Field Station

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Last Updated: Jun 02, 2026, 03:50 PM

Field work student looks through binoculars in grassy area

Middle Mississippi River Wetland Field Station

The Middle Mississippi River Wetland Field Station (MMRWFS) is a 1,380-acre research area owned by the state of Illinois and managed by Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The station is located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Alexander County, Illinois. Directions and specific information on using MMRWFS can be found in a map of the area. The purpose of the MMRWFS is to serve as a research, education, and demonstration area on large river floodplain ecology, management, and restoration. Research on many different aspects of large river floodplain wetlands is being conducted on the site. The MMRWFS is also public land and is therefore open to non-motorized recreational and sporting activities, including hunting, fishing, and hiking. There is an abundance of wildlife in the area, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, river otter, and many species of waterfowl.

Additionally, the MMRWFS has recently begun adding several areas throughout Southern Illinois to the field station’s management umbrella. These sites are detailed at the bottom of the page.

The MMRWFS is the culmination of the hard work of many people at SIUC and others from federal and state agencies, as well as non-profit and community organizations. The American Land Conservancy (ALC), the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Dr. Bob Sheehan of SIUC, Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center, were particularly important in making the MMRWFS a reality. Please browse the links below to find out more about the MMRWFS and large river floodplains in general. There is also information for those interested in visiting the site for research or educational activities, or just for recreation. Thank you for your interest in the Middle Mississippi River Wetland Field Station!

  • MMRWFS's History
  • MMRWFS's Present and Future
  • MMRWFS's Other Properties

  • Maps & Driving Directions

  • Maps & Driving Directions.pngDriving from Carbondale, it will take you approximately one hour to get to the MMRWFS. The quickest way is to take US-51 South out of town. When you get to the town of Anna, take a RIGHT onto IL-146. You will now be heading West. You will take a left at the railroad tracks in Anna to stay on IL-146. Pass through the town of Jonesboro. There is a roundabout in Jonesboro; continue in the same direction when passing through it. When you get to the town of Ware, you will be turning LEFT onto IL-3 South. Soon after you pass through the town of McClure, you should be able to see the Cape Girardeau bridge off to your right. Turn RIGHT onto IL-146 toward the bridge. Approximately 1/2 mile on the left is Gerar
  • d Rd. Turn LEFT. Approximately 1/2 mile on the left, past a small pecan grove, you will see a grain silo. This is the driveway. Please park on the far side of the steel building.