Carlyle Lake Waterfowlers Association Projects

	Carlyle Lake Waterfowlers Association, Inc. A group of avid waterfowl people who work to make Carlyle Lake specifically, and the sport in general, the best it can be for the birds and for the public hunter.
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	Currently, we are installing 2 spillways, as well as making levee repairs, at the area known as Speaker Lake (areas 3 & 4). These spillways are badly needed for water control so that pressure will be relieved on the current levees and flood damage can be minimized. This nearly 1000 acre site provides an excellent food source for our waterfowl and some of the best hunting opportunities at Carlyle Lake.
	Currently, the state's budget has no funds for this important site, so without us, the job simply would not get done! Our group has been working on this area since 1991. At that time, the area was abandoned, grown up in willow, maples and brush 15' tall! As volunteers, our group worked weekends and cleared this area, mainly for geese to browse during the winter months as there was no water control. For our efforts the then, Illinois Department of Conservation, gave us their "Outstanding Contribution to Conservation" award. Until 2001, this area was usable only as lake levels permitted due to the broken levee system. Again, our group went into action.	Click on image to view full size.
	We supplied the manpower and heavy equipment to finish clearing the area, repair the many breaks in the levees, construct new stretches of levees, open up water control structures, pumps, etc. and got the area up and running for the first time in probably 20 years! It was estimated by the state that the work we did would have cost them over $100,000!
ducks@carlylelake.com	Since this restoration, this nearly 1000 acre area has provided high quality habitat for our waterfowl, bald eagles, shore birds, deer and many other species. It has also become an outstanding hunting area, which helps to relieve overcrowding at other areas at Carlyle. For our efforts, the 10 state Upper Mississippi River Member Board, known as UMRJV, Which also includes the IDNR, ASCOE, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited, etc., gave our group the prestigious "Joint Venture Organization Award". Only 2 such awards have been given in this 10 state region! Of course, we were very honored.