Mile 155.5 - 155.5 - 153.5 LBD Meissner Island Division Middle Mississippi NWR

155.5 - 153.5 LBD Meissner Island Division Middle Mississippi NWR

The 78-acre Meissner Island Division is in Monroe County, Illinois is less than 20 miles from St. Louis’ southern suburbs. Former cropland is naturally returning to silver maple, willow and cottonwood bottomland. Trees such as bur oak and hackberry have been planted to provide food for wildlife. Low/med water picnic/camp sites can be found below wing dams along the man channel. Plentiful wildlife, even amongst the close-by suburbia. Mark River: “The eagles fly over as if an ordinary day, while we cruise around Foster Island (Meissner Island) enjoying the views of the bluff neighborhoods like Herculaneum. In the distance you can see a large eagles nest, giving the optical illusion of being right amongst a heron rookery. The trees are wind blown , so all the leaves blanket the landscape and the bluffs seem to blend with the trees.”