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Project Titles:
- Chautauqua Lake Perimeter Repair (FFS #R3GG)
- Employ 30 YCC Enrollees (FFS #R3NB*)
State: Illinois
Project Description: The Illinois River National Wildlife Refuges in Illinois received approximately $500,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to repair damage to the Chautauqua Lake levee and provide employment opportunities to local youth. The funding brought much repairs to 4,000 feet of the Chautauqua Lake perimeter levee and was completed in the summer of 2011. The complete levee is more than 47,000 foot long and serves as flood protection throughout the year to the Illinois River NWR. The series of dikes, levees and other water control structures on the lake also allow the refuge to manage water levels and to provide moist soil vegetation and invertebrates vital for migrating waterfowl health. The Illinois River NWR provides feeding, nesting and resting areas for migratory birds and other wildlife.
The refuge also used nearly $33,000 of these Recovery Act funds to hire youth to work on the refuge as part of the Youth Conservation Corps. This program provides summer employment for youth between the ages of 15 and 18 and provides them an opportunity to work, earn, and learn by completing projects that further the development and conservation of our nation’s natural resources.
For additional information, visit the Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge website.
*Project R3NB is a Regionwide project impacting multiple sites. Visit the Youth Employment in the Midwest Region project page to learn more about the youth employment projects taking place in this region.
Originally posted 08/07/2009
Updated 06/01/2010
Updated 06/16/2010
Page Completed 11/02/2011
