Click to see the Listing of all Faculty From 1981
http://efraimgil.blogspot.com/
3/23/2021
The Grand Village of the Illinois (Old Kaskaskia Village) Near Utica in Illinois
The Grand Village of the Illinois, also called Old Kaskaskia Village, is a site significant for being the best documented historic Native American village in the Illinois River valley. It was a large agricultural and trading village of Native Americans of the Illinois confederacy, located on the north bank of the Illinois River near the present town of Utica, Illinois. French explorers Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette came across it in 1673.
The Kaskaskia, a tribe of the Illiniwek people (and later, other Illiniwek tribes) lived in the village. It grew rapidly after a mission and fur trading post were established there in 1675, to a population of about 6,000 people in about 460 houses.
Chief Nemacolin's Trail / Braddock's Road
General Braddock's March (points 1–10) follows or parallels (and improves upon) Chief Nemacolin's Trail from the Potomac River to the Monogahela.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braddock_Road_(Braddock_expedition)
The National Road aka (The Cuberland Road)
The National Road
The National Road (also known as the Cumberland Road) was the first major improved highway in the United States built by the federal government. It was built between 1811 and 1837.
Pecumsaugan Creek-Blackball Mines
Nature Preserve Area:
3
County:
La Salle
Location and Access:
This site is currently closed to the public. Access for scientific research is by permit only.
Description:
The Pecumsaugan Creek area has beautiful dolomite cliffs, dolomite prairie, upland forest, floodplain forest and savanna communities of the Grand Prairie Natural Division. The preserve is best known for the large abandoned limestone mine and its colonies of bats. Blackball Mine is one of the largest bat hibernacula in Illinois. Five species of bats are known to use the mines, including the federally endangered Indiana bat. Bats in Illinois are strictly insectivorous and one bat can devour up to 4,000 insect pests in a single evening. Generally speaking, bats are the nocturnal counterpart of the diurnal purple martin. Other notable animals in the preserve include a relic population of timber rattlesnake and the mottled sculpin, an unusual fish found in Pecumsaugan Creek. The preserve also provides a variety of habitats for threatened and endangered plants species. Visitors can see many of the unique natural features of this preserve from the I & M Canal towpath, however, entrance to the preserve requires a permit.
Ownership:
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Dedicated:
July 1984
Size:
211.17 acres with buffer
Topographic Quad:
La Salle
Topo Map:
Directions:
For further information:
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Biologist, Silver Springs State Park, Dan Kirk, 1360 Fox Road, Yorkville, IL 60560(630) 553-1372.
3/21/2021
Directions
Lots of Parking at the Grove (bottom of the map) in Main Street, Lakewood Ranch.
We live at the top of the map, 2 blocks north of the Grove.
Google Map Directions from downtown Sarasota
3/20/2021
Cover Southwest US Canals With Floating Solar Panels
Interesting Idea
Cover Southwest US Canals With Floating Solar Panels. Lowers evaporation and generates powerr.
Another good location would be underneath power lines on current right of way. The land is already owned, it is often not used and it is close to power lines.