Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area
Rate this placeNearby: Bukolt Park Goerke Memorial Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area, located in the state of Illinois, is a 1,240-acre wetland area that provides a habitat for various wildlife species.
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Summary
The area is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and is open to the public for recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, and birdwatching.
One of the main reasons to visit Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area is to view the diverse wildlife that inhabits the wetlands. Visitors can see a variety of bird species, including great blue herons, egrets, and ducks, as well as mammals such as muskrats and beavers.
The area also features several points of interest, including the Dewey Marsh Boardwalk, where visitors can walk through the wetlands and observe the wildlife up close. There is also a fishing dock and boat ramp for visitors interested in fishing.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that it was once used as a military training ground during World War II and was later converted into a wildlife refuge. Additionally, the wetlands act as a natural filter for water, helping to improve the quality of nearby rivers and streams.
The best time of year to visit Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area is during the spring and fall, when migratory bird species are passing through the area. However, the area is open year-round and offers different opportunities for recreation during each season.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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