Chouteau Island
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Chouteau Island, situated approximately 8 miles due north of the St. Louis, Missouri Gateway Arch and approximately 1 mile south of the confluence of the Missouri River and Mississippi River, is actually a series of three islands - Chouteau, Gabaret and Mosenthein. The three, with a combined acreage of approximately 5,500 acres, are located in Madison County, Illinois. The Island is man-made, having been created during the construction of the Chain of Rocks Canal between 1946 and 1953.
Chouteau Island is bounded by the Mississippi River to the west and the Chain of Rocks Canal to the east. The 10 miles of Mississippi River that border the Island on the west is the only natural stretch of the Mississippi without barge traffic between St. Paul, Minnesota and New Orleans, Louisiana.
Chouteau Island is accessed from Illinois via the Canal Bridge, a 2-lane vehicular bridge that crosses the Chain of Rocks Canal. From Missouri, the Island is accessed by foot/bicycle traffic via Route 66's Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which is no longer open to vehicular traffic.
Chouteau Island is a key part of the Confluence Greenway, a regional recreation corridor. Many popular events are held on the Island, including Eagle Days (held each January) and various recreational bicycle rides. Several walking/biking trails have been developed on the Island.
Lewis and Clark camped on Gabaret Island on December 11, 1803, prior to establishing Camp Dubois near Wood River, Illinois.
Mississippi River Lock #27 (Chain of Rocks Lock) is located at the south end of the Island.
Following the floods of 1993, all residences within the Island complex were acquired. Over 70% of Chouteau Island is now in public ownership, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the city of Madison, Illinois. Plans are in development to convert Chouteau Island into a recreational complex with floodplain and grasslands restoration, additional trails, interpretive overlooks, picnic areas, camping areas and a visitors center near the entrance to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.
