EMP BIORESPONSE MONITORING SUMMARY:  LAKE CHAUTAUQUA 1991-2002.

Kevin S. Irons, T. Matt O’Hara, Michael A. McClelland, and Mark A. Pegg
Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois River Biological Station, 704 N. 
Schrader Ave., Havana, IL 62644

Lake Chautauqua is roughly a 1,400 ha floodplain lake just north of Havana, 
Illinois on the Illinois River.  Lake Chautauqua has a long history of serving 
as a waterfowl resting area and habitat for floodplain fishes.  Prior to 
construction, the two existing pools were connected through an incomplete cross-
levee and water management was minimal due to inadequate levees and control 
structures much of the year that allowed river level fluctuations to impact the 
lake.  Beginning in 1991, the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), Illinois 
River Biological Station (IRBS) began monitoring various parameters on this lake 
to gauge the success of improvements to levees and other physical structures on 
this U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge.    Lake Chautauqua was drained during 
construction of levees and control structures and allowed to refill.  After 
refilling the north pool of the lake, water levels will be held steady to 
promote submersed aquatic plants, provide good fish habitat, and provide habitat 
for migrating diving ducks. This management strategy contrasts that of the south 
pool which is now drained in the summer for moist soil plant production used by 
migrating waterfowl and shorebirds.  Therefore, monitoring of fish on the north 
pool continued to assess pre- and post- construction fish population dynamics.  
Prior to construction (1991-1993), 57 species were collected by INHS surveys.  
The most abundant species in these collections were emerald shiner, gizzard 
shad, common carp, freshwater drum, and bluegill, with channel catfish ranking 
8th. Stocking of largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, and 
fathead minnows took place to mold the fishery of Lake Chautauqua in 1997.  
After construction (2000-2002), 54 species were collected by INHS surveys.  The 
most abundant in these collections were gizzard shad, white crappie, bluegill, 
freshwater drum, and black crappie. Largemouth bass and channel catfish ranked 
8th and 15th respectively.  Pre- and post-construction fishery data will be 
compared to assess whether the fisheries goals of the north pool have met 
project expectations.

Keywords:  Illinois River, Environmental Management Program (EMP), Long Term 
Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP), Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement 
(HREP)