Located along the Kaskaskia and West Okaw Rivers near Sullivan, the Lake Shelbyville Fish and Wildlife Management Area offers some of the best hunting, river fishing and nature study opportunities in the state. The two areas contain over 6000 acres of mixed habitats including forests, prairies, restored grasslands, old fields, brush, wetlands, rivers, streams, and cropland. All are situated in the upper reaches of the 34,000-acre Lake Shelbyville project area.

Oak, hickory and hard maple flourish in the uplands, while cottonwood, sycamore, soft maple and willow dominate the lowlands. This variety of species creates spectacular scenery as the foliage changes from green to the vivid reds, oranges, purples and yellows of a showy Illinois' fall.

Prairie ForbsPrairie plants can be found along railroad paths, rural roads and in abandoned fields. Of special note is the unique, three-and-one-half acre Hill Prairie. This relic prairie jewel has been managed back to nearly its natural state. Located near the extreme southeast corner of Kaskaskia Unit, the area is known to harbor over fifty species of native plants. Its summer bloom of purple and yellow cone flowers is, by itself, worthy of a visit to the site. An additional wealth of native wildflowers can be found in woodland understories, along ditch banks, and in old field settings throughout the area.

Over 200 species of birds have been documented on the site since listing began in 1975. Seasonal displays featuring shorebirds, wading birds, waterfowl, wood warblers, raptors and grassland and shrub habitat songbirds are a birdwatcher's delight. Resident game birds and game mammals are plentiful, offering the hunter opportunities not readily available in the intensely farmed areas dominating off-site landscapes. Bobwhite quail, ring-necked pheasant, mourning dove, woodcock, cottontail rabbit, white-tail deer, fox and gray squirrel, raccoon, muskrat, opossum and mink are found in good numbers.

Portions of the area are managed under a farm lease program to promote upland wildlife habitat and to demonstrate the potential for producing wildlife on farm lands. Site personnel supplement natural habitats with tree and shrub plantings, native grass seedings, specialty food crop production and succession control.

Wetland and marshland habitat management are emphasized in and around the five waterfowl management areas. By controlling the depth and duration of water on an area, significant amounts of natural moist soil plants are produced. These, in turn, are used to provide breeding, courtship, feeding and staging areas for wetland wildlife species including rails, snipe, herons, shorebirds, cormorants, ducks and geese.

The Lake

Lake Shelbyville is a US Army Corps of Engineers facility, built as part of a general comprehensive plan for the development of the Kaskaskia Basin for flood control, recreation, water supply, and fish and wildlife conservation. The 11,000-acre lake and its surrounding uplands form a scenic background for a variety of outdoor recreational activities.

At normal pool, Lake Shelbyville averages 16 feet in depth, with a maximum depth of 67 feet. Islands, coves, peninsulas and inlets create 250 miles of picturesque, wooded shoreline. It extends nearly 17 miles from the dam at Shelbyville to its limits above Sullivan and Bethany. Development of the shoreline has been intentionally kept to a minimum, allowing uninterrupted views of the lake's natural features throughout its length.

The Site

The Shelbyville Fish and Wildlife Area is composed of two separate units. The Kaskaskia (eastern) Unit covers 3,700-acres. The West Okaw (western) Unit contains about 2,500 acres. These are managed primarily to promote diverse habitats so that a wide variety of wildlife species are accommodated, and related recreational opportunities are afforded to the general public. Because of its focus on hunting and fishing, the area has no camping, picnicking, or day-use facilities.

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