The facility can accommodate approximately 30 people. As well as the buildings, over 20 km of trails are maintained to allow access to a variety of habitats in the floodplain, upland forests, and prairies. The tall grass prairie is maintained by periodic burning. Several small, less than 0.5 ha, woodland ponds occur in the forest, and springs in the bed of several of the temporary streams form small pools year-round. With the exception of the last two boats these work boats are equipped with mounts for cranes and other heavy equipment designed for use in large rivers and lakes.
All watercraft have safety equipment onboard at all times.
Portable marine band radios and depth recording equipment are on the boats when in use. Kibbe Life Sciences Station is a facility of the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Illinois University. In addition to the administrative structure of the University there are two permanent staff positions to provide maintenance and administration of the facility. The station director is a faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences. The director is responsible for the academic program at the site, oversees the general research plan of the facility, manages the facility budget, and is ultimately responsible for maintenance and renovations at the station.