Illinois Mixed Bag: DNR, Corps announce changes at Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Carlyle, Ill. — DNR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced changes to management responsibilities at the Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area. About 2,600 acres at Eckert’s Woods and Speaker Lake sub-impoundments will be returned to the USACE for wildlife management efforts.

Prior to the change, DNR will take immediate action to remove the bridge at Eckert’s Woods. The primary access bridge to the area has failed due to frequent flood events, age, and natural deterioration. Demolition of the bridge is required to ensure public safety and avoid blocking the flow of the creek.

The primary goal of the management change is to better focus limited DNR funds on areas protected by the existing levee and water control system in sub-impoundments 1 and 2, and to allow the Corps of Engineers to focus its efforts on the rehabilitation necessary to make these areas manageable again.

“DNR and the Corps of Engineers have a shared goal of providing quality habitat for wildlife and migrating waterfowl while enhancing the user experience of all customer groups,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie.

The transfer of management rights will take place at the end of the current 2024-2025 waterfowl season. Current hunting and fishing regulations will remain in place to ensure there is little disruption to the outdoor activities.

Questions about the change can be directed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Carlyle Lake Office at 618-594-2484 or the DNR site office at 618-425-3533.

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Contracts awarded for project to keep invasive carp out of Great Lakes

Invasive Aquatic Plant Found in DuPage

Springfield — Hydrilla, a highly invasive aquatic plant, has been discovered in DuPage County, marking the first known occurrence in that county and only the second known report in Illinois.

DNR, along with other state and local agencies, are working to track the spread of this aggressive invasive plant in waterways and determine the most appropriate containment and eradication strategies.

Hydrilla is considered one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds. It can grow up to an inch per day and form dense mats of vegetation with negative impacts on boating, fishing, swimming, native aquatic wildlife, and property values. Control and eradication efforts can cost millions of dollars over many years. The public should be aware that this plant looks very similar to the native Elodea species, but there are a few key features that can be used to differentiate them. Hydrilla has whorls around the stem of more than three leaves with often visibly toothed edges.

The hydrilla found in DuPage County may have been unintentionally released from a homeowner’s aquarium or a water garden.

Although hydrilla is a federal noxious weed that is illegal to buy, sell, or transport and is banned in Illinois, it is often found in the aquarium and water garden trade. Anyone who suspects they have identified hydrilla in a waterbody should notify the DNR Aquatic Nuisance Species Program at dnr.ans@illinois.gov.

State’s Corn Group: Monarch Decision Expected

Bloomington, Ill. — The director of conservation for the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) says a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision on the Endangered Species Act status of the monarch butterfly will likely have an impact on agriculture.

“Fish and Wildlife is going to say that it was determined that nothing is warranted; it’s warranted to be listed as threatened; or warranted to be listed as endangered,” Megan Dwyer told Brownfield. “Once that decision is made and it hits the Federal Register, there will be a public comment period which is going to be really important.”

She said ag groups are hoping for a threatened listing, which would give farmers more leeway than listing the species as endangered.

“And that would give the opportunity for what’s called a 4-D listing.” Dwyer said, “For a problem to happen, it has to have intention with it. So, if you’re going through your field, and you’re following the label, and you happen to kill a monarch butterfly, you didn’t intentionally take that monarch.”

Dwyer said the initial ruling is expected soon, and the public comment period would follow. She expects any final rules from the listing to go into effect in late 2025 or 2026. .

Spring Turkey Permit Applications Accepted

Springfield — Permit applications for the Illinois 2025 spring turkey hunting season are being accepted, with three separate lotteries scheduled to determine hunter seasons and dates. Lottery 1 closed Dec. 1, but Lottery 2 opened to all hunters on Dec. 12 and runs through Jan. 13. Lottery 3 will be open to all hunters beginning Jan. 24 and runs through Feb. 10. The deadline for landowner permit applications is Feb. 9. Permits remaining after the Lottery 3 drawing will be available over the counter from license vendors throughout the state on a first-come, first-served basis beginning March 11.

Indiana Hunters Arrested for ‘Jacklighting’

Greenwood, Ind — Indiana Conservation Officers arrested four men following a poaching incident on Nov. 23. According to the Indiana DNR, the individuals were arrested for numerous hunting violations. The release states that officers heard a gunshot in the area. When officers located the men responsible for the gunshot they also noted that a deer in their possession had been shot from the roadway with help from an artificial light, a practice known as jacklighting, which is illegal in Indiana and Illinois. They also located two additional illegally taken deer in the back of their vehicle.

Biak Sang and Muang Hu, both 40 and from Greenwood, along with Ro Hmung Lian, 34, and Biak Hu, 48, both from Indianapolis, were taken into custody. They are all being preliminarily charged with jacklighting, illegal possession and taking of a white-tailed deer, shooting from a public roadway, hunting by the aid of a motorized conveyance, and hunting deer after legal hunting hours.