Meredosia Island, located in Cass County, Illinois, between the Illinois River and Meredosia Lake, isn't really an island, but given its history of flooding, it's easy to understand how it got its name. Since 1990, one farm family has only been able to harvest two crops from their 400 acres on the island.

With the advent of the Illinois Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), landowners on the island have a viable alternative to trying to farm the flood prone land. Four landowners have enrolled over 1,000 acres into CREP and restored the enrolled ground to wetlands.

The landowners worked with the CREP partners — the Farm Service Agency, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Cass County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service - to restore wetlands. The banks of Indian Creek, which had earlier been channelized, have been stabilized through CREP by the planting of hardwood trees. Indian Creek is a tributary to the Illinois River.

Before: One landowner harvested only two crops since 1990 due to frequent flooding, but could not afford to quit farming until the CREP opportunity. Mike Chandler, Illinois Department of Natural Resources biologist, in cropfield to be enrolled in the Illinois River CREP.

After: Natural regeneration of hardwood trees was selected for restoration of the wetland area enrolled in the Illinois River CREP. Mike Chandler, IDNR biologist, and regenerated vegetation after only 5 years.