About Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge
Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge is 3,645 acres and is located in an area that was historically known for its ability to sustain fish and wildlife along the east side of the Illinois River in Morgan and Cass counties, near the town of Meredosia, Illinois. The refuge is part of the traditional homeland of the Illinois people, past and present. Today, the Illinois people are recognized as the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, a confederation of Kaskaskia, Peoria, Piankeshaw and Wea tribes of Illinois and Indiana. They are descendants of those who created the great mound civilizations in the central Unites States. Subsequent tribes that also lived here were the Kickapoo and Potawatomi. We honor with gratitude their past and present as we continue stewardship of these lands, waters, fish and wildlife. The refuge is broken into several management units, each with varying habitat types.Meredosia Island Unit is the largest management unit at 2,350 acres in size and is a mosaic of habitat types with seasonal wetlands, bottomland forest and scrub-shrub habitat. The best way to enjoy the island is by boat on Meredosia Lake, accessible from Beach Road. Boat ramp access is also available at the Grierson Prairie Unit.Prairies are another important piece in the refuge landscape. Evan’s Prairie is a 135-acre unit in the southern portion of the refuge. Although dominated by bottomland forest, the east side of the unit has a 30-acre prairie, part of which is a rare remnant sand prairie. Evan’s Prairie is accessible to the public with information kiosks and a trail to an observation deck located at 2227 Beach Road in Meredosia, Illinois.The Shearl-Skinner Units have an access point off Toe Head Road. A lane through a small sand prairie leads to a parking area with and informational kiosk. From the parking area, 550 acres of seasonally managed wetland are accessible by foot along service roads and levee tops.Situated between Evan’s Prairie and the Shearl-Skinner Unit, the 250-acr
