They found the soil too wet for farming, and the swamps full of mosquitoes and venomous snakes; many early settlers died of malaria.

Several sawmills and small factories sprung up to process timber for lumber, railroad ties, charcoal, and packing crates and boxes.

The landscape changed dramatically, largely due to a diversion channel that was cut to connect the Cache and the nearby Ohio River.

[3] In 2002, the levee dividing the Post Creek Cutoff and the Lower Cache suffered a catastrophic failure during the spring flood season.

To date, two reports on this subject, created by the Center for Watershed Science at the Illinois State Water Survey, are publicly available.

[7] During the past 15 years, efforts have been made to control erosion, reduce siltation, stabilize water levels, restore game species habitat, and provide recreational opportunities to the public.

Some of the region's farmers feared that restoration of the wetlands would cause flooding and loss of agricultural land, and many resented what they perceived as ‘outside influences’ meddling in their communities.

State and Federal agencies have attempted at all times to reach compromise with local landowners and sportsmen, but tensions and resentment remain.

The center also forms the southern anchor to the 47.5-mile (76.4 km) Tunnel Hill State Trail, which is a favorite with bike enthusiasts.

The wetland center also contains information about places to hike, canoe, fish, hunt, or watch birds in the Cache River region.

The organization advocates sustainable agriculture and forestry practices, as well as restoration of wetlands, bottomland, and upland forests.