After 45 years of fight to preserve the Lower Cache River Ecosystem in Southern Illinois, local landowner, A.E. Corzine is fighting to save his own property and stop illegal destruction that is also affecting ALL of the area, including the internationally recognized Historical Lower Cache River . This private property is also a Wildlife Enhancement Area inside this National Natural Landmark. Much destruction is occurring on this private property due to unnatural, unwanted permanently impounded water causing loss of natural resources. The increase in water elevation poses a threat to many acres of adjacent private lands when allowed to remain long term. The area has trees that are documented to be over 1,000 years old. A Forestry research conducted in 2004 and 2007, found trees 475 years old. A Bald Cypress tree has been aged at more than 500 years before Columbus discovered America! And some may not know that, TREES ARE CONSIDERED WILDLIFE.

Unfortunately, the Joint Venture Partnership (JVP), which includes the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources (IDNR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Cypress Creek Natural Wildlife Refuge, and others, including Big Creek Drainage District #2, are not actively seeking to restore the conditions of the once unique natural system. This lack of interest and action, is causing the destruction of the natural functions of both the forested wetlands and river. The lack of maintenance has led to the now disastrous conditions. If not STOPPED,,,Under a new agreement, between Big Creek Drainage District #2 and IDNR, most all waters will be directed west, as well as, new construction of a new dam that will hold an additional 4 miles of permanent water, which will add to local flood damages, likely to negatively impact area agricultural interest, damage tax payers private property, flood homes, damage or destroy the forest in a 1250 acre National Natural Landmark, and do nothing for a Lower Cache River that thousands depend on for drainage.

WE, THE SUPPORTERS, INSIST THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED PARTIES, WHO ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE DECISIONS OF DRAINAGE DISTRICT, AND THOSE WHO HAVE THE TASK OF PRESERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THIS 10-MILE WETLAND CORRIDOR (MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO), TO ACT  I M M E D I A T E L Y  TO STOP FURTHER DETERIORATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS, TREES, AND WILDLIFE. AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RESTORATION THAT WAS STARTED 45 YEARS AGO AND NOT COMPLETED. IN REGARD TO DESTRUCTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY AND/OR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE LOWER CACHE RIVER,,, YOU CAN'T RESTORE ONE WITHOUT RESTORING THE OTHER. 

OUR URGENT GOAL IS... TO STOP THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN IDNR AND BIG CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT, THAT WOULD TURN OVER RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS ONCE MAGNIFICENT PARADISE, TO IDNR, WHO WHEN PREVIOUSLY GIVEN DRAINAGE AUTHORITY FOR A  PERIOD OF 17 YEARS ,  DID VIRTUALLY NOTHING TO PROTECT AND MANAGE THE LOWER CACHE RIVER.        

OUR LONG TERM GOAL IS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD... DEMAND THAT THOSE WHO WERE OR WHO SHALL IN THE FUTURE, BE GIVEN THE POWER TO PROTECT AND MAINTAIN THIS ONCE MAGNIFICENT PARADISE, THAT THEY DO SO NOW!