The 78-acre Meissner Island Division is located in Monroe County, Illinois, between River Mile 153.5 and 155.5. It is less than 20 river miles from St. Louis' southern suburbs. The former cropland acreage is naturally regenerating with silver maple, willow and cottonwood. Mast-producing trees such as bur oak and hackberry have also been planted at this site.
Harlow Island Division is located in Jefferson County, Missouri, between River Mile 140.5 and 144. The closest town is Crystal City, Missouri, six miles to the north. The former cropland has been allowed to naturally revegetate to forest and is now comprised of young silver maple, cottonwood and willow saplings. The remaining acreage is primarily bottomland forest with a small remnant side channel and a mile-long slough.
The 2,532-acre Wilkinson Island Division is the southernmost unit of Middle Mississippi River NWR. This area is about 37 miles north of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and lies between River Mile 88.5 and 93 in Jackson County, Illinois and Perry County, Missouri. Future management strategies include planting hard mast trees on higher elevations and investigating the feasibility of reconnecting the remnant side channel to the River.
Beaver Island is a 245-acre true island located at the confluence of the Kaskaskia and Mississippi rivers (River Mile 116 to 118). Its location at the confluence of the Kaskaskia, as well as some cobble and gravel substrate in the area, make it a good location for sturgeon and other native river fish. In addition to the natural features of the area, Beaver Island lies on the site of the village of Kaskaskia, the first capital of Illinois.
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