FISH COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO REOPENING OF THE EAST RIVER SIDE
CHANNEL AND ISLAND CONSTRUCTION AS PART OF THE UPPER PEORIA LAKE
HABITAT REHABILITATION PROJECT (HREP).  

Kevin S. Irons, Todd M. Koel, T. Matt O'Hara, and Mike J.
Perfetti.   Illinois Natural History Survey, LRTMP Field Station,
704 N. Schrader Ave., Havana, IL 62644.  

Bioresponse monitoring of the Upper Peoria Lake HREP site began
in 1991 with the collection of baseline fish community data using
standard Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) methods. 
Construction of the HREP began in 1994 and had four objectives,
including: 1( reopening the lower end of the East River which
became blocked by sediment deposition in the mid 1960's, 2)
increasing side channel habitat in the study areas, 3)
construction of a barrier island across Upper Peoria Lake to
reduce wind generated waves, reducing resuspension of sediments
and increasing depth, and 4) creation of forested wetland
management area.  Following construction, we made fish
collections during 1997 and 1998 to determined the bioresponse of
fishpopulations to the project.  Pre- and post-construction
sampling utilized several gear types, including hoop nets, fyke
nets, gill nets, trawling, seining, and electrofishing.  The
collections at eight sites during 1991 and 1992 accounted for
43,734 fish including 50 species and 2 hybrids.  A total of 10
sites were sampled post-construction during 1997 and 1998.  The
two additional sites consisted of one in each of two areas
created by HREP construction.  Post-construction sampling
accounted for 116,628 fish including 71 species and 2 hybrids. 
We examined variation in catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) of several
important riverine species among pre- and post-construction sites
to determine effects of the HREP on Illinois River fish
communities.  

Keywords:  Illinois River, fish communities, habitat
rehabilitation, side channel restoration