Wandtv.com, NewsCenter17, StormCenter17, Central Illinois News-Rehab of central Ill. marsh, lake begins
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Associated Press - October 23, 2009 4:14 AM ET
HENNEPIN, Ill. (AP) - The rehabilitation of a central Illinois marsh and lake habitat has begun.
The state's Department of Natural Resources and the Wetlands Initiative are working together on the Hennepin and Hopper Lakes Project. The 2,600-acre ecosystem is located along the Illinois River south of Hennepin.
1 of the focuses will be on removing the destructive common carp. The invasive fish stirs up the lake bottom, rooting out plants and eventually destroys the marsh habitat.
IDNR fisheries biologist Wayne Herndon says the area's important for waterfowl because it's at the turning point of a central flyway where ducks traveling from the northwest turn south.
Since 2006, carp have been disrupting the lake ecosystem and the waterfowl population has steadily declined.
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