EMIQUON CORPS OF DISCOVERY The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve lies an hour downriver from Peoria, a 7,000-acre tract of land that hugs the banks of the great Illinois River. This land—named Emiquon, or “squash” by Native Americans—once was called the “Jewel of the Illinois River.” Farmed for 80 years, it now is the site of an ambitious project of The Nature Conservancy, which plans to restore this land to its previous grandeur for future generations.
The development of the Emiquon Preserve over the next decade provides a unique opportunity for interested, committed citizens to participate in the documentation of the dramatic changes that are likely to occur.
“Emiquon Corps of Discovery (ECD)” consisting of individuals trained in the skills of photography, descriptive writing, and sketching/drawing who can create a total aesthetic picture of Emiquon, both today and into the future.
The first group of Emiquon Corp of Discovery members, trained in 2005. This group documented the Emiquon restoration project in its very early stages, recording the final year of farming and the first signs of recovery once the water was allowed back into the area.
A new group was trained in 2010.
“Emiquon Corps of Discovery (ECD)” consisting of individuals trained in the skills of photography, descriptive writing, and sketching/drawing who can create a total aesthetic picture of Emiquon, both today and into the future.