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Illinois Governor's Conference and Illinois Conservation Conference Information from Doug Welch and Norm Miller - Parklands Sparks Bridge Joint Project IPC Letter from Chuck Burns Winter Club Activities ***Items of Interest to MCC Members***
Please thank the MCC for allowing me to participate in the IL Governor's Conference on the Management of the IL River. I attended
all the sessions available and moderated one session. On Oct 20 (first night) I attended the IL River Coordinating Council and
testified at the event on the Mud to Jobs initiative initiated by the Heartland Water Resources Council, of which I'm President.
[Please see attachment.]
Doug Welch (left) from the Mackinaw Canoe Club and Matt Fraker (right)
from the Parklands Foundation
In these times where state park closings and river dam rule changes make you feel paranoid about being
a paddler, a little ray of sunshine beams through in Woodford County. The Mackinaw Canoe Club and the ParkLands
Foundation have partnered in improving access to the Sparks Bridge area along the Mackinaw River.
(See Paddling Illinois by Mark Svob for his article on the Mackinaw River trip 1.)
The ParkLands Foundation (www.parklandsfoundation.org) acquired several acres of property near the Sparks Bridge.
The foundation is dedicated to preserving and restoring natural areas. They then invited the Mackinaw Canoe Club
to collaborate on the design, financing, and construction of a 12-vehicle parking lot. The lot provides, for the
first time, safe parking for those using the river north of Carlock, Illinois. Paddlers, fishermen, birdwatchers,
and others wanting to enjoy the outdoors can use the access.
A local person who provided substantial funding for the effort named the lot. The Mackinaw Canoe Club and
members as individuals also contributed. Mac Arnold of the ParkLands Foundation and Doug Welch of the Mackinaw
Canoe Club worked together to get permits approved, designs discussed, and other details resolved.
If you find yourself in Central Illinois, travel north of Carlock (about 6 ½ miles ) and take a trip on the
Mackinaw.
Return to the Top --> Illinois Paddling Council Newsletter Article Chuck Burns, Mackinaw Canoe Club IPC Representative We have at least two excellent candidates for water trails in central Illinois
- the Mackinaw River and the Sangamon River. The Mackinaw is a prairie stream which begins in
Ford County (east-central Illinois) flowing through three glacial moraines in central Illinois
before joining the Illinois River near Pekin.
The Sangamon, which begins near Bloomington, is historical linked to Abraham Lincoln. Its
westward flow joins the Illinois River near Beardstown.
The Mackinaw has the distinction of not being dammed its entire length. The Sangamon, through
dammed in places, is long enough at 241 miles, that it can be paddled in fairly unobstructed
stretches.
Both the Mackinaw and the Sangamon flow through wooded corridors for the most part, and
offer bird watchers and nature enthusiasts a rare treat in this part of Illinois.
My first steps in the development of water trails will be the collection and documentation
of trail logistics relating to these two rivers. The members of the Mackinaw Canoe Club, local
civic groups, commercial interests and others should provide the information we need to offer
local and visiting paddlers the necessary details on access sites, travel and directions,
eateries, overnight accommodations, liveries, equipment, and supplies.
After developing our information base, we look forward to putting together a promotional
brochure/booklet/pamphlet that we will distribute.
The Mackinaw and the Sangamon, in my opinion, represent rare gems waiting for discovery by
paddlers. The lack of numerous technical challenges in these streams is more than made up for
by the beauty and diversity of the natural surroundings.
As things stand now, the members of the Mackinaw Canoe Club represent a substantial
resource of information about the area. IPC members are welcome to make inquiries, consult
our web site, and bring their friends to join in the fun of paddling central Illinois.
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