Big Bend State Fish & Wildlife Area is a 2,376-acre area owned and managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The property was drained to facilitate agricultural production prior to IDNR ownership. The wetland habitats at Big Bend SFWA consists of fallow agricultural fields, bottomland forest, emergent marsh, and remnant oxbow backwaters. The Arconic Foundation contributed to the planning and development phase that included staff time, land surveys, and permitting of this large watershed restoration that is planned to complete in 2026. The restoration will install new water control infrastructure capable of both managing floodwaters and providing the IDNR with active wetland control to promote production of desirable moist soil plants and maintain healthy bottomland hardwood forests.
