By controlling the depth and duration of water on an area, significant amounts of natural moist soil plants are produced. These, in turn, are used to provide breeding, courtship, feeding and staging areas for wetland wildlife species including rails, snipe, herons, shorebirds, cormorants, ducks, and geese. Canoeists and fishermen will find six small boat launching facilities conveniently located in the wildlife areas. Visitors with bigger craft are advised to use the larger access areas offered at marinas, state parks, or Corps of Engineers' sites. The Kaskaskia and West Okaw Rivers provide excellent stream fishing for walleye, white bass, crappie and channel catfish.
Boats are welcome on the rivers, but the corridors are designed no wake areas.
Largemouth bass, bluegill, redear and channel catfish are found in the six ponds scattered around the management units. The Kaskaskia and West Okaw units offer developed nature trails that highlight the habitats found there. These trails provide visitors an opportunity to leisurely wander through natural settings that present different plant and animal communities at every turn. Whether a spring walk to look at wildflowers or marvel at woodland warblers, or a fall hike to take in fall leaf color, these trails showcase some of central Illinois' finest outdoor spectaculars. Copies of these are available at agency offices on the lake.