Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area

Infobox_protected_area | name = Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area, Illinois, USA
iucn_category = IV


caption = Map of the U.S. state of Illinois showing the location of Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area
locator_x = 145
locator_y = 167
location = Logan County, Illinois, USA
nearest_city = Lincoln, Illinois
lat_degrees = 40
lat_minutes = 07
lat_seconds = 00
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 89
long_minutes = 23
long_seconds = 30
long_direction = W
area = convert|974|acre|km2|2|lk=on
established = 1970
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesThe Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area is a 974-acre (3.8 km²) conservation area located in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located south of Lincoln, Illinois. Founded in 1971 as "Railsplitter State Park", it was renamed in 1995 in honor of Edward R. Madigan, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the town of Lincoln and a U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The park is operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

The horseshoe-shaped park surrounds the former Lincoln Developmental Center, a state facility operated by the Illinois Department of Human Services. One of the park's primary assets is a 2.5-mile (4-km) section of Salt Creek, a major tributary of central Illinois' Sangamon River.

Park resources

Birds

Edward R. Madigan is a principal pheasant hatchery for IDNR, producing 80,000 to 100,000 hatchlings annually. Upland birds hunted at Madigan include pheasants, doves, and quail.

Fish

DNR stated in 2006 that Salt Creek contained largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie, channel catfish, bullhead, and carp. The bluegill is the state fish of Illinois. Canoeing. and kayaking in Salt Creek are allowed during the daytime.

Trees

Trails totaling 7.75 miles (12.4 km) wind through wooded areas. The Madigan Salt Creek bottomlands contain one of Illinois's largest American sycamore trees. Outside the creek bed, the conservation area contains several groves of white oak and hickory, typical of central Illinois. The white oak is the state tree of Illinois. The state park also contains ash, hackberry, and black walnut trees. A herd of 100-150 deer graze the trees and brush.

Access and historic road

Old U.S. Highway 66, now "Interstate Business 55", passes through the Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area.

The nearest limited-access exit to the Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area is exit 123 on Interstate 55, where Business 55 intersects with Interstate 55.

External links

* [http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R4/EDMAD.HTM State of Illinois]

References

Joe McFarland, "Lincoln's Outdoors", "Outdoor Illinois" (magazine), March 2007, pages 10-13.