Unique Systems
At the Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon, cross-discipline and inter-institutional studies 
explore the science of the floodplain; these studies and the scientists working at the station
become part of the fascinating history of this area. Ecologists and managers who study floodplains understand that these systems are unique. But scientists are only beginning to understand floodplain ecology, both in its parts and as a whole.
Important questions challenge scientists at every level of study:
- Why do fish thrive in and near a natural floodplain, but disappear when levies surround a river?
- What are the economic tradeoffs between land drained for agricultural production and the naturally abundant floodplains?
- Technical, scientific questions about the floodplain interact with the history, culture, and future of the humans who have lived and who will live on or near the Emiquon floodplain. How will the Emiquon restoration affect people today and in the future?
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Emiquon:
Restoration Ecology
- Information
- Apply Now
Recent Scholarly Paper about Floodplains
Description of Freshwater Bacterial Assemblages from the Upper Paraná River Floodpulse System, Brazil. Michael J. Lemke, E. Kurt Lienau, Jean Rothe, Thomaz A. Pagioro, Jeff Rosenfeld & Rob DeSalle. Microbial Ecology (2009) 57:94–103.
Annual Science Symposium:
- Emiquon 2010: Restoration Ecology, Theory and Policy Announcement and Call for Papers Register here: Registration Form Submit abstracts here: Abstract Submissions
- Agenda from “Emiquon 2008: Restoration Begins”
- Brochure from 2007: “Managing and Making Choices: A Symposium on the Challenge of River Floodplain Land Use”
UIS Students Studying the Floodplain:
Recent Data about Emiquon and Illinois:
- Click here to view Live Data Now!
- The Nature Conservancy’s Key Attributes for the Emiquon Restoration (PDF)
- The Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring Program (WARM)
Researchers seeking assistance with archived data, please contact us.
