipping. Residents during the 19th and early 20th centuries harvested fish, hunted waterfowl, collected mussels for button factories, and carved out ice for refrigeration in central Illinois. Tourism boomed in “river towns,” and recreational activities such as duck hunting brought many to my banks. The river was not only a source of income but a way of life.

What is your economic role today? I’m proud to say I still play a vital role in barge transportation for commodities such as grain, coal, and petroleum headed to domestic and international markets. Unfortunately, my locks and dams have not been properly maintained or updated since their construction in the 1900s. This, along with silt buildup, causes delays and higher costs. Silt from my headwaters builds up along my shores, forming barriers after flooding. This happens because I sit at a gradual slope, so the water never moves very fast. This siltation, along with overfishing and water pollution, is also a big contributor to habitat loss in my waters.

Do you have lots of fish and wildlife in your valley? At one time, I was one of the most harvested rivers for freshwater fish in the United States. Today, very little commercial fishing happens here, although recreational fishing still takes place. Healthy populations of channel catfish, sauger, and bass are found throughout my waters. Some less common birds can also be spotted in my valley, including bald eagles, American bitterns, black-crowned night herons, and sora rails. Other wildlife that call me home include bog lemmings, western ribbon snakes, plains leopard frogs, and northern cricket frogs.

The four state parks along my route are a great place to look for wildlife while hiking, fishing camping or boating. Starved Rock, Buffalo Rock, and Illini state parks are all near Ottawa, while Pere Marquette is near the confluence of the Mississippi.