PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF WILDCELERY (VALISNARIA AMERICANA) RE-ESTABLISHMENT 
EFFORTS IN LAKE CHAUTAUQUA, ILLINOIS RIVER. 

Thad R. Cook and Mark A. Pegg.
Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois River Biological Station, Long Term 
Resource Monitoring Program, 704 North Schrader Ave., Havana, IL 62644.

The abundance of aquatic vegetation in Illinois River backwaters in the early 
1900's is well documented.  For example, Peoria Reach was described as having 
extensive populations of pondweeds (Potamogeton spp.), wild celery (Valisnaria 
americana), and coontail (Ceratophyllum demersom) between 1910 and 1914.  As 
early as 1915, submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) began to disappear from Peoria 
Reach following the diversion of Lake Michigan waters to the Illinois River.  By 
1920, SAV had almost completely disappeared from the river, its connecting 
sloughs, and backwater lakes.  Similarly, the present distribution of SAV within 
the Lower Illinois River is very limited.  Efforts to re-establish this life 
form within these connected backwaters have been met with limited success.  In 
2001, we began investigating factors limiting SAV, specifically wild celery, in 
Lake Chautauqua, an isolated backwater.  Wild celery winter buds were planted at 
four sites in Lake Chautauqua at a density of 6.9 buds/mē in two treatments 
(enclosed 3 x 3-m cage and an unprotected 3 x 3-m area) plus an additional 
enclosed control with no plantings.  Sites were visited bi-weekly where leaf 
measurements of each plant were taken to evaluate success.  Subsequent daughter 
plants were documented and measured when present.  We collected water quality 
data (e.g., temperature, DO, turbidity) to assess the physical conditions around 
the enclosures.  A subset of plants were allowed to complete their annual life 
cycle and harvested to determine success of winter bud production.  All 
plantings not protected by enclosures encountered a high occurrence of leaf 
cropping.  Initial growth was good, but none of the unprotected plants survived 
the growing season.  Results varied within the enclosures as some sites were 
unsuccessful while others grew and reproduced successfully.  Production of 
winter buds from the initial tubers planted in the enclosures ranged from 0/mē 
to 927/mē.  Limited success within the enclosures suggests that abiotic factors 
limited plant growth.  Our study suggests that biotic and abiotic factors can 
limit wild celery growth in Lake Chautauqua.  However, the probability of 
establishment of this species can be high given the appropriate conditions.

Keywords:  Illinois River, Vallisneria americana, Wild celery