by: Jeff Lampe Courtesy Prairiestateoutdoors.com
Eight bumpy years have passed since the last comprehensive repairs to the rutted roads of Banner Marsh. While that comes as no surprise to anyone who has battled Banner’s goat paths, the lack of gravel underlines an important point. Most state-run natural areas in Illinois are ailing. Without help soon, they will only get worse. But given the state budget deficit, there’s no sign of help on the horizon.
With that in mind, a group of hunters, anglers and outdoors enthusiasts have banded together to form a new advocacy group called Friends of Rice Lake (FORL). While the official name only lists Rice Lake, the group’s mission statement is “to support, enhance and protect the Rice Lake, Banner Marsh and Double T state fish and wildlife areas.”
All three popular areas are located within 35 minutes of Peoria and all three are part of the same Rice Lake complex. So whether you catch bass at Banner, duck hunt at Rice Lake or photograph birds at Double T, this non-profit group will serve your interests.
“What we want to do basically is to help (Rice Lake site manager Bill Douglass) and his crew in any way they need help, whether it’s with funds or as a voice,” said Adam Jaegle of Bartonville, president of FORL. “We just want to be able to preserve what we have, make sure it’s there for the future and maybe make it better.” The first fund-raiser for Friends of Rice Lake is next Sunday, July 25, during the annual duck-blind drawing at Rice Lake. Volunteers will sign-up members at various levels: $10 for youngsters 16 and under, $25 for members, $50 for sponsors and $250 for major donors. Depending on how much you donate, you’ll receive a window decal, hat or t-shirt as well as chances at various prizes. Illinois hunting and fishing Hats and t-shirts with the Friends of Rice Lake logo will also be sold, as will raffle tickets for Butch Louck’s unique, hand-carved drake mallard decoy. Louck spent more than 300 hours on the decoy he calls “Standing Proud,” which will be raffled Aug. 18. For those who can’t attend the duck-blind drawings, information will soon be available on friendsofricelake.org or at Presley’s Outdoors in Bartonville. Germantown Hills resident Louck donated the decoy because he believes, “We ought to step up and help in tough economic times.” That’s an honorable reaction to the sad reality facing natural areas run by the Department of Natural Resources. Budget cuts have forced site managers like Douglass to make tough decisions. “Do you plant food for wildlife or rock a road?” he asked. Beyond gravel, Douglass rattled off a long wish-list of goods and services: goose pits at Double T, a 15-foot bat-wing mower, a no-till planter, a brush cutter, boats for Banner Marsh, lumber and paint for picnic tables, money for excavator rental, camp stoves, buoys, trail markers, wood duck boxes, seed and chemical as needed, pumps, a snow plow … and on and on. No wonder DNR Director Marc Miller wants more outdoors types to band together. “We need these partners,” Miller said. “I think that advocacy groups can have a large impact on the budget and on the legislative process.”
Certainly that’s been true for the Friends of Sanganois, whose success is a template for the Friends of Rice Lake.
For the past six years Friends of Sanganois has been a tireless advocate for levee repairs at that state site. The group has also generated close to $10,000 per year for road repairs, boat ramps, mowers and other needed equipment and improvements. “We’ve spent thousands in rock for roads because the state just won’t do it,” said Bo Arnold, president of Friends of Sanganois. “I get the feeling if we didn’t pay for it, it would never get done.” At the same time, there’s an understandable resistance to fork over more money to a state-run facility. As hunters and anglers we already pay taxes. Plus we are paying more for license fees this year. Why pay even more? Ultimately, that’s up to each of us to decide. One guarantee FORL makes is that all funds raised will be used only for improvements or youth-related events at the Rice Lake complex. That’s one reason I see this as a worthwhile venture. Yes, there’s some bias involved since I’m also secretary of FORL (largely by default after the Head Worm tried to include an “x” in his spelling of secretary). But my real bias is more selfish than that. Some of the most enjoyable outdoors experiences I’ve enjoyed around here were at Banner or Rice Lake. I want my children to have that same opportunity.
