Critical Trends Assessment Project Phase II f|p Inventory of ResouV^e Rich Areas in Illinois An Evaluation of Ecological Resources ILLINOIS Published by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources with Assistance from The Nature of Illinois Foundation NATURAL RESOURCES T his repc ongoing Realty and ecosystems. Assessment. Geological, Informatioi ment repor DNR's Eco restore Illin areas idenf first report For inform ctap2@dnr 782-7940 ( The person charging this material is responsible for Its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for discioll- To renew call Telephone Center, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN All CTAP ; Clearinghc lent Project (CTAP), an esources. Office of and condition of Illinois environmental Iving the Water, ous Waste Research and rst 'state of the environ- )logically rich areas for tive to preserve and ; regional assessments of rce Rich Area will be the 7) 524-0500 or e-mail at items Program, call (217) LI61— O-I096 ible from the DNR 75. They are also available on the EcoForum Bulletin Board at 1 (8UU) :)Z»o^6o or (217) 782-8447, and on the World Wide Web at http://dnr.state.il.us/ctap/ctaphome.htm and at http://dnr.state.il.us/c2000/manage/partner.htm. Natural ,';? = .„. o,^ Licrary Critical Trends Assessment Project Phase II Inventory of Resource Rich Areas in Illinois An Evaluation of Ecological Resources Prepared for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources by Liane Suloway, Mark Joselyn, and Patrick W. Brown Center for Wildlife Ecology Illinois Natural History Survey 1996 Published by the lUinois Department of Natural Resources with Assistance from The Nature of Illinois Foundation Nicholas P. Schneider, Executive Director Printed by the authority of the State of Illinois IDNR/EEA-96/08 3M/1996 Printed with soy ink on recycled and recyclable paper /Ucxjr . /4i':,i. Sialyl/. Contents Introduc:tion to the Program 1 Statewide Summaries 3 Resource Rich Area Summaries What to Look for in the Area Summaries 14 Driftless Area 15 Sugar River 20 Chain O' Lakes - Fox River 24 IlHnois Beach 31 Kishwaukee River 36 Rock River 40 DuPage River 45 Mississippi - Lower Rock 49 Des Plaines River 54 Thorn Creek 59 Prairie Parklands 63 Kankakee - Iroquois 68 Peoria Wilds 73 Nauvoo 78 Mackinaw River 83 Middle Illinois River 87 Vermilion River 93 Big Rivers 98 Embarras River 104 Sangamon River 109 Upper Wabash River 113 Southern Till Plain 117 Karst/Cave Area 122 Lower Wabash River 127 Kaskaskia Bottoms 132 Middle Fork Big Muddy 136 Illinois Ozarks 140 Shawnee Hills 146 Cache River 152 Cretaceous Hills 158 METiionorocY 163 References 165 ACKNOWI IDf.MFNTS 167 Introduction Introduction to the Program "The Inventory of Resource Rich Areas in Illinois" and the Critical Trends Assessment Project The following "Inventory of Resource Rich Areas in Illinois" is a product of the Critical Trends Assessment Project and the Ecosystems Program of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Both are funded largely through Conservation 2000, a six-year State of Illinois program to enhance nature protection, sport, and outdoor recreation by reversing the decline of the state's ecosystems. Conservation 2000 is the culmination of three recent natural resource mitiatives in Illinois. First, investigators for the Critical Trends Assessment Project inventoried and analyzed existing environmen- tal, ecological, and economic data as part of an effort to establish baseline conditions from which future changes in ecological conditions might be measured. Phase I of CTAP, completed in the fall of 1994, concluded that: ♦ the emission and discharge of regulated pollutants over the past 20 years has declined in Illinois, in some cases dramatically; ♦ existing data suggest that the condition of natural systems in Illinois is rapidly declining as a result of fragmentation and continued stress; ♦ data designed to monitor compliance with environmental regulations or the status of individual species are not sufficient to assess ecological health statewide. The Illinois Conservation Congress and Governor Edgar's Water Resources and Land Use Priorities Task Force underlined the urgency of these findings. The Conservation Congress concluded that better stewardship of the state's land and water resources could be achieved by managing them on an ecosys- tem basis. Traditional management and assessment practices focus primarily on the protection of relatively small tracts of land (usually under public ownership) and the cultivation of single species (usually game animals or rare and endangered plants and animals). Fiowever, ecosystems extend beyond the boundaries of the largest parks, nature preserves, and fish and wildlife areas. Unless landscapes are managed on this larger scale, it will prove impossible to preserve, protect, and perpetuate Illinois' richly diverse natural resource base. It plainly being impossible for Illinois governments to acquire resources on the ecosystem scale when more than 90% of the state's land area is privately owned, the Task Force and the Congress called for public agencies and private landowners to cooperate in a new approach to natural resources programs. if landowners can protect, enhance, or restore precious natural resources through enlightened private management, the need for public acquisition can reduced. The Congress and the Task Force agreed that such programs ought to be: ♦ organized on a regional scale; ♦ voluntary and incentive-based; ♦ guided by comprehensive and comprehensible ecosystem-based scientific information; ♦ initiated at the grassroots rather than in Springfield. Finally, the Congress and the Task Force agreed that natural resource protection need not hamper local economic development but may enhance it through tourism and outdoor recreation. CTAP described the reality of ecosystem decline in Illinois, and the Congress and the Task Force laid out principles for new approaches to reversing it. Conservation 2000 is designed to achieve that reversal. This six-year initiative will implement a number of the recommendations of the Congress and the Task Force, drawing on $100 million to fund nine new programs in three State of Illinois agencies. One of these programs is IDNR's Ecosystems Program, whose purpose is to support cooperative public- private partnerships that merge natural resource stewardship with compatible economic and recreational development. The program redirects existing department programs to support new local and regional 2 • Introduction resource protection initiatives. The Ecosystems Program also is the means by which the State of Ilhnois may support Ecosystem Partnerships. These are coahtions of local and regional interests seeking to maintain and enhance ecological and economic conditions in local landscapes (usually defined by water- shed boundaries). In addition to coordinating its own programs with those of its local partners, the Ecosystems Program will: ♦ provide technical assistance to the partnerships, such as resource management plans for use by participating landowners; ♦ assess resources in the area encompassed by each Ecosystem Partnership, collecting data that the local partners themselves may use to set project priorities and design projects and supplying scientific support to ecosystem partners, including on-going monitoring of Ecosystem Partnership areas; ♦ fund site-specific ecosystem projects recommended by each partnership. Such projects may involve habitat protection and improvement, technical assistance, research, and education, including projects that seek to expand on the relationships between natural resources, economic development, and recreation. The landscape level approach to identifying and managing natural resources is critical to the long-term preservation of the rich heritage of Illinois. This publication identifies and describes large areas where such resources are concentrated. Four parameters were used in the analysis: forests, wetlands, Illinois Natural Areas Inventory sites, and Biologically Significant Streams. Watersheds were used as the geographic unit for evaluation. <&> (TO Statewide Summaries • 3 Statewide Summaries The RRAs include 45 % of the bottomland, 43 % of the nonforested wetland, and 34% of the upland forest in Illinois while occupying less than 20% of the state's total area. Thirty Resource Rich Areas (RRAs) (Figure 1) were identified using the methods described in Methodology (page 161). In total they cover 19.8% of the state (Table 1), encompassing seven of the state's 36 million acres. However, the actual area of biologically important natural resources is less than the total area of the RRAs. This results from the use of watersheds as the unit of analysis. In most RRAs, the existing natural resources occupy a concentrated portion of the watershed, or core area, often along riparian corridors. While nearly half the area within the RRAs is in agricultural production, less than 15% of the state's total cropland occurs in the RRAs. The RRAs include over one-third of the woodlands and nearly half the wetlands in Illinois (Table 1). The RRAs range dramatically in size from 15,144 to 626,795 acres (Table 2). The largest RRAs are Big Rivers, the Southern Till Plain, and the Middle Illinois River. The smallest RRAs— Sugar River, Thorn Creek, Des Plaines River, Illinois Beach, and the DuPage River — are found in the northern part of the state, the latter four in highly urbanized areas. RRAs are distributed throughout the state and occur gener- ally on the main stems of the larger rivers or in the southern part of the state. Landcover Bottomland, nonforested wetland, and upland forest are well represented in the RRAs. The RRAs include 45.1% of the bottomland, 42.6% of the nonforested wetland, and 33.9% of the upland forest in Illinois, while occupying less than 20% of the total area in the state. Landcover classes with the lowest percentages in RRAs were cropland (14.9%), grassland (20.2%), and urban (20.6%). Within the RRAs cropland was the dominant landcover class (45.4%), followed by upland forests (19.8%) and grassland (18.3%). Table i. Landcover Composition for Resource Rich Areas and for Illinois. The is the combination of upland and bottomland forest classes and the "Wetlands total of nonforested wetland and bottomland forest. "Forest - total" category - total" category is the Landcover % State Acreage Composition Composition Acres in Acres Class Incl uded in RRAs of RRAs of Illinois RRAs Statewide Upland Forest 33.9 19.8 11.6 1,416,602 4,179,367 (Forest - total) (35.8) (25.7) (14.0) (1,815,373) (5,064,576) Bottomland Forest 45.1 5.6 2.5 398,771 885,209 Nonforested Wetlan ds 42.6 1.1 0.5 77,552 182,245 (Wetland- total) (44.6) (6.8) (3.0) (476,323) (1,067,454) Urban and Built-Up 20.6 5.4 5.2 389,463 1,886,912 Cropland 14.9 45.4 60.4 3,246,905 21,773,580 Grassland 20.2 18.3 18.0 1,308,331 6,489,045 Water 47.9 4.5 1.8 319,439 666,266 Total 19.8% of state 100.0% of sites 100.0% of state 7,157,063 36,062,624 Natural Areas Inventory, Biologically Signtficant Streams, AND Natural Heritage Sites The Resource Rich Areas include 76% of all Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI) acreage and 55% of all INAI sites in the state. The distribution of INAI sites relative to RRAs is depicted in Figure 2. The Driftless Area and the Karst/Cave Area have the highest INAI acreages (Table 2). The greatest number of Figure 1. Resource Rich Areas KISHWAUKEE RIVER •-pe in RRAs included in RRAs 80 42.1 36 58.1 133 70.7 147 47.1 40 74.1 44 89.8 25 59.5 55 77.5 560 57.9 State and Federally Owned Land The number of state owned entities in RRAs varies from to 9 (Table 4). The Middle Illinois River RRA has by far the most state-owned acreage with 31,630 acres, although this represents only 5.5% of its area. Illinois Beach has the highest percentage of area that is state owned (6.3%). Federal ownership is concentrated in southern Illinois where the Shawnee National Forest is located (Shawnee Hills, Illinois Ozarks, Cretaceous Hills, and Cache River) and in the Driftless Area and Prairie Parklands RRAs (Table 4). State and federal lands are shown relative to the RRAs in Figure 12. Table 4. State and Federally Owned Lands in Resource Rich Areas STATE LANDS » FEDERAL LANDS** Name of #of # Cons #of #of State %of Federal % of Resource Rich Area Parks Areas Forests FWA acres RRA acres RRA Driftless Area 1 1 3,354 1.7 40,6122 1.2 Sugar River 0.0 0.0 Chain O Lakes-Fox River 2 5,338 1.9 0.0 Illinois Beach 1 3,092 6.3 726 1.5 Kishwaukee River 0.0 0.0 Rock River 3 1 4,706 2.3 0.0 DuPage River 0.0 0.0 Mississippi-Lower Rock 2 1 1,493 0.3 15,694 3.4 Des Plaines River 0.0 0.0 Thorn Creek 0.0 0.0 Prairie Parklands 2 1 7,324 4.8 26,904 17.6 Kankakee-Iroquois 1 1 6,415 2.8 0.0 Peoria Wilds 4 1 9,570 3.4 1,589 0.6 Nauvoo 1 140 0.1 0.0 Mackinaw River 1 1,397 1.1 0.0 Middle Illinois River 1 5 1 2 31,630 5.5 21,499 3.7 Vermilion River 1 1 5,944 4.5 0.0 Big Rivers 1 1 9,547 1.5 37,901 6.0 Embarras River 3 3,226 0.7 0.0 1 tabic continued on page 7 Statewide Summaries • 7 Table 4. State and Federally Owned Lands in Resource Rich Areas, (continued) STATE LANDS » FEDERAL LANDS** Name of #of # Cons #of #of State %of Federal %of Resource Rich Area Parks Areas Forests FWA acres RRA acres RRA Sangamon River 0.0 0.0 Driftless Area 1 1 3,354 1.7 40,6122 1.2 Upper Wabash River 1 3 0.0 0.0 Southern Till Plain 1 554 0.1 682 0.1 Karst/Cave Area 1 1 3,364 1.2 0.0 Lower Wabash River 1 1 1,261 0.8 0.0 Kaskaskia Bottoms 1 1 6,916 3.5 494 0.2 Middle Fork Big Muddy 1 22 0.0 0.0 Illinois Ozarks 1 1 1 1 18,668 4.0 81,266 17.4 Shawnee Hills 2 1 2,060 0.4 136,817 28.7 Cache River 3 2 11,924 2.7 53,741 12.1 Cretaceous Hills 1 619 0.7 11,999 13.6 Totals 30 17 3 12 138,567 0.6 429,924 6.0 '■■ Parks, Cons Areas (Conservation Areas), Forests, and FWA (Fish and Wildlife Area) refer to state lands. '""' Federal Land figures for Shawnee National Forest are based on ownership boundaries rather than the more general proclamation boundary. Natural Divisions All 14 natural divisions are represented in the thirty RRAs. The Coastal Plain, Shawnee Hills, and Lower Mississippi Bottomlands divisions are particularly well represented (Table 5). The Western Forest-Prairie and Grand Prairie are the least represented; these divisions have been extensively converted from presettlement conditions to agricultural use (Schwegman, et al. 1973). Figure 13 illustrates the relationship of natural divisions to the RRAs. Many RRAs are comprised of a single natural division, such as Chain O' Lakes-Fox River, Kishwaukee River, DuPage River, Thorn Creek, Kankakee-Iroquois, Mackinaw River, Sangamon River, Kaskaskia Bottoms, and the Middle Fork of the Muddy River. Others are composites of several divisions, particularly the Mississippi-Lower Rock and Big Rivers RRAs. Table 5. Natural Divisions in Illinois and in Resource Rich Areas. Natural divisions are listed from lowest to highest area in Illinois. Name of Natural Division Wisconsin Driftless Lower Mississippi Bottomlands Illinois and Mississippi River Sand Areas Ozarks Coastal Plain Shawnee Hills Upper Mississippi and Illinois River Bottomland Rock River Hill Country Middle Mississippi Border Wabash Border Northeastern Morainal Western Forest-Prairie Southern Till Plain Grand Prairie Percent of Illinois 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.3 2.5 3.3 4.2 4.3 4.8 6.8 12.2 19.8 36.1 Percent of Division contained in RRAs 37.3 79.7 61.4 63.7 85.2 81.6 64.5 14.8 35.6 34.0 22.6 4.4 15.2 8.6 Figure 2. Natural Areas Inventory Sites Figure 3. Biologically Significant Streams Figure 4. Upland Forest Heritage Sites Figure 5. Floodplain Forest Heritage Sites Figure 6. Wetland Heritage Sites Figure 7. Prairie Heritage Sites Figure 8. Savanna Heritage Sites Figure 9. Cave l-ieritage Sites Figure 10. Lake Heritage Sites Figure 11. Primary Heritage Sites Figure 12. State and Federal Land State Land Federal Land Figure 13. Natural Divisions 1 Wisconsin Driftless 2 Rock River Hill Country 3 Northeastern Morainal 4 Grand Prairie 5 Upper Miss, and Illinois R. Bottomlands 6 Illinois and Mississippi River Sand Areas 7 Western Forest-Prairie 8 Middle Mississippi Border 9 Southern Till Plain 10 Wabash Border 1 1 Ozark 12 Lower Mississippi River Bottomlands 13 Shawnee Hills 14 Coastal Plain 14 ■ Resource Rich Area Summaries What to Look for IN THE Resource Rich Area Summaries The 30 RRAs are described in detail in this section of the report. The following information is provided for each RRA: Overview (brief characterization of the site and graph of the landcover composition) Summary table of total size, Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites (INAI) , Biologically Significant Streams (BSS), and state and federally owned land Landcover data table Illinois Natural Areas Inventory table Biologically Significant Streams table Natural Heritage Categories table State and Federal Lands table Nature Preserves table Natural Division table Natural Resource Map (locations of Natural Areas, Biologically Significant Streams, state and federal lands) Landcover map In the summary tables of the 30 site descriptions, the following should be noted: The slight variation in total acreages of RRAs listed in the Summary table and the Landcover table is related to the use of different analysis methods. Acreages in this publication are generated from digital coverages and are not authoritative; they may differ slightly from acreages listed in other sources. For Illinois Natural Areas, some sites are represented in the Geographic Information System (GIS) only by point locations because maps were not available at the time of this analysis. Therefore, no acreages were listed (the acreage for these sites is marked with an '■). Some of the features included in the Biologically Significant Streams Inventory are lakes, in which case the mileage was calculated as the perimeter of the lake. In the analysis of Heritage occurrences, the stream community type was not used because of the difficulties of using point locations as representations for stream lengths and because significant streams were well represented in other tables (Natural Areas Inventory and Biologically Significant Streams). State land in this publication is limited to parks, conservation areas, forests, and fish and wildlife areas. The grass- lands category includes pastures, hayfields, idle fields, rural road and railroad rights-of-way, and prairie remnants. Each RRA is represented by a natural resources map and a landcover map. Feature labels are generally to the right of the feature unless this was not possible. The maps were designed to maximize the area on the page, therefore scales vary between maps. A key to feature names contained on the maps follows. NA Natural Area NA"' Natural Area represented as points SP State Park SCA State Conservation Area FWA State Fish and Wildlife Area SF State Forest NF National Forest NWR National Wildlife Refuge Federal Land labels are in capital letters. The Shawnee National Forest is represented on the maps by many scattered ownership boundaries, which are unlabeled, and a more general proclamation boundary. Driftlhss Area • 1 5 I Driftless Area The Driftless Area RRA occupies a physiographically unique part of the state that escaped Pleistocene glaciation. The area is characterized by rolling hills and a dissected pattern of wooded ridges and includes such prominent features as canyons, ravines, bluffs, and palisades. Some of the flora and fauna are distinctive and unique in the state, including several plant species which are northern species or preglacial and interglacial relicts. Landcover ♦ The predominant landcover type in this RRA is grassland. The Driftless Area RRA has the highest percentage of grassland of all the sites (37%). The site is one-fourth wooded — 22% upland woods and nearly 6% bottomland woods. Much of the woodland is found on ridges. Twenty percent of the area is cropland; this is one of the few nonurban RRAs where cropland is not the predominant landcover type. Natural Areas ♦ There are 19 Natural Areas in this RRA. This site contains more Natural Area acreage than any other RRA (30,556 acres, 16% of the site area). The Savanna Army Depot accounts for over 14,000 acres; otter habitat and Spring Lake, a large lake associated with the Mississippi River, are other large Natural Areas. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ This site contains 22.4 miles of streams identi- fied as biologically significant. Heritage Sites ♦ There are 109 Heritage occurrences in the Driftless Area RRA: three significant community types, 30 plant species, 20 animal species, and three rookeries. State and Federal Land ♦ Mississippi Palisades State Park is located in this RRA as well as one state fish and wildlife area. This site has the second highest percentage of area in federal ownership (21% of the area; 40,6 12 acres). Federal lands are the Upper Mississippi Wildlife and Fish Refuge (26,579 acres) and the Savanna Army Depot (14,033 acres). See sidebar on page 16. Nature Preserves ♦ There are four Nature Preserves in this RRA. Significant features include sand prairie, sand dune and blowout, cliff, hill prairie, and seep springs. Natural Divisions ♦ Nearly three-fourths of the Driftless Area RRA is comprised of the Wisconsin Driftless Division. This RRA is the only site that includes this division; 37% of the division, which itself covers only 1 % of the state, lies within this site. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 191,814 Natural Areas Acreage 30,556 Number 19 Biologically Significant Stream .Mileage 22.4 Size: 191,814 acres 300 square miles Location: Nortliwestern Illinois on thie Mississippi River; Jo Daviess, Carroll, and Whiteside counties Landcover at a Glance H upland forest 22% B bottomland forest 6% B wetland <1% I I grassland 37% H cropland 20% I I urban built-up 1% I I water 14% 1 6 ■ Driftless Area The Savanna Army Depot is currently being decommissioned as an ordance storage facility. It covers approximately 20 square miles and includes bottom- land, oak forest, wetlands, upland sand prairie, and habitat for 32 endan- gered or threatened plants and animals. Approximately 9,000 acres will be trans- ferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for addition to the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Natural Heritage Sites 109 State Land State Parks 1 State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas 1 Acreage 3,354 Percentage of RRA 1.7 Federal Land Acreage 40,612 Percentage of RRA 21.2 Landcover Acres % of RRA Upland forest 41,587.13 21.68 Bottomland forest 10,643.35 5.55 Wetland- nonforested 1,119.55 0.58 Grassland 71,811.77 37.44 Cropland 37,603.67 19.60 Urban/Built-up 2,710.36 1.41 Water 26.338.33 13.73 Total 191,814.16 99.99 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Acres Ayers Sand Prairie 29 Blackhawk Otter Habitat 3,625 Dixon Creek North Geological Area 2 East Dubuque Geological Area 5 Hanover Bluff 164 Jo Daviess County Otter Habitat 6,550 Mississippi Palisades 412 Mississippi Palisades Geological Area 2 Palisades Stickseed Site <1 Pilot Knob Geological Area 1 Princess Mine Algific Slope 154 Redroot Site 1 Rice Algific Slope 49 Royal Princess Geological Area 3 Savanna Army Depot 14,323 Savanna South Railroad Prairie 61 Spring Lake 4,913 Thomson-Fulton Sand Prairie 262 Wise Lake Geological Area 2 Biologically Significant Streams Miles Apple River, Wolf Creek to Mill Creek 12.0 Menominee River 5.1 Mississippi River, rm 545-550, Carroll Co. 5.3 Natural Heritage Categories Communities Occurrences Tvpes/Species Wetland 1 1 Prairie 2 2 Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird 27 11 Fish 3 2 Driftless ARtA • 17 Mammal Reptile Crustacean Mollusk Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Plant-Gymnosperm Plant-Monocot Plant-Fern/Fern Ally Geological Feature Geological Feature Other Rookery State and Federal Land State Parks Mississippi Palisades State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Witkowsky Federal Land 15 3 1 2 29 1 11 6 2 A Igific slopes are f\ north-facing rocky 2 1 slopes that retain 2 subsurface ice through 21 1 most of the year. In Illinois they occur only 7 in the Driftless Area. 1 The cold microclimate created on the surface 1 of the slope supports relict northern and 1 Pleistocene biota, including many endan- Acres gered, threatened, and 2,350 rare species. 1 ,004 Savanna Army Depot 14,033 Upper Mississippi River Fish & Wildlife Refuge 26,579 Nature Preserves Acres Ayers Sand Prairie 23 Hanover Bluff 390 Sentinel 51 Thomson-Fulton Sand Prairie 83 Natural Divisions Acres %of %of in RRA RRA Division Wisconsin Driftless 135,938 72.6 37.0 Major Water Bodies 21,236 11.3 1.9 Upper Mississippi R and Illinois R Bottomlands 18,658 10.0 1.6 Illinois R and Mississippi R Sa nd Areas 11,501 6.1 3.0 Driftless Area 1^1 Natural Area ^^H Town State Land Federal Land /V Stream /\/ Significant Stream /V' Highway /\/ County 5 Miles JO DAVIESS CO. [•ij Apple River ^tSca'les Mound Warcen Stockton WHITESIDE CO. Futton Driftless Area Upland Forest Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland 5 Miles Cropland ' Water Urban/Built-up 20 • Sugar River Size: 15,144 acres 23.7 square miles Location: North-central Illinois bordering Wisconsin; Winnebago County. Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 8% B bottomland forest 1 0% H wetland 3% B grassland 33% B cropland 45% I I urban built-up <1% ■ water <1% Sugar River The Sugar River RRA is characterized by a wide, wooded riparian corridor of floodplain forest and upland woods. It is the smallest RRA. The Sugar River area is along an important bird migration route and provides habitat for several unusual amphibians and reptiles. Landcover ♦ The predominant landcover type is cropland (45%), followed by grassland (33%). This site has the second highest percentage of grasslands among the RRAs. The site is 18.5% wooded (8% upland and 10.5% bottomland forest). The percentages of bottomland woods and nonforested wetlands are relatively high, but the total acreages are low, reflecting the site's small size. Natural Areas ♦ The Sugar River Natural Area occupies 20% of this RRA. A small prairie is the only other Natural Area in this RRA. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ The Sugar River RRA has 4.5 miles of biolog- ically significant streams. Heritage Sites ♦ Twenty-four Heritage Sites occur in this RRA. There are three significant community types, 12 plant species, and four animal species. State and Federal Land ♦ There is no state or federal land in this RRA. Nature Preserves ♦ There are two Nature Preserves in this site. Natural features include bluffs, sand savanna, and prairie. Natural Divisions ♦ This site lies in the Rock River Hill Country (84%) and Northeastern Morainal (16%) Divisions. Summary of Sffe Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 15,144 Natural Areas Acreage 2,993 Number 2 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 4.5 Natural Heritage Sites 24 State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA 0.0 Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA 0.0 Sugar River • zi Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Wetland-nonforested Grassland Cropland Urban/Built-up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Shiriand Railroad Prairie Sugar River Biologically Significant Streams Sugar River, Otter Creek Natural Heritage Categories Communities Lake Prairie Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Mammal Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Plant-Monocot Plant-Fern/Fern Ally Geological Feature Other State and Federal Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves Colored Sands Bluff Sugar River Alder Site Natural Divisions Rock River Hill Country Northeastern Morainal Acreage % of RRA 1,208.87 7.98 1,581.98 10.45 424.10 2.80 4,979.97 32.88 6,803.81 44.92 16.86 0.11 129.46 0.85 15,145.05 99.99 Acres 4 2,989 Miles 4.5 Occurrences Types/Species 1 1 2 2 4 3 1 1 11 7 2 2 3 3 Acres Acres 56 167 Acres % of %of in RRA RRA Division 12,675 83.7 0.8 2,470 16.3 0.1 oa Sand deposited by the wind after the last glaciation formed dunes and ridges along the Sugar River. The dunes and ridges were eventually sta- bilized by forest and prairie vegetation. Sugar River is a migration route for birds; over 150 species have been banded at the bird- banding station in Colored Sands Bluff Nature Preserve. Sugar River Natural Area Town State Land ^ Federal Land /\y Stream /\/ Significant Stream /%/ Highway /\/ County 2 Miles Sugar River Upland Forest Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland 2 Miles Cropland ' Water Urban/Built-up 24 ■ Chain O' Lakes Size: 285,844 acres 447 square miles Location: Northeastern Illinois; Lake, McHenry, Cook, and Kane counties. Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 1 9% B bottomland forest 1% H wetland 7% I I grassland 15% I I cropland 20% I I urban built-up 30% I I water 7% Chain O' Lakes - Fox River The Chain O' Lakes-Fox River RRA encompasses the area of most recent glaciation in Illinois. Significant natural features in this poorly drained area include glacial landforms, natural lakes, and wetlands. Many wetland types are found in this RRA, such as bogs, fens, seeps, and shallow and deep marshes. Some rare species and community types are limited in their distribution to this area of the state. Urban expansion from the Chicago metropolitan region continues to put severe pressure on the natural resources in this region. Landcover ♦ The predominant landcover in this RRA is urban/built-up (30%). This site has the highest urban/built-up acreage and ranks fifth in percentage of urban-built up area. Twenty percent of this site is wooded and 20% is cropland. Chain O' Lakes - Fox River has the most nonforested wetlands acreage (20,839 acres) and ranks first for percentage of nonforested wetlands among the RRAs. Natural Areas ♦ This site has the second highest number of Natural Areas. The 72 Natural Areas include bogs, fens, seeps, marshes, sedge meadows, natural lakes, glacial features, and prairies. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ The Chain O' Lakes BSS locations, 14 of which are lakes. Fox River RRA has 15 Heritage Sites ♦ This site has 476 Heritage occurrences, the highest number among the RRAs. There are 23 significant community types, 73 plants species, 23 animal species, and five rookeries in this area. State and Federal Land ♦ State land in this RRA consists of two state parks: Chain O' Lakes and McHenry Dam & Lake Defiance. There is no federal land in this site. Nature Preserves ♦ There are 34 Nature Preserves within this RRA. Principal natural features are bogs, fens, marshes, glacial lakes, sedge meadows, and prairies. Natural Divisions ♦ This site is entirely within the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, .\nd Public Lands Total Acreage 285,844 Natural Areas Acreage 9,442 Number 72 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 35.6 Natural Heritage Sites 476 State Land State Parks 2 State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Chain O' Lakes • 2.5 Acreage 5,338 Percentage of RRA 1.9 Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA 0.0 Landcover Acres %of RRA Upland forest 53,844.17 18.84 Bottomland forest 3,548.32 1.24 Wetland-nonforested 20,839.32 7.29 Grassland 43,652.61 15.27 Cropland 58,220.21 20.37 Urban/Built-up 86,778.57 30.36 Water 18.956.48 6.63 Total 285,839.68 100.00 Illinois Natural Areas Inve>4TOry Sites Acres Algonquin Geological Area 10 Antioch Bog 85 Baker's Lake 207 Barrington Bog 46 Bates Fen 50 Black-crown Marsh * Boone Creek Fen and Seep 71 Carpentersville White Fringed Orchid Site 1 Cary Junior High Prairie 7 Cary Main Street Prairie 4 Cary Old Water Tower Prairie 50 Cedar Lake 344 Channel Lake 320 Chicago Junior School Area 23 Cotton Creek Marsh 294 Crabtree Nature Center 601 Cross Lake 22 Cuba Marsh 32 Deep Lake 225 Deer Lake-Redwing Slough 129 Delta Karnes 699 Dunn's Lake 62 Elizabeth Lake 229 Exner Marsh 299 Fairfield Road Marsh South 34 Fox River Fen 27 Gavin Bog and Prairie 41 Genoa City Sedge Meadow 126 Gladstone Fen 11 Grass Lake Wetlands 557 Hebron Peatland * Helm's Woods 83 Hillside Prairie 17 Hollows Conservation Area 37 Intern Seep » Kettle Moraine 443 Lac Louette 167 Because of its glacial history, wetlands are partic- ularly concentrated in northeastern Illinois. A variety of wetland types, such as marshes, sedge meadows, fens, and bogs, support a unique and some- times rare flora and fauna. Bogs in Illinois are limited to glacial depressions in the northeastern part of the state. Acidic conditions created by the lack of drainage and accumulation of lay- ers of peat support uniquely adapted flora, such as leatherleaf, blueberry, cranberry, ferns, orchids, pitcher- plant, sundew, poi- son sumac, and tamarack. , state Line Marsh NA WISCONSIN Hebron Peatland NA* ^A\ ^ ^ Elizabeth Lake NA Deer Lake-R^dwing Slough NA Chain Lakes-Fox River f ! Natural Area /V Stream f" gJiiyglKI Town /N/ Significant Stream m State Land /%/ Highway ^ Federal Land /\/ County S'^^UbX^ > hr' 4 Miles Chain Lakes-Fox River Upland Forest Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Cropland Water Urban/Built-up I Grassland 28 • Chain O' Lakes Voio Bog is an exceptional example of a bog where all succes- sional stages are present. The open water center is surrounded by a floating mat of sphagnum moss. A variety of grasses, reeds, and flowering plants grow on the sphagnum mat. Farther from the open water shrubs and trees, such as the tamarack, grow on the more consolidated peat. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites (continued) Lake-in-the-Hills Fen Lange Road Marsh Larsen Prairie Lily Lake Loon Lake Lyons Prairie and Marsh Nippersink Marsh Nippersink Prairie North Branch of Nippersink Creek Parker Fen Pistakee Bog Rivers Bend Marsh Roberts Road Fen Round Lake Round Lake Marsh Schreiber Lake Bog Ski Hill Prairie Sleepy Hollow Spring Creek Prairie Spring Grove Fen Stanley Road Bog State Line Marsh Sterne's Fen Stickney Run Conservation Area Streets Lake Sun Lake Tower Lake Fen Trout Park Turnberry Fen Turner Lake Veteran's Acres Park Volo Bog Wauconda Bog Weingart Road Sedge Meadow Windance Acres Marsh "■ = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams Bangs Lake Cedar Lake Cross Lake Crystal Lake Deep Lake East Loon Lake Grays Lake Lily Lake McCullom Lake N. Br. Nippersink Cr., WI border to Nippersink Cr Round Lake Sullivan Lake Turner Lake West Loon Lake Wooster Lake Acres 147 * 20 88 166 451 270 22 * 8 291 5 24 227 222 * 5 22 18 61 16 15 51 445 88 25 74 26 40 140 5 324 623 73 93 Miles 3.3 3.1 0.5 3.1 2.6 2.4 1.3 1.7 2.3 7.1 2.3 1.4 1.1 1.9 1.6 Chain O' Lakes • 29 Natural Heritage Categories Communities Lake Wetland Forest Savanna Prairie Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Fisin Insect MoUusk Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Plant-Gymnosperm Plant-Monocot Geological Feature Geological Feature Other Rookery State and Federal Land State Parks Chain-O-Lakes McHenry Dam & Lake Defiance State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves Bakers Lake Barrington Bog Bates Fen Carl&Claire Marie Sands-Main St. Prairie Cary Prairie Cedar Lake Bog Cotton Creek Marsh Elizabeth Lake Exner Marsh Farm Trails North Fox River Fen Gavin Bog and Prairie Glacial Park Gladstone Fen Helm Woods Julia M. & Roycc L. Parker Fen Kemper Park Kettle Moraine Kishvvaukec Fen Lake-in-the-Hills Fen Lyons Prairie and Marsh Oakwood Hills Fen Pistakee Bog Occurrences Types/Species 11 2 65 12 2 2 2 2 10 5 84 15 33 5 2 2 2 1 117 32 9 2 133 39 Acres 3,669 1,669 Acres 170 46 229 75 7 25 252 99 115 23 8 103 446 4 106 11 13 281 50 184 237 11 87 Glacial landforms are common in the northeastern part of Illinois, the most recently glaciated region of the state. Rolling topography is the result of moraines (long ridges of glacial debris) and kames (conical mounds of glacial debris). Kettle holes and other depressions scooped out by the glaciers created an abundant variety of wetlands. Many of these features can be seen at Glacial Park in McHenry County. 30 • Chain O' Lakes Pitcher-plants and sundews are carnivorous plants found in bogs, fens, and on calcareous floating mats in northeastern Illinois. Insects fall into the rolled tube of the pitcher-plant and are digested by enzymes. Sundews actively trap insects with sticky droplets secreted on the tips of hairs; the hairs slowly curl around the prey, which is digested and absorbed by the plant. Illinois Nature Preserves (continued) Acres Spring Grove Fen 30 Spring Lake 535 Sterne's Fen 196 Tower Lakes Fen 8 Trout Park 18 Turner Lake Fen 86 Volo Bog 151 Wagner Fen 46 Wauconda Bog 67 Weingart Road Sedge Meadow 47 Wingate Prairie 64 Natural Divisions Acres %of %of inRRA RRA Division Northeastern Morainal 285,845 100.0 1L6 (TO Illinois Beach • 31 Illinois Beach Illinois Beach RRA is one of the most ecologically rich and unique areas in Illinois. The diversity of habitats created because of its location on the shores of Lake Michigan support a wide variety of plants and animals. Significant and unusual topographic features include beaches, ridges and swales, and dunes. The area is an important migratory route for birds. This site's boundaries include urbanized areas of the Chicago metropolitan region. Landcover ♦ The predominant landcover in Illinois Beach RRA is urban/built-up (63%), followed by upland woods (15%). Illinois Beach RRA has the second highest percentage oi^ urban/huilt - up acreage among the RRAs. This RRA ranks third in percentage of nonforested wetlands. Natural Areas ♦ There are 15 Natural Areas, covering almost 9% of the site. Illinois Beach and Illinois Dunes North account for three-fourths of the total Natural Area acreage. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ This site has no BSS streams. Heritage Sites ♦ Illinois Beach RRA has 155 Heritage points. Twenty-one significant community types occur in this RRA, several of which are primary communities — foredunes, beaches, and bluffs — specific to this part of the state. The Heritage database lists 47 plant species, 17 animal species, and a peregrine falcon hacking site for this RRA. State and Federal Land ♦ State land consists of Illinois Beach State Park. Fort Sheridan is currently federally owned. Nature Preserves ♦ There are three Nature Preserves in this site. Many unique lakefront communities such as lakeshore, foredune, sand prairie, sand savanna, fen, panne, sedge meadow, marsh, and pond are found in these Nature Preserves. Natural Division ♦ Illinois Beach RRA is in the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 49,172 Natural Areas Acreage 4,252 Number 15 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites 155 State Land State Parks 1 State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Size: 49,172 acres 77 square miles Location: Northeastern Illinois on Lake Michigan; Lake and Cook counties Landcover at a Glance H upland forest 1 5% ^ bottomland forest 1% B wetland 4% B grassland 4% B cropland 2% I I urban built-up 63% I I water 11% 32 Illinois Beach Bordering the edge of Lake Michigan In Lake County is a landscape unique in the state. A long, narrow band of beaches, sand dunes, swales, marshes, sand prairies, savannas, and oak forests occurs here, the result of the gradual lowering of Lake Michigan. Illinois Beach is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the state; more than 650 species of plants have been identified from this area. State Land (continued) Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Wetland-nonforested Grassland Cropland Urban/Built-up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Blair Woods Blodgett Bluff Crabtree Farm Woods Fort Sheridan Bluff Fort Sheridan Site Glencoe Balsam Poplar Site Hubbard Woods Site Illinois Beach Illinois Dunes North Lake Bluff Woods Lyons Woods McCormick Nature Preserve Ravinia Bluff Tangley Oaks Woods Waukegan Beach * = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams None Natural Heritage Categories Communities Lake Wetland Forest Savanna Prairie Primary Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Fish Reptile Insect Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Plant-Gymnosperm Plant-Monoct>t 2 9 8 2 11 7 11 4 2 4 46 16 1632 3,092 6.3 726 1.5 Acres % of RRA 7,134.37 14.51 504.58 1.03 2,180.29 4.43 1,909.74 3.88 927.27 1.89 30,866.50 62.77 5,350.88 10.88 48,873.63 99.39 Acres 135 5 37 24 2 6 2 2,013 1,222 34 4- 135 4 87 547 Occurrences TNpes/Species 2 5 2 2 7 3 9 2 2 4 22 4 21 Illinois Beach • 33 Geological Feature Other Hacking Site Peregrine Falcon State and Federal Land State Parks Illinois Beach State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Fort Sheridan Illinois Nature Preserves Illinois Beach North Dunes Spring Bluff Natural Divisions Northeastern Morainal Major Water Bodies 3,092 726 Acres 1,095 242 214 Acres %of % of inRRA RRA Division 48,685 99.0 2.0 487 1.0 .0 OS Microclimates along the lakefront range from extremely dry beaches and sand dunes to the moist swales or sloughs between the sand ridges. In this relatively small area the flora ranges from the prickly pear cactus and creeping juniper to wetland plants and wildflowers such as orchids, wood lilies, gentians, and Indian paintbrushes. ■4 WISCONSIN LAKECO jr Lake--Recl' (ctrB II iiiois Dunes North NA nois Beach SP o«S (temp f„., , iGfeve Wnlta Fringed Orchid Site Nort NA LAKE MICHIGAN ncoe Balsam Poplar Site NA ubbard Woods Site NA linois Beach Id^mi Natural Area ^m Town IIIIIIIIJIIIIII State Land % Federal Land /V Stream ' /\/ Significant Stream /%/ Highway /S/ County linois Beach Upland Forest [_ Bottomland Forest/Swamp | Nonforested Wetland | Grassland Cropland '" Water Urban/Built-up 4 Miles 36 • KiSHWAUKEE River Size: 64,386 acres 101 square miles Location: North-central Illinois; McHenry and Boone counties Landcover at a Glance ^ upland forest 8% B bottomland forest 2% IB wetland 4% I I grassland 26% B cropland 52% I I urban built-up 8% M water <1% KiSHWAUKEE River The natural resources of the Kishwaukee River RRA are concentrated along the wooded corridor of the river. Originally savanna with many sloughs and marshes, the area is now primarily agricultural. This RRA drains to the Rock River The Chain O' Lakes-Fox River RRA, which adjoins the Kishwaukee River RRA on the east, drains to the Fox River and ultimately the Illinois River. Landcover ♦ This site is approximately half cropland and one-fourth grassland. Forest cover accounts for 11% of the area and is concentrated along the river. The Kishwaukee River RRA ranks fourth in percentage of nonforested wetlands. Natural Areas ♦ There are three Natural Areas in this RRA. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ Fifteen miles of the Kishwaukee River are designated as high quality by BSS standards. Heritage Sites ♦ The eight Heritage points in this RRA include two significant community types, two plant species, and four animal species. State and Federal Land ♦ There is no state or federal land in this RRA. Nature Preserves ♦ There are no Nature Preserves in this RRA. Natural Divisions ♦ This site lies entirely within the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage Natural Areas Acreage Number Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover LIpland forest Bottomland forest Wetland-nonforested Grassland 64,386 362 3 15.0 8 0.0 0.0 Acres % of RRA 5,264.98 8.18 1,567.73 2.44 2,456.07 3.81 16,722.80 25.97 KisHWAUKEE River . 37 Cropland Urban/Built-up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Hum Railroad Prairie West Kishvvaukee River Pleasant Valley * = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams Kishwaukee River Rush Creek Natural Heritage Categories Communities Prairie Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Fish Mammal Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Geological Feature Other State and Federal Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves None Natural Divisions Northeastern Morainal 33,178.06 4,935.01 258.51 64,383.16 51.53 7.67 0.40 100.00 Acres 137 224 Miles 15.0 0.0 Occurrences 2 Tvpes/Species 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 Acres Acres %of % of inRRA RRA Division 64,387 100.0 2.6 OS Fifteen miles of the Kishwaukee River is identified in the Biologically Significant Illinois Streams Inventory. The clear water of this medium-sized stream with its gravel, sand, and cobble substrate supports a diverse mussel fauna. Hebron Peatland NA Lange Road Marsh NA* Hebron , aen'Sedge Meadow NA I Harvard East Geological Area N/| Ivation Area NA ~'\ m Harvard Geological Area NA Harvard Savanna NA |\ Rt. 47 Balsam Poplar Site NA--s Streets Lake NA LiaS Forest NA^^^ ^ \\T Barber SoS iBystricky Prairie N A > / ^ Wondet Lake Deep Cut tj^r^ Wildlife Refuge NA ■ Rose FarmjPfairie NA* sifTk'Creek i^aok =ie Creek Fen [KfcSeep NA '1 Woodstock Union Valley I .^=^ J- ^^kev/pod Turnbeffy-^WV-I Kloempken Mar?h NA* n Coyne Arrow" ^^r^ ^ GrasfSite NA W^ yxner Marsh fllA^ Hunf/ey ECO. Kane Co. Swaln§on'sl Hawk Habitat|JA ^ L2I Freemah-Kame NA* Jutland TowfShip ^ :. Bog ^^ Kishwaukee River i 1 Natural Area Town State Land Federal Land 3 Miles /\/ Stream /\/ Significant Stream /\/' Highway /Sy County J BOONE CO. ' . \ ' i \ "■ ^ •-t -^'^'^■^'Huntliy *- ^. Kishwaukee River ; KANE CO. ^"p*'".'*' ^''^Vi'^^'-l^'-w' - ^^^^^^"^ 3 Miles n Upland Forest ^^1 Bottomland Forest/Swannp ^^1 Nonforested Wetland Grassland Cropland Water Urban/Built-up 40 • Rock River Size: 206,215 acres 322 square miles Location: North-central Illinois; Boone, Lee, Ogle, and Winnebago counties Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 1 5% B bottomland forest 1% B wetland <1% I I grassland 25% B cropland 47% I I urban built-up 10% [~| water 2% Rock River The ecological core of this RRA is the Rock River corridor from Rockford to Dixon. Significant features include upland and floodplain forests, seeps, springs, prairies, aquatic systems, cliffs, and bedrock outcrop- pings. Some of the habitats support relict boreal plants which are more normally found farther north in Wisconsin and Minnesota and in the Appalachian Mountains. Principal landcover in the area is cropland and pasture; forest cover is concentrated along the river. This site is a pilot area for efforts by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to imple- ment its local partnership program. Landcover ♦ Cropland is the predominant landcover (47%), followed by grassland (25%) and upland woods (15%). This RRA ranks 15th in percentage of upland woods. The percentages of nonforested wetland and bottomland forest are low compared to the other RRAs (24th and 28th, respectively). Natural Areas ♦ The 20 Natural Areas range from less than an acre (Stronghold Hill Prairie) to 2,311 acres (Lowden-Miller Forest). Nachusa Grasslands is the second largest Natural Area with 1,583 acres. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ BSS designated streams are a nearly seven mile stretch of the Rock River and the entire length of the Kishwaukee River in this RRA. Heritage Sites ♦ There are 101 Heritage occurrences consisting of seven significant community types, 32 plants species, eight animal species, and a rookery. State and Federal Land ♦ There are three state parks within the site and one state forest. Nature Preserves ♦ Four Nature Preserves are present and contain such significant features as upland forest, sandstone cliffs, gorges, and prairie. Natural Divisions ♦ This RRA is within the Rock River Hill County (84%), Northeastern Morainal (11%), and Grand Prairie (5%) Natural Divisions. This site has the largest acreage of the Rock River Hill Country division among the RRAs. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 206,215 Natural Areas Acreage 5,416 Number 20 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 17.5 Natural Heritage Sites 101 State Land State Parks 3 State Conservation Areas State Forests 1 State Fish & Wildlife Areas Rock River 4T Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Wetland-nonforested Grassland Cropland Urban/Built-up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Babson Hollow Bell Bowl Prairie Byron Dragway Prairie Castle Rock Commonwealth Edison Prairie Fearer Tract At Castle Rock Franklin Creek Grand Detour Yellow Birch Site Jarrett Prairie Kishwaukee River Lowden Memorial State Park Lowden-Miller Forest Mount Morris East Geological Area Nachusa Grasslands Oregon Geological Area Rock River Yellow Birch Stand Silver Creek Prairie Sinnissippi Cornus Canadensis Site Stronghold Hill Prairie White Pines Forest State Park Biologically Significant Streams Kishwaukee River Rock River, Honey Creek to Clear Creek Natural Heritage Categories Communities Wetland Communities Forest Prairie Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Mammal Reptile Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Plant-Monocot Plant-Fcrn/Fern Ally 4,706 2.3 0.0 Acres % of RRA 30,458.06 14.77 2,552.41 1.24 608.75 0.30 50,586.08 24.53 96,519.14 46.81 21,146.41 10.25 4,340.92 2.11 206,211.77 100.01 Acres 4 21 16 644 147 145 148 11 140 129 22 2,311 10 1,583 7 7 4 2 <1 64 Miles 10.7 6.8 Occurrences Tvpes/Species 3 2 4 2 3 3 9 6 1 1 2 1 47 17 11 7 15 8 Castle Rock State Park is named for a large outcropping of sandstone along the Rock River. Although this type of sandstone (St. Peter) underlies most of the state, it is exposed at the surface in only a few places. A diversity of natural communities is found here, including ravine, upland and floodplain forest, prairie, stream, and sandstone outcrops. Many plant associa- tions of more northern climates exist in the deep ravines. Relict boreal plants such as native white pine, bunchberry, hairy woodrush, round- leaved shinleaf, and wild sarsaparilla are found in shaded areas with acidic sandy soil. Rock River Natural Area Town State Land :% Federal Land /\/ Stream /\/ Significant Stream /%/ Highway /S/ County 5 Miles Rock River I Upland Forest Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland 5 Miles Cropland ' Water Urban/Built-up 44 • Rock River The largest rem- nant of native white pines in Illinois is found at White Pines State Park. Local citizens began petitioning for the area to be saved as early as 1903. The mixed hardwood-conifer forest is unique in Illinois. Natural Heritage Categories (continued) Geological Feature Other Rookery State and Federal Land State Parks Castle Rock Lowden White Pine Forest State Conservation Areas State Forests Lovvden-Miller State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves Franklin Creek George B. Fell Jarret Prairie Severson Dells Natural Divisions Rock River Hill Country Northeastern Morainal Grand Prairie Occurrences 5 Types 1 1 Acres 1,793 205 397 2,311 Acres 100 670 102 21 Acres %of %of inRRA RRA Division 173,663 84.2 11.5 22,274 10.8 0.9 10,279 5.0 0.0 oo DuPage River • 45 XIJ ^ 1 1. .1 (. DuPage River The DuPage River site is located in the highly urban- ized western suburbs of Chicago. It is comprised of the watershed of the East Branch of the DuPage River. Because of its small size, this RRA ranked relatively high among the watersheds based on percentage of forest and nonforested wetlands in the watershed. Wooded areas such as Morton Arboretum and county forest preserves contributed to inclusion of this site as a Resource Rich Area. LandcoVER ♦ This RRA is the most urbanized of the sites; urban/built-up land accounts for 68% of the area. Upland woods cover 19% of the area, some of which is heavily wooded residential areas. There is little bottomland woods. The DuPage River RRA ranks sixth in percentage of nonforested wetlands; they are concentrated along the river. Natural Areas ♦ Seven sites covering 1,576 acres occur in this RRA. They range in size from small prairie sites (10 and 33 acres) and a marsh (eight acres) to Morton Arboretum (1,423 acres). Biologically Significant Streams ♦ There are no BSS streams in this site. Heritage Sites ♦ There are relatively few Heritage Sites; they include three commu- nity types, six plant species, and five animal species. State and Federal Land ♦ There is no state or federal land in this site. Nature Preservts ♦ Principal natural features at the two Nature Preserves in this RRA are prairies, upland forest, savanna, and sedge meadow. Natural Divisions ♦ This site lies entirely within the Northeastern Morainal Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 51,653 Natural Areas Acreage 1,576 Number ■^ Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites 1^ State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA 0.0 Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA 00 Landcover Acres % of RRA Upland forest 9,593.45 18.57 Size: 51,653 acres 81 square miles Location: Northeastern Illinois, western Chicago metropolitan area; DuPage and Will counties Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 19% B bottomland forest <%1 B wetland 3% ^ grassland 5% ^ cropland 2% I I urban built-up 68% [ I water 2% rKsoK-'i^o Vermont r Demetary Pr^irk NA* DuPage River ^^H Natural Area Town State Land Federal Land /\/ Stream /\/ Significant Stream /%/ Highway /\/ County 2 Miles DuPage River ^m Upland Forest ^^1 Bottomland Forest/Swamp 1^1 Nonforested Wetland [^ J Grassland Cropland Water Urban/Built-up 2 Miles 48 • DuPage River Morton Arboretum, comprised of designed land- scapes, plant collec- tions, and restored natural communities, is a living museum for research and education. Originally the land was mostly forested with some prairies, wetlands, and aquatic commu- nities. The Morton family designated land from the family farm to be converted to an arboretum beginning in 1917. The Arboretum's prairie restoration site is one of the best places in Illinois to experience the prairies of presettlement times. Landcover (continued) Bottomland forest Wetland-nonforested Grassland Cropland Urban/Built-up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Belmont Prairie Churchill Prairie East Branch Marsh Lyman Woods Maple Grove Forest Preserve Morton Arboretum Swift Road Meadow '■' = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams None Natural Heritage Categories Communities Forest Prairie Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Reptile Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Plant-Monocot Geological Feature Other State and Federal Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves Belmont Prairie Churchill Prairie Natural Dlvisions Northeastern Morainal Acres % of RRA 507.39 0.98 1,351.77 2.62 2,706.95 5.24 1,309.42 2.54 35,252.98 68.26 925.26 1.79 51,647.22 100.00 Acres 10 33 8 * 52 1,423 51 Occurrences 2 2 Tvpes/Species 1 2 4 1 4 1 3 5 2 4 Acres Acres 10 65 Acres in RRA 51,653 %of RRA 100.0 %of Division 2.1 *' Mississippi - Lower Rock • 49 Mississippi - Lower Rock River The Mississippi - Lower Rock River RRA includes major rivers, bottomlands, upland forests, prairies, and river bluffs. This RRA has a relatively high total acreage of Natural Areas due primarily to Mississippi River sites. Landcover ♦ Cropland (54%) and grassland (18%) cover almost three-fourths of the land area. This RRA ranks 14th in percentage of bottomland woods, and 23rd in percentage of upland woods. Overall, woods accounts for almost 13% of the land area. This site has the fourth highest acreage and the ninth highest percentage of nonforested wetlands. Natural Areas ♦ This RRA ranks third among the RRAs in terms of the Natural Area acreage. Four Mississippi River sites account for the majority of Natural Area acreage. The natural features found in the 17 Natural Areas in this RRA include prairies, marshes, aquatic features, and forests. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ Six BSS designations account for over 44 miles of BSS streams within this site. Three BSS segments occur on the Mississippi River and one on the Rock River. Heritage Sites ♦ This RRA has 74 Heritage occurrences. Of the ten significant community types, seven are prairies. Four plant species, 17 animal species, and six rookeries are found in this site. State and Federal Land ♦ Within this RRA there are two state parks and one state fish and wildlife area. Federal land along the Mississippi River totals 15,694 acres. Nature Preserves ♦ Three Nature Preserves occur within the site. Elton E. Fawks Bald Eagle Refuge is the largest (164 acres) and serves as an important winter roosting site for bald eagles. Black Hawk Forest is one of the few remaining areas representative of the narrow, forested bluff lines which characterizes the Middle Mississippi Border Natural Division. Natural Divisions ♦ Seven natural divisions comprise this RRA. The Upper Mississippi and Illinois River Bottomlands is the predominant Natural Division (40%), followed by the Grand Prairie Division (22%) and the Middle Mississippi Border (20%). Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 457,449 Natural Areas Acreage 18,590 Number 17 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 44.2 Natural Heritage Sites 74 State Land State Parks 2 State Conservation Areas Size: 457,449 acres 715 square miles Location: Northwestern Illinois along the Mississippi and lower Rock Rivers; Bureau, Henry, Lee, Mercer, Rock Island, and Whiteside counties Landcover at a Glance H upland forest 9% ^ bottomland forest 4% B wetland 1 % [~~1 grassland 1 8% m cropland 54% I I urban built-up 7% I I water 6% Mississippi-Lower Rock ^^H Natural Area Town State Land Federal Land W///A Stream /\/ Significant Stream /V Highway /\/ County 10 Miles ^^^^K^' ' "■'•.■'■ CAWROLLCO.g OGLE,CO.-<^ ^^-L^wnna . QLanark ^HKu^^ .' ' i^ Mount Carroll Forreston ^. ^' fiChadwick ft^Bd Thomson ^^illeige lie ^Polo W Jw'TfSIDE^O 0'"^^- '' ..- * ^ LEE 00.'^ ^If _^.ff°'^'^oyj ^^^lin .^^^ f.^' -^^^ f^^m^^^^^^ Prophetslom i f iFalls '*^ #^ jd^ HENRY CO. ^^""^ '^^- ^* ^'J-'MCil^r^ — '^ '^Ne^^Bertlord WSOT ,-"1 ' ,J^' Green Rivr ISLAND CO. „ ,^ \ ( (• Annawan il^rion ■o Manlius ^Mineral ^f *"" C?«,, ^ ; J MERCER CO. ■j^ _ Stifrrartl Neponsit anee -- """T- *' ' CiBisbopHill -S$Woodhull C%awa ♦ Bradford fl^RI Keithiburg ^ ^Seaton WAHHtWCU. ■* KNOX CO. n. QAItona tgiOneiia STARK.CO. n La Fayette ^ A Wyoming "'V t^- ■ . .;-, t: ;^ . " 1 PFORIACO. ,' , .'.' "1 Mississippi-Lower Rock ^^1 Upland Forest ^^1 Bottomland Forest/Swannp ^^1 Nonforested Wetland Grassland Cropland Water Urban/Built-up 10 Miles 52 • Mississippi - Lower Rock Bald eagles once commonly nest- ed along the large rivers In Illinois. Declines in the con- tinental population were reflected in the small number of eagles observed in Illinois from the late 1800s to the mid 1900s. Although nesting bald eagles are rare in Illinois, important wintering sites for bald eagles are found along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Eagles which nest further north migrate to this area to feed on the fish below the dams where the turbulent water remains open even in the coldest winters. One important winter roost is just upstream from the Quad Cities at the Elton E. Fawks Bald Eagle Refuge Nature Preserve. State Land (continued) State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas 1 Acreage 1,493 Percentage of RRA 0.3 Federal Land Acreage 15,694 Percentage of RRA 3.4 Landcover Acres % of RRA Upland forest 39,064.63 8.54 Bottomland Forest 18,722.26 4.09 Wetland-nonforested 5,834.99 1.28 Grassland 84,511.77 18.47 Cropland 246,919.00 53.98 Urban-Built Up 33,937.74 7.42 Water 28.449.17 6.22 Total 457,439.56 100.00 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Acres Black Hawk Forest 93 Coon Creek 58 Elton Fawks Eagle Refuge/Illiniwek Forest 706 Gorham Hill Prairie 11 Lyndon -Agnew Railroad Prairie 32 McNeal Marsh 47 Mississippi River - Andalusia Slough 6,455 Mississippi River - Cordova 2,034 Mississippi River - Moline 2,297 Mississippi River - Muscatine 5,106 New Boston Marsh 1,147 Nussbaum Prairie 41 Pearsall Sand Prairie 13 Port Byron Geological Area 10 Rock River-Carr Island 530 Sandy Town Cemetery Prairie 4 Wheelock Railroad Prairie 6 Biologically Significant Streams Miles Coon Creek 7.5 County Ditch #1 5.6 Mississippi River, Andalusia Slough 10.6 Mississippi River, Sylvan Slough/Arsenal Island 4.9 Mississippi River, rm 501-509, Rock Island Co. 8.5 Rock River, Lyndon to Indian Island 7.1 Natural Heritage Categories Communities Occurrences Tvpes/Species Wetland 2 1 Forest 3 2 Prairie 10 7 Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird 13 5 Fish 7 4 Mammal 4 2 Reptile 2 1 Mississippi - Lowhr Rock • 53 Mollusk 22 5 Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot 2 2 Plant-Monocot 1 1 Plant-Fern/Fern Ally 1 1 Geological Feature Geological Feature 1 1 Other Rookery 6 1 State and Federal Land State Parks Acres Hennepin Canal Parkway 325 Prophetstown 60 State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Big Bend 1,108 Federal Land Mark Twain NWR -Keithsburg Division 1,440 Pool No. 16 8,305 Pool No. 17 5,267 Upper Mississippi River Fish & Wildlife Refuge 681 Illinois Nature Preserves Acres Black Hawk Forest 97 Elton E. Fawks Bald Eagle Refuge 164 Lyndon Prairie 59 Natural Divisions Acres %of %of inRRA RRA Division Upper Mississippi R and Illinois R Bottomlands 182,894 40.0 15.5 Grand Prairie 99,974 21.9 0.8 Middle Mississippi Border 90,877 19.9 5.8 Rock River Hill Country 35,157 7.7 2.3 Illinois R and Mississippi R Sand Areas 26,283 5.8 6.8 Major Water Bodies 19,551 4.3 1.8 Western Forest-Prairie 1,949 0.4 0.0 * Mussel harvesting in the rich mussel beds of the upper Mississippi River has taken place since the early 1900s. Mussel shells were sold to the button industry until the widespread use of plastics after World War II. Since the 1960s, mussels have been harvested for export to Japan, where the shells are cut up and ground into round pellets and implanted into oysters to produce cultured pearls. Mussels are no longer abundant. Of the eighty species native to Illinois, more than half are threatened, endangered, extirpated, or extinct. 54 • Des Plaines River Size: 43,470 acres 68 square miles Location: Northeastern Illinois, southwest- ern Chicago metropolitan area; Cook, DuPage, and Will counties Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 34% B bottomland forest 3% B wetland 5% [~n grassland 8% B cropland 9% I I urban built-up 36% I I water 5% Des Plaines River The Des Plaines River RRA is a small, highly urbanized site which forms a narrow corridor along the river from just west of Chicago to Joliet. Relatively high percentages of upland woods and nonforested wetlands occur in this site. Important natural features include prairie, savanna, river bluff, cliff, wetlands, floodplain and upland forest. Landcover ♦ This site is one-third urban and one-third upland woods. The Des Plaines River RRA ranks third in percentage of upland woods and second in percentage of nonforested wetlands, although actual acreages are relatively low. Larger wooded tracts are located in county forest preserves, especially at the confluence of the Calumet Sag Channel and the Des Plaines River. Nonforested wetlands are concentrated along the river. Natural Areas ♦ Eleven Natural Areas occur in this RRA. They are predominantly woods or prairie sites and range in size from three to 675 acres. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ There are no BSS streams at this site. Heritage Sites ♦There are 61 Heritage Sites representing 15 significant community types, eight plant species, ten animal species, one large forest tract, and a rookery. State and Federal Land ♦ There are no state or federal lands at this site. Nature Preserves ♦ There are nine Nature Preserves. Cap Sauers Holdings, at 1,548 acres, is one of the largest preserves in northeastern Illinois. Principal natural features found in the Nature Preserves are river bluffs, ravine forests, springs, sedge meadows, marshes, fens, prairies, savannas, floodplain, and upland woods. Some of the natural features represent the last remaining examples in northeastern Illinois. Natural Divisions ♦ This RRA lies almost entirely within the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 43,470 Natural Areas Acreage 1 Number Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish &C Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage n5 11 61 0.0 Des Plaines River • 55 Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Wetland-nonforested Grassland Cropland Urban/Built-up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Black Partridge Woods Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center Lockport Prairie Material Services Prairie O'Hara Woods Palos Fen Paw Paw Woods Romeoville Prairie Sagawau Canyon Santa Fe Prairie Waterfall Glen Biologically Significant Streams None Natural Heritage Categories Communities Floodplain Forest Wetland Forest Prairie Primary Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Mammal Reptile Insect Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Plant-Monocot Geological Feature Other Forest Block >500 Acres Rookery State and Federal Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Illinois Naturl Preserves Black Partridge Woods 0.0 The Des Plaines 1 River valley from Acres % of RRA 14,695.45 33.81 just southwest of 1,247.40 2.87 Chicago's Midway 2,072.71 4.77 Airport to Joliet is 3,400.80 7.82 remarkable for its 3,985.66 9.17 glacial history and 15,795.73 36.34 its resultant land- 2.273.22 5.23 43,470.97 100.01 scape. Vertical cliffs were carved by Acres 80 354 torrential meltwaters from the last glaciers. 246 Where the dolomite 73 (a type of limestone) 51 is exposed, a harsh 6 environment 410 203 3 14 supports a limited number of hardy plants. Low gravel 675 ridges parallel to the river stay dry while the floodplain stays wet for long periods. Occurrences Tvpes/Species The fens, marshes, 2 2 and wet prairies that 5 4 occur in low spots 4 2 add to the variety of 9 6 habitats. Dolomite 1 1 prairies, like those 10 1 6 1 found here, have almost completely 4 2 disappeared from 6 1 the Midwest. 9 5 8 3 1 1 1 1 Acres Atres 70 WolffR^fTd Prairi^ NA- BfOoKTieia Hjairie NA Des Plaines River I Natural Area Town State Land ^ Federal Land /\/ Stream /N/ Significant Stream /V Highway /\/ County 2 Miles J W^afon Des Plaines River Upland Forest Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland Cropland Water Urban/Built-up 2 Miles 58 • Des Plaines River The habitat of the Mine's emerald dragonfly is a rare and localized wet- land type found in Illinois only along the Des Plaines River. This dragonfly is found in shallow marshes, wet mead- ows, and small streams where cal- careous water emerges between the limestone bedrock and overly- ing glacial till. Currently found at only a few sites in Illinois and Wisconsin, the Mine's emerald dragonfly is a state endangered species. In Illinois, the largest threat to this dragonfly is habitat loss due to develop- ment. Illinois Nature Preserves (continued) Cap Sauers Holdings Cranberry Slough Lockport Prairie O'Hara Woods Palos Fen Paw Paw Woods Romeoviiie Prairie Sagawau Canyon Natural Divisions Northeastern Morainai Grand Prairie Acres inRRA 43,115 355 Acres 1,548 985 269 45 22 116 100 9 %of %of RRA Division 99.2 1.7 0.8 0.0 Thorn Creek • 59 Thorn Creek The Thorn Creek RRA is characterized as heavily urbanized with its natural resources confined along streams and in forest preserves. This is a relatively small site. Landcover ♦ The site is 61 % urban/biiilr-up and 24% upland woods. Much of the woods occurs in the county forest preserves; some is wooded residential areas. Small amounts of nonforested wetlands and bottomland forest acreages are located in this RRA. Natural Areas ♦ The five Natural Areas in Thorn Creek RRA total 927 acres. The natural areas include examples of upland, bottomland and ravine woodlands, glacial potholes, prairies, and streams. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ There are no BSS streams in this RRA. Heritage Sites ♦ There are 13 Heritage occurrences: three significant community types, seven plants species, and three animal species. State and Federal Land ♦ There is no state or federal land at this site. Nature Preserves ♦ The two Nature Preserves located in this site feature forest, prairie, and marsh communities. Natural Divisions ♦ This site lies entirely within the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage Natural Areas Acreage Number Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish &C Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Wetland-nonforested Crassland Cropland 20,614 927 5 13 0.0 0.0 Acres % of RRA 4,904.91 23.80 673.18 3.27 132.87 0.64 478.29 2.32 1,669.69 8.10 Size: 20,614 acres 32 square miles Location: Northeastern Illinois, southern Chicago metropolitan area; Cook and Will counties Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 24% B bottomland forest 3% H wetland <1% I I grassland 2% B cropland 8% I I urban built-up 61% n water 1% 6z • Thorn Creek Thorn Creek Woods Nature preserve is a 500- acre area at the southern end of a broad woodland along Thorn Creek. Narrow ridges and deep ravines, broad uplands, shallow depressions, and the stream valley are characteristics of the area. Red oak, white oak, sugar maple, black maple, and basswood are the predominant tree species. Landcover (continued) Urban/Built-Up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Monee Railroad Prairie Thorn Creek Woods Thornton-Lansing Road Volbrecht Road Woods Wampum Lake Seepage Area Biologically Significant Streams None Natural Heritage Categories Communities Wetland Forest Prairie Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Plant-Monocot Geological Feature Other State and Federal Lands State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves Thorn Creek Woods Thornton-Lansing Road Natural Divisions Northeastern Morainal Acres % ofRRA 12,511.54 60.70 242.25 1.18 20,612.73 100.01 Acres 8 631 219 3 66 Occurrences Types/Species 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 2 2 Acres Acres 513 80 Acres %of % of inRRA RRA Division 20,614 100.0 0.8 * Prairie 1'arklands • 63 Prairie Parklands The dominant feature of the Prairie Parklands RRA is the recently created Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, the nation's first federally designated tallgrass prairie, at the former Joliet Arsenal. Significant natural features in the RRA include prairies, wetlands, and streams. The southern border of Prairie Parklands RRA adjoins the Kankakee-Iroquois RRA. Landcover ♦ The landcover at this site is predominantly cropland (45%) followed by grassland (30'}d). This site ranks third in percentage of grassland and has the highest percentage outside of northwestern Illinois. Prairie Parklands ranks eighth for percentage of nonforested wetlands. Compared to the other RRAs, the percentages of upland and bottomland forest are low. Natural Areas ♦ More than 10,000 acres (18 sites) of Natural Areas are recognized in this RRA. Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (i.e. Joliet Arsenal) accounts for half of the acreage. The other Natural Areas include prairies, savannas, geological features, and aquatic systems. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ BSS streams in this RRA are the Illinois and Kankakee Rivers and Manhattan Creek, which total approximately 24 miles. Heritage Sites ♦ The 85 Heritage sites include 12 significant community types, eight of which are prairies. Sixteen species of plants and 17 species of animals are listed as Heritage occurrences. State and Federal Land ♦ Twenty-two percent of this RRA is state or federal land. Two state parks and a state conservation area are located in the Prairie Parklands RRA. At the time of this analysis the largest public holding, with 26,904 acres, was the Joliet Arsenal; much of this land will become the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Nature Preserves ♦ The six Nature Preserves in this RRA include several prairies, as well as savannas, wet meadows, and marshes. They range in size from a prairie in a cemetery of less than an acre to Coose Lake Prairie (1,580 acres). Natural Divisions ♦ Most of the Prairie Parklands RRA is in the Grand Prairie Division; 10% is Northeastern Morainal Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 152,669 Natural Areas Acreage 10,037 Number 18 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 23.8 Natural Heritage Sites 85 State Land State Parks 2 Size: 152,669 acres 239 square miles Location: Northeastern Illinois south of Joliet; Grundy and Will counties Landcover at a Glance id upland forest 8% B bottomland forest 2% B wetland 2% E grassland 30% ^ cropland 45% I I urban built-up 7% I I water 5% Prairie Parklands [ j Natural Area Town State Land VM^ Federal Land m^ /\/ Stream /\/ Significant Stream A/ Highway /\/ County 4 Miles Prairie Parklands Hm Upland Forest ^m Bottomland Forest/Swamp ^^1 Nonforested Wetland Grassland 4 Miles Cropland ' Water Urban/Built-up G(, ■ Prairie Parklands Goose Lake Prairie is the largest prairie remnant in Illinois. What remains today are prairies and marshes with a large and diverse biota; over 326 species of vascular plants are present. Several unusual birds, such as the least bittern, Henslow's sparrow, Virginia rail, and northern harrier nest or inhabit the area. State Land {continued) State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Wetland - nonforested Grassland Cropland Urban/Built-up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Blodgett Road Dolomite Prairie Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Collins Station Prairie Des Plaines Dolomite Prairie Goose Lake Prairie Grant Creek Prairie Hitts Siding Prairie Illinois River -Dresden Joliet Army Ammunition Plant Kankakee River Manhattan Creek Munch Area Plaines Station Geological Area Rock Run Corn Salad Site Rockdale Geological Area Schweizer West Geological Area Wilmington Geological Area Wilmington Shrub Prairie '■■ = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams Illinois River, above Dresden L&D Kankankee River, Momence to Des Plaines Cons. Area Manhatten Creek Natural Heritage Categories Communities Lake Wetland Savanna Prairie Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Fish Insect 7,324 4.8 26,904 17.6 Acres % of RRA 1,69L45 7.66 3,225.38 2.11 3,485.30 2.28 46,474.97 30.44 68,991.81 45.19 10,778.23 7.06 8.023.51 5.26 152,670.65 100.00 Acres 298 15 9 1,674 117 244 847 5,831 698 29 142 5 3 4 3 2 1 L> Miles 7.1 8.4 8.4 Occurrences Tvpes/Species 1 1 3 2 1 1 17 8 23 10 6 4 5 2 Prairih Parklands • 67 Mollusk 1 1 Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot 13 9 Plant-Monocot 7 5 Plant-Fern/Fern Ally 4 2 Geological Feature Geological Feature 4 1 Other State and Federal Land State Parks Acres Goose Lake Prairie 2,412 Illinois fie Michigan Canal 260 State Conservation Areas Des Plaines 4,652 State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Joliet Arsenal 26,904 Illinois Nature Preserves Acres Braidwood Dunes and Savanna 244 Goose Lake Prairie 1,580 Grant Creek Prairie 69 Sand Ridge Savanna 158 Short Pioneer Cemetery Prairie <1 Wilmington Shrub Prairie 157 Natural Dlvisions Acres % of %of in RRA RRA Division Grand Prairie 136,906 89.7 1.1 Northeastern Morainal 15,763 10.3 0.6 * The upland sand- piper, a bird that inhabits prairies, pastures, and hay- fields, nests in the Prairie Parklands area. Formerly a common summer resident throughout the state, the upland sandpiper is now an endangered species in Illinois, driven to near-extinction by the loss of prairies and market hunting. The largest concentration of upland sandpipers in the state is in the Prairie Parklands area. Preservation and proper management of large grassland areas are critical for this species. 68 • Kankakee - Iroquois Size: 231,005 acres 361 square miles Location: Nortliern part of east-central Illinois near the Indiana border; Iroquois, Kankakee, and Will counties Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 5% III bottomland forest 2% B wetland 1% ^ grassland 1 9% I cropland 65% I urban built-up 7% ^ water <1% Kankakee - Iroquois The Kankakee River RRA is relatively flat with low sandy ridges. Before the land was drained and culti- vated, sand prairie and marsh were common; the area is now largely agricultural. Aquatic systems and savannas are important remaining natural resources of the area. The Kankakee River forms the core of the RRA and is unusual in Illinois because it is on or near bedrock. Landcover ♦ Cropland covers 65% of this RRA, followed by grassland (19%) and urban/built-up (7%) The Kankakee-Iroquois RRA ranks low among the RRAs in percentage of upland and bottomland woods. Nonforested wetland acreage is moderate. Natural Areas ♦ There are 17 Natural Areas in this RRA. Several are associated with the Kankakee River and account for the largest acreage. Many savannas occur in this RRA. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ This site ranks fifth in terms of total BSS stream mileage with 63 miles. Approximately half the mileage is the Kankakee River. Heritage Sites ♦ Several significant community types are included in the 67 Heritage points located in this RRA. Fourteen significant community types, 17 plant species, and nine animal species are located here. State and Federal Lands ♦ Kankakee River State Park and the Iroquois County Conservation Area are the state owned land in the RRA. There is no federal land in this site. Nature Preserves ♦ Three Nature Preserves are located in this site. Large sand savanna with dune and swale topography, and upland and bottomland forest are significant natural features in the preserves. Natural Divisions ♦ This site lies entirely within the Grand Prairie Natural Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Land Total Acreage 231,005 Natural Areas Acreage 6,731 Number 17 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 63.3 Natural Heritage Sites 67 State Land State Parks 1 State Conservation Areas 1 State Forests State Fish &: Wildlife Areas Kankakee - Iroquois • 69 Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Wetland- nonforested Grassland Cropland Urban/Built-up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Bourbonnais Geological Area Boy Scout Road Area Guiding Star Savanna Hooper Branch Savanna Iroquois County Conservation Area Kankakee River Kankakee River Nature Preserve (Altorf Island) Kankakee River Nature Preserve Addition Kankakee River State Park Prairie Leesville Savanna East Leesville Savanna West Little Beaver Creek Mason Area Momence Wetlands Pembroke Savanna Rock Creek Canyon Stateline Savanna Biologically Significant Streams Baker Creek, Exline to Kankankee River Beaver Creek Kankankee River, Momence to Des Plaines Cons. Area Little Beaver Cr., state line to SE of St. Anne Trim Creek, Grant Park to Kankankee River Natural Heritage Categories Communities Floodplain Forest Lake Wetland Forest Savanna Prairie Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Fish Mollusk Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot 6,415 2.8 0.0 Acres % of RRA 12,558.11 5.44 3,603.51 1.56 1,986.61 0.86 44,240.49 19.15 149,688.50 64.80 15,551.07 6.73 3.383.74 1.46 231,012.03 100.00 Acres 12 42 406 783 1,609 2,115 65 124 199 97 32 323 <1 94 755 2 72 Miles 0.0 1 1.4 35.0 16.8 0.0 Occurrences Tvpes/Species 1 1 2 1 6 4 1 1 12 2 5 5 4 3 10 4 4 2 In the six miles from the Illinois- Indiana border to Momence lie 1,800 acres of one of the largest wetland areas in Illinois, the n/lomence Wetlands. These are a remnant of a vast 400,000- acre wetland that stretched east from Momence to South Bend, Indiana. Presidents Grover Cleveland and Theodore Roosevelt, as well as European nobility, hunted in the marsh before it was drained in 1917. West of Momence, the Kankakee River is a scenic, recre- ational resource flowing on or near bedrock with numerous riffles, pools, and islands for much of its length. 14 ^oquots Kankakee-lroquois ^ ^g ^ Natural Area ^^H Town State Land Federal Land m\ 5 Miles Stream y\~ Significant Stream /\/ Highway /\/ County s«" y - WILL CO- 41 Beecher ^Grant Park 72 • Kankakee - Iroquois One of the principal sand areas in Illinois is found in Kankakee and Iroquois counties. The area is the ancient bed of a large glacial lake. Dunes (some reach- ing almost 700 feet in height) and swales characterize the area. Sand savanna, sand prairie, and pin oak flatwoods are some of the interest- ing communities found here. The sandy bottom streams support fish species, such as the ironcolor shiner and weed shiner, that are rare in Illinois. The Kankakee River has one of the most diverse and abundant mussel populations in the state. Plant-Monocot Plant-Fern/Fern Ally Natural Heritage Categories (continued) Geological Feature Geological Feature Other State and Federal Land State Parks Kankakee River State Conservation Areas Iroquois County State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves Hooper Branch Savanna Kankakee River Momence Wetlands Natural Divisions Grand Prairie 6 1 Occurrences 5 1 Types Acres 3,910 2,505 Acres 499 119 59 Acres %of % of inRRA RRA Division Z30,129 100.0 1.8 Peoria Wilds • 73 Peoria Wilds Peoria Wilds encompasses the floodplain of the Illinois River, deeply dissected bluffs and hills bordering the floodplain, and relatively flat agricultural areas away from the river. A large tract of forest runs along the bluff to the west of the Illinois River. Nonforested wet- lands are concentrated next to the river. Landcover ♦ Cropland (46%) is the predominant landcover type at this site, followed by upland woods (20%) and grassland (16%). It ranks low in the per- centage of nonforested wetland and has moderate bot- tomland percentages. The relatively high percentage of water is due to the large lakes associated with the Illinois River and floodplain. Natural Areas ♦ Woodlands, hill prairies, marshes, fens, and seeps are some of the important natural resources in the 24 Natural Areas located in this RRA. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ There are no BSS streams in this RRA. Heritage Sites ♦ OT the 51 Heritage sites, nearly half are occurrences of significant communities of wetlands, forest, savanna, and prairie. Six plant species, four animal species, one forest block greater than 500 acres, and one rookery occur in this RRA. State and Federal Lands ♦ Four state conservation areas and one fish and wildlife area comprise the state land in the RRA. A unit of the Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge is located here. These public lands are associated directly with the Illinois River. Nature Preserves ♦ Seven sites are recognized as Nature Preserves. The natural resources includes seeps, fens, hill prairies, and upland forest in deep ravines and on slopes and ridges. Natural Divisions ♦ The natural divisions occurring in the RRA are the Grand Prairie (62%), Upper Mississippi River and Illinois River Bottomlands (30%), and the Illinois River and Mississippi River Sand Areas (7.5%). Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 277,847 Natural Areas Acreage 1,859 Number 24 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites 51 State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas 4 State Forests State Fish &: Wildlife Areas 1 Acreage 9,570 Percentage of RRA 3.4 Size: 277,847 acres 434 square miles Location: Central Illinois on the Illinois River, Peoria area; Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford counties Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 20% B bottomland forest 4% B wetland <1% ^ grassland 16% B cropland 46% I I urtsan built-up 4% I I water 9% 74 • Peoria Wilds The bluffs on the Illinois River near Peoria were a mix of oak woodlands and prairie openings in the early 1800s. One of the largest remaining oak woodland areas in Illinois is found here. The bluffs at Forest Park Nature Preserve provide a good example of the original vegetation, although the area was lumbered in the mid-1 800s. White oak and shagbark hickory predominate on the drier, upper slopes and ridges; red oak and sugar maple characterize the lower slopes and ravines. Summary of Site Characteristics (continued) Federal Land Acreage 1,589 Percentage of RRA 0.6 Landcover Acres % of RRA Upland forest 55,789.44 20.08 Bottomland forest 10,384.24 3.74 Wetland- nonforested 1,205.25 0.43 Grassland 44,725.80 16.10 Cropland 128,441.00 46.23 Urban/Built-up 11,740.22 4.23 Water 25.567.61 9.20 Total 277,853.56 100.01 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Acres Blalock Creek Site 10 Boyds Hollow Woods 41 Brown Run-Billsbach Lake 2 Caterpillar Hill Prairies 10 Cooper Park North 5 County Line Hill Prairie 83 Crow Creek Marsh 47 Detweiller Park 351 Dickison Run Hill Prairie 13 Fondulac Seep 16 Forest Park 502 Grandview Woods 60 Hancher Woods 21 Hopewell Estates Hill Prairie 78 Leigh Woods 41 Marshall County Conservation Area Hill Prairie 53 Mossville Road Hill Prairie 7 Partridge Creek Marsh 5 Robinson Park Hill Prairie 150 Root Cemetery 1 Sparland Unit 17 Spring Bay Fen 57 Springdale Cemetery 253 Wokanda Camp 34 Biologically Significant Streams None Natural Heritage Categories Communities Occurrences Tvpes/Species Wetland 6 3 Forest 6 2 Savanna 2 2 Prairie 9 1 Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird 5 4 Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot 20 5 Plant-Monocot 1 1 Peoria Wilds • 75 Geological Feature Other Forest Block >500 Acres Rookery State and Federal Lands State Parks State Conservation Areas Marshall County Sparland-Marshall County Spring Branch-Marshall County Woodford County State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Illinois River Federal Land Chautauqua NWR Cameron-Billsbach Unit Illinois Nature Preserves Bennett's Terraqueous Gardens Detweiller Woods Forest Park Forest Park South Robinson Park Hill Prairies Root Cemetery Savanna Spring Bay Fen Natural Divisions Grand Prairie Upper Mississippi R and Illinois R Bottomlands Illinois R and Mississippi R Sand Areas 00 1 1 Acres 3,232 1,077 780 2,806 1,674 1,589 3 290 379 130 137 1 31 Acres %of % of in RRA RRA Division 172,861 62.2 1.3 84,094 30.3 7.1 20,893 7.5 5.4 Several hill prairies in this area have been included in the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory. The sun- and wind-exposed west and southwest- facing slopes of hill prairies create a harsh environment more suited to prairie than forest. Few hill prairies have been plowed because of their steep slopes, but they are sometimes grazed. rNTAMttf.-- __ ^ Clear Creek Eagle Roost NA iGeorge S. Park Memorijtl-Wgo- i! Natural Area Town State Land Federal Land Peoria Wilds 4 Miles Upland Forest Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland Cropland ' Water Urban/Built-up yS • Nauvoo Size: 150,316 acres 235 square miles Location: Western Illinois on the Mississippi River; Hancock and Henderson counties Landcover at a Glance ^1 upland forest 12% m bottomland forest 5% B wetland <1% rn grassland 13% I I cropland 56% I \ urban built-up 2% I I water 11% Nauvoo The Nauvoo RRA is located in west-central Illinois on the Mississippi River. Sharply dissected bluffs divide the low, level bottomlands along the river from the higher rolling uplands. The natural resources — wood- lands, wetlands, and larger Natural Areas— are mainly associated with the river. Landcover ♦ Cropland is the predominant landcover type (56%) within this site. Approximately 17% of the RRA is wooded (12% upland and 5% bottomland woods). Nonforested wetlands are not abundant. The Mississippi River accounts for the high percentage of water. Natural Areas ♦ There are nine Natural Areas which range from a four-acre hill prairie site to a 3,856 acre forest tract (Cedar Glen). Natural resources in these areas include aquatic systems, forested bluffs, sand hills, and geological features. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ There are no BSS streams in this RRA. Heritage Sites ♦ Thirty-six Heritage sites occur within the RRA. Seven significant community types, two plant species, 1 1 animal species, and two rookeries are represented. State and Federal Land ♦ Nauvoo State Park is the only state or federal land in the RRA. Nature Preserves ♦ Two Nature Preserves exist in this RRA. They protect a large forested tract surrounded by cropland and sand hills which support upland forest and prairie communities. Natural Divisions ♦ This RRA is comprised of five natural divisions, approximately half lies in the Middle Mississippi Border Natural Division. The Upper Mississippi and Illinois River Bottomlands, Western Forest-Prairie, and Illinois and Mississippi River Sand Areas divisions comprise 14%, 13%, and 12%, respectively, of the RRA. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 150,316 Natural Areas Acreage 7,409 Number 9 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites 36 State Land State Parks 1 State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish &: Wildlife Areas Acreage 1 40 Percentage of RRA 0. 1 Nauvoo • 79 State and Fedfrai, Land State Parks Nauvoo State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA 0.0 Landcover Acres % of RRA Upland forest 18,298.16 12.17 Bottomland forest 8,029.53 5.34 Wetland- nonforested 516.42 0.34 Grassland 19,645.11 13.07 Cropland 84,511.98 56.22 Urban/Built-up 2,884.98 1.92 Water 16,423.34 10.93 Total 150,309.52 99.99 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Acres Cedar Glen Area 3,856 Gladstone Lake «■ Jackson Cemetery Geological Area 7 Mississippi River -Drew Chute 1,218 Mississippi River -Pontoosuc 1,189 Mt. Moriah Geological Area 7 New Crystal Lake Club 1,123 Tyson South Geological Area 5 Waggoner Creek Hill Prairie 4 * = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams None Natural Heritage Categories Communities Occurrences Tvpes/Species Floodplain Forest 1 1 Wetland 1 1 Savanna 3 3 Prairie 2 2 Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird 8 2 Fish 2 2 Mammal 2 1 Reptile 2 2 Mollusk 6 4 Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Monocot 2 2 Geological Feature Geological Feature 5 1 Other Rookerv 2 1 Acres 140 Cedar Glen is a large, forested tract along the bluffs of the Mississippi River. The rugged bluffs are mostly mature second growth forest dominated by oak, hickory, sugar maple, and basswood. This Nature Preserve is a significant roosting site for wintering bald eagles. Mississippi River- Drew Chute NA Nauvoo 5 Miles m^l Natural Area Town State Land Federal Land Stream /\/' Significant Stream A/ Highway /Sy County Warsaw Nauvoo Upland Forest Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland 5 Miles Cropland Water Urban/Built-up WM 8z • Nauvoo Nauvoo is probably most noteworthy for its history tied to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (IVIormons). From 1839 to 1846 Nauvoo was the religious, govern- mental, and cultural center of the Mormons. With 12,000 inhabitants in 1844, it was one of the largest cities in Illinois. Illinois Nature Preserves Cedar Glen Mississippi River Sand Hills Natural Divisions Middle Mississippi Border Upper Mississippi R and Illinois R Bottomlands Western Forest-Prairie Illinois R and Mississippi R Sand Areas Major Water Bodies Acres 191 53 Acres inRRA 75,445 %of ERA 51.8 %of Division 4.9 20,353 18,802 17,266 13,800 14.0 12.90 11.9 9.5 1.7 .4 4.5 1.1 CO Mackinaw Rivhr • 83 Mackinaw River The most significant feature of this RRA is the Mackinaw River and its tributary. Panther Creek. The waters flow clear in a series of pools and riffles over a sand-gravel-silt substrate. The banks are generally forested and the surrounding area is agricultural. Landcover ♦ Cropland is the predominant landcover {66% of the area); this site has the fourth largest percent- age of cropland of the RRAs. The rankings for percentage of upland woods, nonforested wetlands, bottomland woods, and Natural Areas acreage are relatively low. Natural Areas ♦ There are four Natural Areas in this RRA. The two largest sites are a wooded tract along the river and the Mackinaw River itself. Two small sites include a hill prairie and a geological area. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ Three stream segments totalling 27 miles are designated as BSS streams in this RRA, including a 16 mile portion of the Mackinaw River and 8.5 miles of Panther Creek. Heritage Sites ♦ Seven Heritage sites occur in the RRA. One significant community, two plant species, and one animal species are recognized. State and Federal Land ♦ The Mackinaw River Fish and Wildlife Area is the only state land. There is no federal land within this RRA. Nature Preserves ♦ Two Nature Preserves are located in the RRA. Parklands Nature Preserve was established to protect a species of aquatic vegetation in the Mackinaw River and its surrounding forest. Mehl's Bluff is a diverse site of upland and bottomland forest, seep, and creek communities located on a bluff of the Mackinaw River. Natural Divisions ♦ The Mackinaw River RRA lies within the Grand Prairie Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 125,008 Natural Areas Acreage 1,139 Number 4 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 26.9 Natural Heritage Sites 7 State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas 1 Acreage 1,397 Percentage of RRA 1.1 Federal Land Acreage Size: 125,008 acres 195 square miles Location: Central Illinois; Livingston, McLean, Tazewell, and Woodford counties Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 10% B bottomland forest 2% B wetland 1 % n grassland 20% r~1 cropland 66% I I urban built-up 1% I I water <1% Mackinaw River ^^1 Natural Area ^^H Town State Land ^/////\ Federal Land /\/ Stream /\/ Significant Stream /V Highway /\/ County 4 Miles Mackinaw River ^^1 Upland Forest ^^1 Bottomland Forest/Swamp ^^1 Nonforested Wetland Grassland 4 Miles Cropland Water Urban/Built-up 86 • Mackinaw River Significant portions of the Mackinaw River and some of its tributaries are considered outstanding aquatic resources in Illinois. The Mackinaw River is characterized by a series of pools and fast riffles flowing over predominantly sand and gravel substrate and by banks which are largely forested. Water quality is high and mussel populations are diverse. Heartleaf plantain, an endangered plant in Illinois, is found here. This species occurs in gravelly streambeds and groundwater seeps and springs adjacent to streams. Federal Land (continued) Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Wetland- nonforested Grassland Cropland Urban/Built-up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Danvers Geological Area Log Cabin Hill Prairie Mackinaw River Parklands Site Biologically Significant Streams Mackinaw River, Alloway Creek to Mclean Co. line Panther Creek, Rte 24 to Mackinaw River unnamed, Mackinaw Twp, Tazewell County Natural Heritage Categories Communities Prairie Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Plant-Monocot Geological Feature Geological Feature Other State and Federal Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Mackinaw River Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves Mehl's Bluff Parklands 0.0 2 1 Acres % of RRA 12,641.40 1,924.99 253.29 10.11 1.54 0.20 24,501.65 19.60 82,789.90 1,672.10 1.228.53 125,011.86 66.23 1.34 0.98 100.00 Acres 2 7 484 645 Miles 15.8 8.5 2.6 Occurrences 1 Tvpes/Species 1 Natural Divisions Grand Prairie Acres in RRA 125.009 CO %of RRA 100.0 Acres 1,397 Acres 27 40 %of Division 1.0 MiuuLt Illinois River • 87 ^m Middle Illinois River The Middle Illinois River RRA incorporates floodplain and upland landscapes along the Illinois River from just belotv Peoria to Florence. The Middle Illinois River site is the third largest of the RRAs. The bound- ary was modified for this site to include watersheds with sand prairies. Significant amounts of state land occur in this RRA. Landcover ♦ Cropland is the predominant land cover, accounting for half the land area in this RRA. Approximately 22% of the Middle Illinois River RRA is either upland or bottomland woods. This site has the third highest acreages of nonforested wetlands and bottomland forest. Natural Areas ♦ Thirty-eight Natural Area sites are located in the RRA, totalling the sixth highest percentage of natural area acreage among the RRAs. Prominant natural features include sand prairies, hill prairies, springs, seeps, savannas, ponds, lakes, woods, and habitats for herons, eagles, and the Illinois Mud Turtle. Forty-three percent of the total acreage occurs at Meredosia Refuge Natural Area. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ There are no BSS streams within this RRA. Heritage Sites ♦ There are 134 Heritage sites within this RRA. Nine significant community types, 19 plant species, 22 animal species occur here. Three large forest tracts and three rookeries are located in this RRA. State and Federal Land ♦ Approximately 9% (53,129 acres) of the RRA is in state (5.5%) or federal (3.7%) ownership. This site ranks first for acreage in state ownership. There are nine state holdings — one state park, five conserva- tion areas, one forest, and two fish and wildlife areas. Emiquon, Chautauqua and Meridosia National Wildlife Refuges are federal lands located here. Nature Preserves ♦ The six Nature Preserves located in the Middle Illinois River RRA protect sand prairie, hill prairie, wet prairie, and savanna communities. The largest is the Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak Nature Preserve, an approximately 1,400 acre site of sand prairie, sand savanna, and sand forest. Natural Divisions ♦ The site encompasses five natural divisions. .Most of the RRA is comprised of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois River Bottomlands (42%), Illinois and Mississippi River Sand Areas (26%), and Western Forest-Prairie (24%) Divisions. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 575»5i5 Natural Areas Acreage 13,474 Number 38 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites 134 Size: 575,515 acres 899 square miles Location: Central Illinois, the Illinois River from Peoria to Florence; Brown, Cass, Fulton, Mason, Morgan, Pike, Peoria, Schuyler, Scott, and Tazewell counties. Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 16% B bottomland forest 7% B wetland 1 % I I grassland 17% Ei cropland 52% I I urban built-up 1% I I water 7% ^^P Federal Land /\/ Stream /\/ Significant Stream /\/ Highway /\/ County MCDONOUGH CO ^^^n(Snsvmd dSctota Good Hope- ■ Middle Illinois River 1^^ Upland Forest L m Bottomland Forest/Swamp | ^^1 Nonforested Wetland | Grassland 8 Miles Cropland Water Urban/Built-up yo • Middle Illinois River The plant communities of the sand prairies are a mix of native tallgrass species and plants more commonly associated with the western U.S. The sand deposited by glacial meltwaters favors survival of plants that can tolerate dry and sometimes shifting environ- ments. One such plant is the prickly pear cactus. This native cactus is found in several habitats in Illinois, but is most abundant in sand prairies. Summary of Site Characteristics (continued) State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Wetland Grassland Cropland Urban/Built/up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Anderson Lake Site Barkhausen Woods Bath Lake Springs Beardstown Fimbristylis Site Beardstown Marsh Beardstown Railroad Prairie Bluff Springs Hill Prairie Bluff Springs Sand Pond Burns Sand Prairie Clear Lake Heron Colony Duck Club Road Duck Soup Woods Eckard Railroad Prairie Frederick Road Site Henry Allan Gleason Knuppei Woods Long Branch Sand Prairie Manito Prairie Matanzas Prairie Matanzas Sand Prairie Meredosia Hill Prairie Meredosia Refuge Oakford Spiderwort Site Pike County Conservation Area Eagle Roost Quiver Prairies Rice Lake Eagle Roost Rountree Nature Preserve Sand Lake Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak Sand Ridge Savanna Sand Ridge State Forest Illinois Mud Turtle Sanganois Landing Acres 89,583.27 37,775.68 5,911.26 95,049.35 298,972.80 6,095.51 42.106.16 575,494.03 1 5 1 2 31,630 5.5 21,499 3.7 % of RRA 15.5" 6.56 1.03 16.52 51.95 1.06 7.32 100.01 Acres 2 45 4 1 468 :> 5 500 Acres Rookery State and Federal Lands State Parks Dickson Mounds State Conservation Areas Anderson Lake Louis H. Barkhausen Rice Lake Sanganois Spring Lake State Forests Sand Ridge State Fish and Wildlife Areas Banner Marsh Pike County (Ray Norhut) Federal Land Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge Emiquon NWR -Approved Boundary Emiquon NWR -Current Holdings Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge Illinois Nature Preserves Henry Allen Gleason Nature Preserve 3 5 227 186 105 Occurrences Tvpes/Species 2 1 3 2 3 1 9 5 9 1 29 13 2 1 4 3 5 2 3 2 30 13 28 6 3 1 3 1 Acres 26 2,096 1,176 5,249 8,779 1,785 7,428 4,203 888 4,809 9,859 92 6,739 Acres 93 Historically, the Illinois River Valley has been one of the most impor- tant migration areas for waterfowl in North America. During spring and fall migrations, waterfowl are attracted to the abundance of food available in the shallow bottomland lakes, sloughs, marshes, ponds, and forests. Early accounts of the area describe vast num- bers of waterfowl. The Illinois River Valley has been greatly altered by drainage of the wetlands and sedimentation of the river. Aquatic vegetation has disappeared from the lakes and the numbers of some waterfowl species began to decline in the igSOs. 92 • Middle Illinois River The Illinois chorus frog is restricted to sandy floodplains, and the sand prairies adjacent to the Illinois River provide ideal habitat. In Illinois, this frog Is found exclusively in three widely separated regions. A state-threatened species, it is dependent on the protection of its habitat. The chorus frog has the unusual habit of burrowing into the sand with its front feet (the vast majority of frogs use their hind feet). It also feeds under- ground, a behavior unknown in any other frog species. The Illinois chorus frog can only be seen in the spring, when it comes out of the ground to mate. Illinois Nature Preserves (continued) Long Branch Sand Prairie Manito Prairie Matanzas Prairie Meredosia Hill Prairie Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak Natural Divisions Acres inRRA Upper Mississippi R and Illinois R Bottomlands 238,406 Illinois R and Mississippi R Sand Areas 151,631 Western Forest-Prairie 136,059 Middle Mississippi Border 39,876 Grand Prairie 9,543 92 25 38 <1 1,377 % of %of RRA Division 41.4 20.2 26.33 9.4 23.6 3.0 6.9 2.5 1.7 0.1 Vermilion River • ^3 1 vilt: ( ^^ I W Vermilion River The Vermilion River RRA is located on a level glacial plain originally covered with prairie vegetation with occasional savannas on the uplands and forests along the streams. This RRA is comprised of two nonadjoining watersheds. The upstream water- shed, the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, is separated from the lower Vermilion River watershed by the city of Danville. Landcover ♦ The site is 69% cropland and ranks fifth in percentage of cropland. Grassland accounts for 18% and woods for 9% of the area. This RRA ranks low in upland woods, bottomland woods, and nonforested wetlands percentages. Natural Areas ♦ Fourteen sites cover nearly 2,000 acres of this RRA. Communities considered significant in the RRA include numerous seeps, prairies, savannas, forests, and aquatic systems. The beech-maple forests in this area are significant in the state because they represent the western edge of this community type in the U.S. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ This site ranks sixth in terms of the total miles of BSS streams. The lower 46 miles of the Middle Fork and 12 miles of the Vermilion River below Danville are recognized as high quality streams. Heritage Sites ♦ There are 44 Heritage sites within this RRA representing six significant communities, three plant species, 18 animal species, and a rookery. State and Federal Land ♦ Kickapoo State Park and the Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area are located in this RRA. There is no federal land within this site. Nature Preserves ♦ Important natural features in the nine Nature Preserves within this RRA include seeps, savannas, prairies, and beech-maple forests. Natural Divisions ♦ The Vermilion River RRA is approximately two-thirds Grand Prairie Division and one-third Wabash Border Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 132,252 Natural Areas Acreage 1,998 Number 14 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 58.0 Natural Heritage Sites 44 State Land State Parks 1 State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas 1 Acreage 5,944 Percentage of RRA 4.5 Size: 132,252 acres, 207 square miles Location: East-central Illinois bordering Indiana; Champaign, Ford, and Vermilion counties Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 8% B bottomland forest 2% B wetland <1% |r~| grassland 18% B cropland 69% I I urban built-up 1% ^ water 2% 94 • Vermilion River The clear, gravel- bottomed Middle Fork of the Vermilion River is a high quality stream which sup- ports a rich diversity of aquatic species. Numerous species of fish, mussels, and other invertebrates occur in its boulder riffles, sand and gravel raceways, and clear pools. A segment of the Middle Fork is Illinois' only stream designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. Unusual terrestrial features of this area include seeps, beech-maple forests, and hill prairies. Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA 0.0 Landcover Acres % of RRA Upland forest 8,639.28 7.77 Bottomland forest 1,891.27 1.70 Wetland- nonforested 321.74 0.29 Grassland 19,744.46 17.77 Cropland 77,140.77 69.41 Urban/Built-up 1,445.70 1.30 Water 1.947.67 1.75 Total 111,130.89 99.99 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Acres Fairchild Cemetery Prairie and Savanna 2 Forest Glen Seep 12 Harmattan Stripmine 3 Kennekuk Cove County Park 858 Kinney's Fork Seeps 4- Middle Fork Seeps * Middle Fork of the Vermilion River 558 Middlefork Woods 66 Orchid Hill 143 Prospect Cemetery Prairie 7 Russell M. Duffin Nature Preserve 193 Vermilion River 146 Willow Creek Seep 1 Windfall Prairie 10 * = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams Miles Middle Fork Vermilion River 46.1 Salt Fork Vermilion R., Co line to Middle Fork 0.0 Vermilion River 11.9 Natural Heritage Categories Communities Occurrences Tvpes/Species Wetland 5 2 Forest 1 1 Savanna 1 1 Prairie 2 2 Threatened and Endangered Animals Amphibian 1 1 Bird 17 10 Fish 4 Mammal 1 1 Insect 1 1 Mollusk 4 1 Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Monocot 4 3 Geological Feature Geological Feature 2 1 Other Rookery 1 1 Vermilion River • 95 State and Federal Land State Parks Kickapoo State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Middle Fork Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves Fairchild Cemetery Savanna Forest Glen Seep Horseshoe Bottom Howard's Hollow Seep Middle Fork Woods Prospect Cemetery Russell M. Duffin Tomlinson Pioneer Cemetery Prairie Windfall Prairie Natural Divisions Grand Prairie Wabash Border Acres in RRA 82,463 48,819 (TO Acres 2,269 3,675 Acres 4 9 38 29 61 7 191 5 35 %of % of RRA Division 62.8 0.6 37.2 2.8 Notable among the abundant and diverse fish fauna of the Vermilion basin is the bluebreast darter. The breeding male has a colorful olive- green body with a bright blue breast, orange dorsal fins, and red spots along the sides. The blue- breast darter lives in fast riffles of large, clear streams. Adults are almost always found near large boulders. Illinois is on the western edge of its range. The only known location of this species in Illinois is in the Vermilion River basin. Vermilion River |j|~] Natural Area ^m Town llllllllllimi State Land ^^ ^^ Federal Land /\/ Stream /\/ Significant Stream /\/ Highway /\/ County 5 Miles Vermilion River Upland Forest Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland Cropland "" Water Urban/Built-up 5 Miles 5)8 • Big Rivers Size: 626,795 acres 979 square miles Location: Western Illinois, upriver of the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers; Adams, Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Madison, Pike, and Scott counties Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 24% B bottomland forest 8% B wetland <1% I I grassland 15% I I cropland 42% I I urban built-up 4% I I water 8% Big Rivers Big Rivers is the largest of the RRAs. The area is characterized by a narrow band of bluffs and rugged topography that borders the floodplains of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Forest is the pre- dominant natural vegetation; hill prairies are com- mon on western facing bluffs. Sinkholes and sinkhole ponds occur here. Landcover ♦ Cropland is the predominant landcover type (42%) of the site, followed by upland woods (24%). Big Rivers has the highest bottomland woods acreage and the third highest upland woods acreage among the RRAs; it ranks seventh in percentages of both bottomland and upland woods. It has moderate nonforested wetlands resources. Natural Areas ♦ Sixty-one Natural Areas, totaling 10,514 acres, are located in this RRA. The largest is Gardner Woods with 4,468 acres. Significant features include hill prairies, aquatic systems, woods, geological areas, glades, and caves. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ Twenty miles of Hadley Creek and nine miles of the Mississippi River are designated BSS. Heritage Sites ♦ There are 150 Heritage sites within this RRA representing seven significant community types, 1 1 plant species, 23 animal species, and eight rookeries. State and Federal Land* The state and federal governments own 47,448 acres. Most is federal land divided among Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge and the pools of the rivers. Pere Marquette State Park and Calhoun County Conservation Area are state land located in this RRA. Nature Preserves ♦ There are five Nature Preserves in this RRA. Communities protected in the preserves are bluffs, sink holes, ravines, bedrock outcrops, upland forest, and hill prairie. Natural Dlvisions ♦ This site contains five natural divisions, predominantly the Middle Mississippi Border and Upper Mississippi and Illinois River Bottomlands. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Land Total Acreage 626,795 Natural Areas Acreage 10,514 Number 61 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 28.9 Natural Heritage Sites 1 50 State Land State Parks 1 State Conservation Areas 1 State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Big Rivers • 99 Acreage 9,547 Percentage of RRA 1.5 Federal Land Acreage 37,901 Percentage of RRA 6.0 Landcover Acres % of RRA Upland forest 147,380.80 23.51 Bottomland forest 48,335.94 7.71 Wetland- nonforested 3,943.51 0.63 Grassland 90,915.57 14.51 Cropland 263,995.60 42.12 Urban/Built-up 23,125.79 3.69 Water 49.085.98 7.83 Total 626,783.19 100.00 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Acres Alton Geological Area 7 Atlas South Geological Area 7 Beebe Creek Site >!■ Belleview Site 8 Brainerd Cave 3 Brewster Hill Prairie 3 Browning Hill Prairie 45 Cap Au Gris 98 Chautauqua Prairie 126 Cincinnati Landing Site 164 Clarksville Island 820 Deer Lick Hollow Geological Area 7 Del Air Area * Distillery Hollow Glade 40 Drift Island 541 Eldred Caves 12 Emma Brown Hill Prairie 3 Gardner Woods 4,468 Gilbert Lake 11 Golden Eagle Geological Area ") Grubb Hollow Prairie 14 Hadley Creek 202 Hamburg Southeast Geological Area 1 Horton Creek Hill Prairie 4 Jennings Hill Prairie 2 Jimtown Branch Geological Area 5 John Craig Hill Prairie 8 Kamp's Glade 214 Kinderhook Hill Prairie 5 Krause Woods 81 Lead Hollow Glade 22 McAdams Peak Hill Prairie 252 McNabb Hollow 28 Mississippi River -Cap Au Gris 1,431 Mississippi River -Pike Monterey School Geological Area 17 Mortland Glade 101 The three areas in Illinois that were not covered by glaciers are the northwest corner, the far south, and the area where the Illinois River joins the Mississippi River. Glaciers did, however, influence these nonglaciated areas. In addition to rock and sand, melt- water deposited a finely ground silt which dried to a dust called loess. Windblown loess deposits along the lower Illinois River are among the thick- est in the state. Several loess hill prairies occur in Big Rivers. A layer of loess, sometimes 150-feet thick, forms steep slopes and vertical cliffs. TOO • Big Rivers Overlooking the Mississippi River north of Alton is a forested tract that includes three nature preserves: John M. Olin, Oblate Father's Woods, and Mississippi Sanctuary. Limestone bluffs, bedrock outcrops, sink holes, dry-to- mesic upland forest, and loess hill prairie characterize this area. Bald eagles have used the area as a winter roosting site. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites (continued) Acres Motley Hill Prairie 6 Mozier Slough 34 North New Canton Hill Prairie 20 Olin Tract 244 Osterman Hill Prairie 13 Pearl Limestone Quarry 11 Pearl Prairie Geological Area 4 Pere Marquette Bald Eagle Habitat 492 Pilot Knob Limestone Glade 4 Pleasant Hill Hill Prairie 1 Principia Hill Prairies East 480 Principia Hill Prairies West 101 Quincy Geological Area 4 Riprap Landing Woods 179 Royal Landing 30 Shaffer Hollow Hill Prairie 36 Shewhart Hollow Hill Prairie 23 Swarnes Hill Prairie 39 Teneriffe School Geological Area 4 Twin Culvert Cave 4 Two Branch Hollow Hill Prairie 10 Walnut Grove Hill Prairies 3 West Point Landing Geological Area 15 Wildcat Hollow North Geological Area 5 ~' = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams Miles Hadley Creek, upstream of McCraney Creek 19.9 Mississippi River, below L&D 25 9.0 Natural Heritage Categories Communities Occurrences Tvpes/Species Floodplain Forest 6 2 Cave 4 2 Forest 1 1 Prairie 24 1 Primary 5 1 Threatened and Endangered Animals Amphibian 1 1 Bird 24 8 Fish 4 2 Mammal 15 4 Reptile 6 2 Insect 2 2 Mollusk 9 4 Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot 19 8 Plant-Monocot 8 3 Geological Feature Geological Feature 14 1 Other Rookery 8 1 Big Rivers • loi -Gardner Division -Calhoun Division State and Federal Land State Parks Pere Marquette State Conservation Areas Calhoun County (Rip Rap Landing) State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Mark Twain NWR -Gilbert Lake Division Mark Twain NWR Mark Twain NWR Mark Twain NWR Pool No. 21 Pool No. 22 Pool No. 24 Pool No. 25 (Inc. Reds Landing and Batchtown FWMA Pool No. 26 -Calhoun Point Pool No. 26 -Fuller Lake Pool No. 26 -Glades Hembold Pool No. 26 -Godar Diamond Pool No. 26 -Stump Lake Illinois Nature Preserves Grubb Hollow Prairie John M. Olin Mississippi Sanctuary Oblate Father's Woods Pere Marquette Natural Divisions Middle Mississippi Border Upper Mississippi R and Illinois R Bottomlands Western Forest-Prairie Major Water Bodies Lower Mississippi R Bottomlands Illinois R and Mississippi R Sand Areas Acres in RRA 325,172 209,421 35,421 34,200 11,348 5,912 % of RRA 52.3 33.7 5.7 5.5 1.8 1.0 Acres 8,168 1,379 789 1,876 5,013 2,130 3,019 4,418 3,372 5,208 2,317 1,702 954 2,808 4,295 Acres 45 230 38 19 179 %of Division 21.0 17.8 0.8 3.0 3.1 1.5 Large tracts of mature, bottom- land forest for nesting, interspersed with openings for foraging, are habitat requirements of the state-endangered Mississippi kite. Formerly common in some localities in the large river valleys of Illinois, the current population of this bird is small, with as few as 60 nesting pairs. These are limited to a few areas in southern Illinois and along the Mississippi River, including the Big Rivers area. p^jr I l:^^^ Natural Area Town State Land Federal Land MADISON CO. MISSOURI Big Rivers Upland Forest Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland Cropland Water Urban/Built-up 10 Miles I04 • Embarras River Size: 447,925 acres 700 square miles Location: East-central Illinois; Champaign, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Jasper, Lawrence, and Richland counties. Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 12% m bottomland forest 3% B wetland <1% PI grassland 12% H cropland 69% I I urban built-up 2% I I water <1% Embarras River The Embarras River RRA includes the entire length of the river from the headwaters south of Champaign- Urbana to its confluence with the Wabash River near Lawrenceville. The Embarras River itself is the pre- dominant natural resource responsible for this area's inclusion in the Resource Rich Area inventory. Rich species diversity and a wide variety of habitats such as gravel bars, gravel-sand raceways, sandbars, riffles, and deep pools are the outstanding features of the river, particularly the middle sections. The area is one of the most agricultural among the RJRAs. The Embarras River RRA shares common boundaries with the Upper Wabash River and Southern Till Plain RRAs. Landcover ♦ Cropland occupies 69% of the land area at this site. The Embarras River RRA has the second highest cropland acreage and the second highest percent- age of cropland. Approximately 15% of the RRA is wooded. Nonforested wetland resources are relatively low. Natural Areas ♦ Fifteen Natural Areas cover 5,009 acres, or approximately 1%, of this RRA. These sites include prairie chicken habitat, marshes, aquatic features, and hill prairies. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ This site ranks second in terms of BSS stream mileage with 112.5 miles of the Embarras River so designated. Heritage Sites ♦ There are 50 Heritage sites within this RRA including five community types, three plant species, and 14 animal species. State and Federal Land ♦ State land consists of three state parks; no federal land occurs in this RRA. Nature Preserves ♦ Significant natural features in the three Nature Preserves that occur here are marsh, prairie, bottomland forest, old growth forest, and grasslands that support prairie chickens and other grassland-dependant species. Natural Divisions ♦ This RRA traverses three Natural Divisions — Grand Prairie (40%), Southern Till Plain (39%), and Wabash Border (21%). Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 447,925 Natural Areas Acreage 5.009 Number 15 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 1 12.5 Natural Heritage Sites 50 State Land State Park 3 State Conservation Areas State Forests EmBARRAS RlVhR I05 State Fish &: Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland Forest Wetland- nonforested Grassland Cropland Urban-Built Up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Center School Geological Area Chauncey Marsh Embarras River Embarras River -Camargo Five-Mile Hill Prairie Hillside Marsh Hutton Geological Area Jasper County Prairie Chicken Habitat Lawrenceville Airport Sargent's Woods Steber's Woods Stevens Hill Prairie Stoddard Hill Prairie Walnut Point Water Works Hill Prairie Biologically Significant Streams Embarras River, Lake Charleston to Jasper/Richland Embarras River, Rte 36 to Little Embarras River Natural Heritage Categories Communities Floodplain Forest Wetland Forest Prairie Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Fish Reptile Insect Mollusk Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Plant-Monocot Geological Feature Geological Feature Other 3,226 0.7 0.0 Acres % of RRA 55,777.59 12.45 14,086.30 3.14 1,160.49 0.26 52,677.86 11.76 310,970.20 69.43 9,040.50 2.02 4.204.43 0.94 447,917.37 100.00 Acres 6 720 934 480 5 7 3 1,094 1,389 95 37 7 9 219 4 Miles 80.0 32.5 Occurrences Tvpes/Species 1 1 2 2 2 1 4 1 7 4 4 2 2 1 1 1 16 6 4 2 5 1 A 100-mile stretch of the midsection of the Embarras River is designated as a Biologically Significant Stream. The extensive sand- and-gravel substrate of the midsection of the river provides habitat for a number of rare species, such as the harlequin darter, eastern sand darter, bigeye shiner, and blue sucker. Mussel diversity is high and historically the river has support- ed eleven state- threatened or state- endangered species. ^ .fjf"' jP 'Verm lion River NA (fNAjy Horseftoe B&NA, SalfForlfi'ermiiion River HIjpVesMile Homer '^ V^ / \ / ^^fiSQrgetpwn Wabash River . Mount Carmel NA 'Palestine Iresine Site NA |Lawren«ville Airport NA Aijian Ditch NA 'Cent^ille Cemetery N 'Robeson Hills NA Embarras River Natural Area Town State Land Federal Land ^ /\y Stream /\/ Significant Stream /%/ Highway /S/ County 9 Miles Embarras River [ ] Upland Forest ^^1 Bottomland Forest/Swannp ^^1 Nonforested Wetland Grassland io8 ■ Embarras River Millions of prairie chickens existed in Illinois in the mid to late 1800s. In the spring of 1994, the native population numbered about 50. Two sanctuaries were established in east- central Illinois to provide grassland habitat for the remaining birds. The restored grassland ecosystem has benefitted other rare grassland birds as well, including Henslow's sparrow, grasshopper spar- row, dickcissel, upland sandpiper, short-eared owl, and northern harrier. State and Federal Land State Parks Fox Ridge Sam Parr Walnut Point State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves Chauncey Marsh Jasper Co. Prairie Chicken Sanctuary Upper Embarras Woods Natural Divisions Grand Prairie Southern Till Plain Wabash Border Acres 1,544 1,153 529 Acres 116 53 68 Acres %of %of inRRA RRA Division 180,445 40.3 1.4 173,344 38.7 2.4 94,137 21.0 5.4 (TO Sangamon River • 109 Sangamon River The major natural features of the Sangamon River RRA are the forest tract at Robert Allerton Park and the Sangamon River. The area is highly agricultural. This RRA is relatively small. Landcover ♦ Nearly three-fourths of the Sangamon River RRA is cropland, the highest percentage among the RRAs. Fourteen percent of the RRA is grassland and 10% is wooded. Upland and bottomland wood percentages are moderately low. This site has the lowest acreage and lowest percentage of nonforested wetlands of the RRAs; there are only 49 acres of nonforested wetland identified in this site. Natural Areas ♦ The two Natural Areas are Robert Allerton Park and the Sangamon River. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ A 15.5 mile stretch of the Sangamon River is designated as a BSS stream. Heritage Sites ♦ There are eight Heritage sites in this RRA representing four communities types, three animal species, and one large forest tract. State and Federal Land ♦ No state or federal land occurs in this RRA. Nature Preserves ♦ No Nature Preserves occur in this RRA. Natural Divisions ♦ This RRA lies entirely within the Grand Prairie Natural Division. Summary Of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage Natural Areas Acreage Number Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Wetland- nonforested Acres 3,212.53 1,892.48 29.30 53,734 880 2 15.5 u.u 0.0 % of RRA 5.98 3.52 0.05 Size: 53,734 acres 84 square miles Location: Central Illinois; Macon and Piatt counties. Landcover at a Glance ^1 upland forest 6% ^1 bottomland forest 4% H wetland <1% |y~l grassland 14% H cropland 73% I I urban built-up 2% [~~| water <1% Sangamon River P ' Natural Area ^{■1 Town State Land '/M Federal Land /X/ Stream /\^ Significant Stream f\f Highway /\/ County 5 Miles Sangamon River Upland Forest Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland Cropland "" Water Urban/Built-up Miles 112 • Sangamon River At the center of the forested corridor along the Sangamon River in this area is Allerton Park. The natural area is an example of a relatively undisturbed stream- valley ecosystem. It includes bottomland forest, upland forest, reclaimed prairie, and wetlands. State and Federal Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves None Natural Divisions Grand Prairie Acres inRRA 53,735 %of RRA 100.0 Landcover (continued) Acres % of RRA Grassland 7,604.83 14.15 Cropland 39,445.37 73.41 Urban/Built-up 1,213.08 2.26 Water 337. 19_ 0.63 Total 53,734.78 100.00 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Acres Robert Allerton Park 719 Sangamon River 161 Biologically Significant Streams Miles Goose Creek 0.0 Sangamon River, source to Piatt/Macon county line 15.5 Natural Heritage Categories Communities Occurrences Tvpes/Species Floodplain Forest 2 2 Forest 2 2 Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird 2 2 Reptile 1 1 Threatened and Endangered Plants Geological Feature Other Forest Block >500 Acres 1 1 Acres %of Division 0.4 Upper Wabash River •113 Upper Wabash River The Upper Wabash River RRA encompasses the Wabash River mainstem from where it enters Illinois south to just above Latvrenceville and the narrow band of small tributaries to the river. The Wabash River is wide and slow flowing with sand-gravel substrate in this area. This is one of the last relatively unaltered big rivers in the Midwest. Landcover ♦ This RRA is predominantly agricultural {63%), followed by wooded (22%). Moderate percentages of upland and bottomland woods occur in this site. Nonforested wetlands are not abundant. Natural Areas ♦ A total of 2,212 acres comprise four Natural Areas. The largest is the 1,929 acre stretch of the Wabash River at Mount Carmel. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ A 76-mile stretch of the Wabash River is designated as a BSS stream in this RRA. Heritage Sites ♦ There are few Heritage sites in this RRA. One community type, one plant species, and four animal species are represented by the eight Heritage occurrences in this site. State and Federal Land ♦ Part of Lincoln Trail State Park occurs in this RRA. Nature Preserves ♦ Robeson Hills is the only Nature Preserve in this RRA. It is a remnant upland forest with a beech-maple community as its most significant feature. Natural Divisions ♦ This RRA lies almost entirely within the Wabash Border Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Land Total Acreage Natural Areas Acreage Number Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish &c Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland Forest Wetland- nonforested Acres 30,079.33 6,753.63 415.27 170,654 2,212 4 76.4 8 1 3 0.0 0.0 % of RRA 17.62 3.96 0.24 Size: 170,654 acres 267 square miles Location: Eastern Illinois along the Indiana border; Clark, Crawford, Edgar, and Lawrence counties Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 1 8% I bottomland forest 4% H wetland <1% R3 grassland 12% H cropland 63% I I urban built-up 1% I I water 2% iWest Union Site NA INDIANA Cal Area NA , Wabash River- Mt. Carmel NA [Palestine Ireslne Site N iRussellville rport NA itch NA fil^e Cemetery NA beson Hills NA [St. Francisville Upper Wabash River 11^^ Natural Area ^^H Town State Land Federal Land m 7 Miles Stream y\/ Significant Stream /%/ Highway /\/ County JASPER CO. Q Sfe. Mai ie Hutsoovillt RICHLAND CO. Sumner \Z\Calhoun Q Parkersburg '.c LAWRENCE CO. a St. Francisville Upper Wabash River Upland Forest L Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland Cropland Water Urban/Built-up 7 Miles ii6 • Upper Wabash River The transition zone between the beech-maple forests of the eastern U.S. and the prairie and oak-hiclf Norris City ' : ^Owaha GALLATIN CO. New ' Ridgway ir^" Lower Wabash River Upland Forest Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland 8 Miles Cropland '^ Water Urban/Built-up 1 ;o • Lower Wabash The bottomlands of the lower Wabash River are the last strongholds of the eastern deciduous forests in Illinois. Fertile, deep, and moist soil has promoted dense growth. The immense size of the trees (some are over 130 feet tall and six feet in diameter) as well as the diversity of species are remark- able features of the woods. Many of the trees have been harvested and the remaining forests in the area were con- sidered remnants as early as 1876. Beall Woods Nature Preserve is the largest and best example of the original forests that occurred along the Wabash River; several state tree champions are present in this preserve. Summary of Site Characteristics (contiuued) Landconer Upland forest Bottomland forest Wetland- nonforested Grassland Cropland Urban/Built-up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas In\ entorv Sites Beall Woods Beaver Pond Brushy Slough Goose Pond Little Rock Farm Little Wabash River Mount's Woods Oral Harris Woods Viabash River Wabash River-Lost Lake Wabash River-Mount Carmel Wabash River-Grayville "" = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams Brushy Slough Linle Wabash River, Rte 50 to mouth Wabash River, Clark Co. to White River Viabash River, New Harmony to Ohio River Natural Heritage Categories Communities Floodplain Forest Lake Wetland Forest Primary Threatened and Endangered Animals Amphibian Fish Mammal Reptile Crustacean Mollusk Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Geological Feature Other State and Federal Land State Parks Beall Woods State Conservation Areas Beall Woods Acres % of RRA 12,030.65 7.34 17,885.50 10.91 1,447.51 0.88 12,246.01 7.47 109,717.10 66.94 3,183.43 1.94 7.385.06 4.51 163,895.26 99.99 Acres 390 26 •A- 82 47 <1 71 31 2,297 210 1,484 Miles 4.0 0.0 27.4 44.1 Occurrences Tvpes/Species 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 2 2 1 3 2 1 1 14 6 Acres 632 629 Lower Wabash River •131 State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves Beall Woods Natural Divisions Wabash Border Southern Till Plain Acres in RRA 159,587 591 Acres 348 %of %of RRA Division 99.6 9.2 0.4 0.0 The Wabash River, the second largest tributary to the Ohio River, forms almost 200 miles of the lower border between Illinois and Indiana. Historically, the Wabash River has supported 27 state- threatened or state- endangered mussel species, including eight which are federally endangered. Mussel populations are greatly reduced in numbers of individuals and species in the Wabash, as is the case in the rest of Illinois and the U.S. 132 • Kaskaskia Bottoms Size: 1 97,654 acres 309 square miles Location: South-central Illinois; Clinton, Monroe, St. Clair, and Washington counties. Landcover at a Glance ^ upland forest 3% B bottomland forest 18% m wetland <1% ^ grassland 16% B cropland 58% I I urban built-up 2% I I water 1% Kaskaskia Bottoms The predominant natural features of the Kaskaskia Bottoms RRA are the large tracts of bottomland forest associated with the river and the river itself. The river in this area is fairly wide (up to 100 feet) with a sand, gravel, cobble, and silt substrate. Landcover ♦ The principal landcover is cropland (58%), followed by bottoinland woods (18%). Overall the site is 21% forested. The Kaskaskia Bottoms site ranks first in percentage of bottomland woods and last in percentage of upland forest. Moderate amounts of nonforested wetlands are present. Natural Areas ♦ Most of the ten Natural Area sites in this RRA are notable for their forest resources. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ The upper portion of the Kaskaskia River is designated a BSS stream for 31 miles of its length within this RRA. Heritage Sites ♦ Seven community types, one plant species, five animal species, and three large forest tracts are included in the 28 Heritage sites within this RRA. State and Federal Land ♦ State land in this RRA includes the Kaskaskia Fish and Wildlife Area (6,911 acres) and a portion of South Shore State Park (5 acres). Federal land consists of a portion of Carlyle Lake. Nature Preserves ♦ There are no Nature Preserves within this RRA. Natural Divisions ♦ This site lies entirely within the Southern Till Plain Natural Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage Natural Areas Acreage Number Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Acres 6,743.79 35,538.79 197,654 1,681 10 31.1 28 1 1 6,916 3.5 494 0.2 °o of RRA 3.41 17.98 Kaskaskia Bottoms -133 Wetland- nonforested Grassland Cropland Urban/Built-up Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Baer Brothers Woodlot Eversgerd Flatwoods Freeburg Rod and Gun CLub Jackson Slough Woods Lively Branch Woods Lost Creek Marsh New Athens Woods Sipple Slough Woods West End Sportsman's Club Woods Wirth Island Biologically Significant Streams Kaskaskia River, Rte 50 to Shoal Creek Natural Heritage Categories Communities Floodplain Forest Wetland Forest Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Mammal Reptile Mollusk Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Geological Feature Other Forest Block >500 Acres State and Federal Land State Parks South Shore State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Kaskaskia Federal Land Carlyle Lake South Shore State Park - Carlyle Lake Illinois Nature Preserves None Natural Divisions Acres in RRA 197,654 1,447.51 0.73 31,688.60 16.03 115,153.10 58.26 4,127.76 2.09 2,944.99 1.49 197,644.54 99.99 Acres 25 53 91 184 70 714 198 196 58 92 Miles 31.1 Occurrences Tvpes/Species 7 2 1 1 10 4 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 Acres 5 6,911 Southern Till Plain 489 5 % of %of RRA Division 100.0 2.8 * A complex of interconnected floodplain forests, wetlands, and flat- woods characterize the Kaskaskia bottomlands. Large, contiguous forest stands are rare in Illinois, and the largest tract in the state is located in this area. Large, unbroken forest is critical for the successful reproduction of many woodland bird species. Declines in population of some neotropical migratory songbirds have been attributed in part to forest fragmentation, which is widespread in the Midwest. 136 • Middle Fork of the Big Muddy Size: 114,908 acres 180 square miles Location: Southern Illinois; Franklin, Hamilton, and Jefferson counties. Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 12% B bottomland forest 7% B wetland <1% I I grassland 27% CJ cropland 49% I I urban built-up 3% I I water <1% Middle Fork of the Big Muddy The Middle Fork of the Big Muddy River RRA is a small, single watershed site. The significant natural features are the large tracts of forest located along the river. Landcover ♦ Approximately half the landcover in this RRA is cropland. It ranks fifth in percentage of grassland, which accounts for 27% of the land area. Nineteen per- cent of the area is wooded. This RRA ranks eighth for percentage of bottomland woods and 15th for percent- age of nonforested wetlands. Natural Areas ♦ The Freeman Coal Company Forest is the only Natural Area. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ There are no BSS streams. Heritage Sites ♦ Two Heritage sites, a floodplain forest and one animal species, are located in the RRA. State and Federal Land ♦ A 22-acre site. Ten Mile Creek Fish and Wildlife Area, is the only state or federal land. Nature Preserves ♦ No Nature Preserves are located in the site. Natural Divisions ♦ The Middle Fork of the Big Muddy River RRA is entirely within the Southern Till Plain Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage Natural Areas Acreage Number Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish &; Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Wetland- nonforested Grassland Cropland Urban/Built-up 114,908 388 1 2 1 22 0.0 0.0 Acres % of RRA 13,903.45 12.10 8,404.05 7.31 832.34 0.72 31,218.95 27.17 56,449.57 49.13 3,164.97 2.75 Middle Fork of the Big Muddy • 137 Water Total Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Freeman Coal Company Forest Biologically Significant Streams None Natural Heritage Categories Communities Floodplain Forest Threatened and Endangered Animals Mammal Threatened and Endangered Plants Geological Feature Other 934.30 114,907.63 0.81 99.99 Acres 388 Occurrences Types/Species 1 1 1 1 State and Federal Land Acres State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Ten Mile Creek (Tva) 22 Federal Land Illinois Nature Preserves None Natural Divisions Acres %of % of in RRA RRA Division Southern Till Plain 114,908 100.0 1.6 (TO The marsh rice rat is semiaquatic, inhabiting marshes, swamps, and shores of lakes and ponds. Because of the loss of many natural wetlands, rice rats make use of available areas of standing water with emergent, herbaceous vegetation found in areas such as road- side ditches, farm ponds, and railroad rights-of-way in Illinois. Despite its extensive range in the U.S., the rice rat is uncommon in Illinois (it is a state- threatened species) and limited to the southern part of the state. WAYNE CO. Middle Fork Big Muddy IIIH Natural Area /\/ Stream Town /V^ Significant Stream State Land /\/ Highway WM^ Federal Land A/ County Middle Fork Big Muddy Upland Forest \_ Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland Cropland Water Urban/Built-up 140 • Illinois Ozarks Size: 466,755 acres 729 square miles Location: Southwestern Illinois; Alexander, Jackson, Johnson, Randolph, Union, and Williamson counties. Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 42% B bottomland forest 10% B wetland <1% @ grassland 13% B cropland 28% I I urban built-up <1% □ water 6% Illinois Ozarks The Illinois Ozarks RRA is one of the richest, most biologically diverse areas of the state. Many species found here are rare and limited in distribution to this area of the state. This RRA encompasses Mississippi River bottomlands, Ozark plateau, and unglaciated hill country. Originally much of the land was forested and considerable forest remains. The Illinois Ozarks RRA shares a common boundary with Cache River RRA; the large, contiguous forests along the boundary are split into the two RRAs. Landcover ♦ The predominant landcover in this RRA is woods (42% upland and 10% bottomland woods). Twenty-eight percent of the site is cropland. The Illinois Ozarks is one of the few nonurban sites where cropland is not the predominant landcover. The second highest percentage of upland woods and the fourth highest percentage of bottomland woods occurs in this RRA. It has the fifth highest acreage of nonforested wetlands. Natural Areas ♦ There are 59 Natural Areas covering a total of 17,010 acres, the fifth highest acreage among the RRAs. These sites include caves, geological features, aquatic systems, wetlands, woods, and prairies. La Rue-Pine Hills is the largest Natural Area (4,179 acres). Biologically Significant Streams ♦ Six BSS designations occur in this RRA for a total of 33 miles. These include four streams and two stretches of the Mississippi River. The streams are clear with sand, gravel, and rock substrates. Heritage Sites ♦ A large number of Heritage points (227) occur here. Thirteen community types, 38 plant species, and 30 animal species are located in this RRA. All eight community categories are represented. There are 17 occurrences of large forest tracts and three rookeries. State and Federal Lands ♦ Twenty-one percent (99,934 acres) of the RRA is in public ownership. State land consists of one state park, one conservation area, one state forest, and one fish and wildlife area. Most of the acreage in public ownership is in Shawnee National Forest. Nature Preserves ♦ Seven Nature Preserves are located in the RRA. Significant features are mature forests, cliffs, bedrock outcrops, swamps, and barrens. Natural Divisions ♦ This RRA includes six natural divisions. The Lower Mississippi River Bottomalnds, Shawnee Hills, and Ozark Natural Divisions each comprise about one-third of the RRA. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 466,755 Natural Areas Acreage 17,010 Number 59 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 33.1 Illinois Ozarks ■ 141 Natural Heritage Sites 227 State Land State Parks 1 State Conservation Areas 1 State Forests 1 State Fish &: Wildlife Areas 1 Acreage 18,668 Percentage of RRA 4.0 Federal Land Acreage 81,266 Percentage of RRA 17.4 Landcover Acres % of RRA Upland forest 195,997.50 41.99 Bottomland Forest 44,813.91 9.60 Wetland- nonforested 4,284.72 0.92 Grassland 60,963.49 13.06 Cropland 128,720.40 27.58 Urban-Built Up 3,885.91 0.83 Water 28,076.46 6.02 Total 466,742.39 100.00 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Acres Atwood Ridge 1,000 Backbone South Geological Area 5 Bake Oven — Backbone North Geological Area 7 Bald Knob Geological Area 31 Bald Knob Sedge Site * Berryville Shale Glade 11 Black Cave 13 Black Powder Hollow Geological Area 4 Brown Barrens 11 Brown's Bar 687 Bumgard Island 1,894 Burnham Island 1,157 Castle Rock 2 Cave Spring Cave 243 Chester South Geological Area 5 Clear Creek 124 Clear Creek Swamp 102 Clear Springs Geological Area 13 Coles Mill Geological Area 2 Crab Orchard Bead Grass Site 4- Crab Orchard Eagle Sites * Crab Orchard Sedge Site 4- Grain Geological Area 39 Devil's Den 90 Devil's Island It- Devil's Kitchen Dam Research Natural Area 195 Dongola Hollow Geological Area 5 Dutch Creek Chert Woodlands * Fern Rocks 179 Fountain Bluff Geological Area 2 Fountain Bluff North 15 Fountain Bluff Site * La Rue-Pine Hills is one of the richest and most biologically diverse areas in Illinois. The biological richness of this 2x5-mile strip of land has much to do with its unique topography of lime- stone bluffs that tower above a sprlngfed swamp. Swamp, spring, cliff, forest, glade, cave, and hill prairie communities provide diverse habitat for a correspondingly diverse flora and fauna. Eastern, western, northern, and southern species are present In this area. Several rare species are found at La Rue-Pine Hills, including the golden mouse, eastern woodrat, Indiana bat, green water snake, blue- head shiner, banded pygmy sunfish, spotted sunfish, and bantam sunfish. 142. • Illinois Ozarks Approximately 20 species of snakes are known from La Rue-Pine Hills. In the spring and fall, snakes migrate from their winter hibernation sites in the rocky bluffs. Many cross the road which separates the bluffs from the swamp, prompting closure of the road twice a year. Venomous copperheads, timber rattlesnakes, and cottonmouths, as well as several non- poisonous snakes, such as king and rat snakes, live in La Rue-Pine Hills. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites (continued) Gale Geological Area Gale North Geological Area Giant City State Park Geological Area Guthrie Cave La Rue-Pine Hills Research Natural Area Little Grand Canyon -Cedar Creek Lovets Pond Lylerle Site Marys River Woods McClure Shale Glade Miller Creek Mississippi River -Grand Tower Mississippi River -Mudds Landing Ozark Hill Prairies Ozark Hills Pine Hills Annex Piney Creek Ravine Reeds Creek Canyon East Reeds Creek Canyon North Reily Lake Area Rich's Cave System Rockcastle Creek Area Swayne Hollow Thebes Area Toothless Cave Union County State Conservation Area Weaver's Woods * = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams Dutch Creek Miller Creek Mississippi River, rm 114-119, Randolph Co. Mississippi River, rm 78-83, Jackson Co. Orchard Creek Sammons Creek Natural Heritage Categories Communities Floodplain Forest Lake Wetland Cave Forest Savanna Prairie Primary Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Fish Mammal Reptile Crustacean Acres 1 1 15 109 4,179 988 156 * 52 10 44 366 2,925 464 215 6 200 39 131 89 76 206 886 13 Miles 10.6 5.8 3.7 4.1 3.1 5.8 Occurrences Tvpes/Species 1 1 2 1 2 2 11 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 5 3 37 12 14 7 i:^ 7 14 3 5 1 Illinois Ozarks • 143 Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot Plant-Gymnosperm Plant-Monocot Plant-Fern/Fern Ally Geological Feature Geological Feature Other Forest Block >500 Acres Rookery State and Federal Land State Parks Giant City State Conservation Areas Union County State Forests Trail of Tears State Fish and Wildlife Areas Turkey Bluffs Federal Land Shawnee National Forest Proclamation Boundary Shawnee National Forest Ownership Illinois Nature Preserves Berryville Shale Glade Brown Barrens Fern Rocks La Rue Swamp Mcclure Shale Glade Ozark Hills Piney Creek Ravine Natural Divisions Lower Mississippi R Bottomlands Shawnee Hills Ozarks Major Water Bodies Coastal Plain Southern Till Plain 27 2 26 7 16 17 3 17 17 Acres 4,580 6,504 5,232 2,352 1 Boundary 204,416 81,266 Acres 34 34 179 136 53 215 140 Acres %of %of inRRA RRA Division 147,141 31.8 40.9 144,501 31.2 15.9 141,298 30.5 34.8 15,588 3.4 1.3 11,911 2.6 2.6 2,193 0.5 0.0 * One of the few remaining strongholds of the eastern woodrat In Illinois is La Rue-Pine Hills. This animal was at one time distributed across southern Illinois from the Ohio River to the Mississippi. The eastern woodrat Is a true pack rat, collecting and storing nuts, acorns, pods, twigs, leaves, and other small items in their nests. The nests are added to by each successive owner. linois Ozarks I ' Natural Area bjll^ Town State Land ^ Federal Land /Ay Stream /\/ Significant Stream /%/ Highway /Sy County 146 • Shawnee Hills Size: 477,112 acres 745 square miles Location: Southeastern Illinois; Gallatin, Massac, Hardin, Johnson, Pope, Saline, and Williamson counties. Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 54% B bottomland forest 4% B wetland <1% B grassland 24% B cropland 16% I I urban built-up <1% I I water 1% Shawnee Hills The Shawnee Hills RRA is a scenic wooded area in an unglaciated part of the state. An escarpment of sand- stone runs east to west in this area. Bluffs, rugged hills, deep ravines, and clear streams support distinctive flora and fauna. This area was originally forested, and considerable amounts of forested land remain. Landcover ♦ Woodlands cover 58% of this RRA (54% upland woods and 4% bottomland woods). It ranks first in total acreage and percentage of upland woods. Grassland and cropland account for 24% and 16% of the area, respectively. This is one of the few nonurban RRAs where cropland is not the predominant landcover. Moderate amounts of bottomland woods and low amounts of nonforested wetlands are found at this site. Natural Areas ♦ The Shawnee Hills RRA has the greatest number of Natural Areas (83) among the RRAs. Principal natural features include bluffs, springs, caves, aquatic systems, barrens, hill prairies, woods, hollows, and geological features. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ The highest total BSS mileage occurs in this RRA. Seventeen streams have been given BSS designation. Most are small, clear streams which run over sand, gravel, and rock substrates. Heritage Sites ♦ The Shawnee Hills RRA ranks third in number of Heritage occurrences with 255 sites. Ten community types, 49 plants species, and 25 animal species are located in the RRA. There are four large forest tracts and two rookeries. State and Federal Land ♦ The Shawnee Hills RRA has the highest percentage of state and federal ownership of the RRAs. The total acreage of state and federal land is 138,877 acres, or 29% of the RRA, most of which is in the Shawnee National Forest. State land consists of two state parks and one conservation area. Nature Preserves ♦ Lusk Creek Canyon, the only Nature Preserve in this site, is a large canyon with high sandstone cliffs and a high quality stream. Natural Divisions ♦ The Shawnee Hills Natural Division is the predominant division in this RRA (82% of the RRA). Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 4~~,1 12 Natural Areas Acreage 8,638 Number 83 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 125.9 Natural Heritage Sites 255 State Land State Parks 2 State Conservation Areas 1 State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Acreage 2,060 Shawnee Hills • 147 Percentage of RRA 0.4 Federal Land Acreage 136,817 Percentage of RRA 28.7 Landcover Acres % of RRA Upland forest 256,155.00 53.69 Bottomland forest 18,882.62 3.96 Wetland- nonforested 1,833.27 0.38 Grassland 114,612.20 24.02 Cropland 76,954.51 16.13 Urban/Built-up 2,415.12 0.51 Water 6.261.69 1.31 Total 477,114.41 100.00 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Acres Abbot Geological Area 9 Barker Bluff 125 Battery Rock :!■ Bell Smith Springs 546 Big Creek 395 Big Grand Pierre Creek Site «■ Big Sink Limestone Glade 27 Brown's Hole Cave 7 Brownfield Bluff 4 Camp Ondessonk 459 Cane Creek Area 4 Caney Branch Glade 47 Cave Hill 305 Cave Spring Cave System 1,161 Chimaphila Site 1 Collier Limestone Glade 12 Copperous Branch Hill Prairie 23 Crow Knob Sandstone Barrens * Double Branch Hole 5 Eagle Creek-robinette Creek 50 East Fork Oxalis Site 1 Flick Hill 17 Frailey's Landing Geological Area 7 Frieze Cave 26 Garden of the Gods 113 Gibbons Creek Barrens 21 Grantsburg Swamp 161 Griffith Cave 1 Gyp Williams Hollow 327 Haney Creek 134 Hayes Creek Sites 6 Herman Hill Site 303 Hicks Dome Plug Geological Area 11 Hicks Geological Area 10 Homberg Spring 1 Horseshoe Geological Area 3 Hosick Creek 42 Jackson Hole Barrens 1^ Jackson Hollow 268 Sandstone canyons are one of the outstanding features of the Shawnee Hills. Luxuriant vegetation grows in the cool, humid ravines, which are shaded by dense forest canopy and high canyon walls. Sphagnum moss, ferns, and club mosses grow on the moist, sandstone cliff faces. Lusk Creek Canyon is a large gorge where a high-quality stream flows between vertical, sandstone cliffs that are 100 feet high in places. Several rare and unusual plants are found here, including 13 species of wild orchids. 148 • Shawnee Hills French's shooting star is a wild- flower restricted to a 10-mile band across southern Illinois called the Shawneetown Ridge. The plant grows under the dripline of sandstone ledges, where the sandy soil stays moist during the growing season. Kaskaskia Woods Keeling Hill Lamb Site Layoff Cave Leisure City Glade Little Grand Pierre South Glade Little Saline River Lusk Creek Lusk Creek Canyon Lusk Creek North Manson Ford Martha's Woods Site Melcher Hill Limestone Glade Millstone Bluff Old Stone Face -Dennison Hollow Old Zion Cemetery Geological Area Orr's Landing Geological Area Panther Hollow Peters Creek Pine Hollow Pleasant Valley Hill Prairie Pounds Hollow Quarrel Creek Area Reddick Hollow Reddick Hollow Amphipod Site Reid's Chapel Sandstone Glades Robnett Creek Barrens Rock Creek Rocky Branch Battle Ford Creek Russell Cemetery Glade Saline Landing Saline River Geological Area Sand Cave Simmons Creek -Hurricane Hollow Area Simpson Township Prairie Soward Limestone Glade Split Rock Hollow Sulphur Springs Area Teal Pond Trig Tower Sandstone Glades Wamble Mountain Werner Tract Whoopie Cat Mountain Wise Ridge * = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams Big Creek drainage Big Grand Pierre Creek, Rte 146 to Pinhook Cr. Burden Creek Clifty Creek Copperous Branch Eagle Creek Honey Creek 24 60 260 9 4 65 446 346 1 * 6 8 138 411 6 2 253 61 41" 7 273 123 * 17 5 1 39 142 72 6 3 <1 <1 206 23 66 272 229 Miles 31.6 8.0 2.1 3.7 2.0 10.7 10.0 Shawnee Hills • 149 Hosick Creek Little Saline River, Allen Branch to South Fork Lusk Creek, Flick Branch to Little Lusk Creek Ohio River, Elizabethtown to Cave-in-Rock Peters Creek Robinette Creek, Pounds Lake to Eagle Creek Rock Creek Three Springs Hollow unnamed trib. Cedar Creek unnamed trib, Wallace Branch, Cave Spring Cave Natural Heritage Categories Communities Cave Forest Savanna Primary Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird Fish Mammal Reptile Crustacean Insect Threatened and Endangered Plants Lichen Plant-Dicot Plant-Monocot Plant-Fern/Fern Ally Geological Feature Geological Feature Other Forest Block >500 Acres Rookery State and Federal Land State Parks Cave-In-Rock Dixon Springs State Conservation Areas Saline County State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Shawnee National Forest Proclamation Boundary Shawnee National Forest Ownership Illinois Nature Preserves Lusk Creek Canyon Natural Divisions Acres in RRA Shawnee Hills 390,000 Wabash Border 45,371 Coastal Plam 39,415 Major Water Bodies 862 Southern Till Plain 76 3.5 8.0 13.3 7.5 8.3 3.7 10.2 0.8 1.5 1.0 Occurrences Tvpes/Species 8 2 9 3 4 2 25 3 16 9 2 1 24 7 9 1 23 6 2 1 4 1 71 28 33 17 9 3 10 4 1 2 1 Acres 204 799 1,057 418,276 136,817 Atres 129 %of %of RRA Division 82.0 43.1 9.5 2.5 8.3 8.5 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 With more than one-quarter million acres, the Shawnee National Forest is the largest public land holding in Illinois. Located in the southern part of the state, it is bordered on the east and south by the Ohio River and on the west by the Mississippi River. The Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture manages Shawnee for multi- ple uses, including camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, tim- ber harvest, mining, and grazing. Within the boundaries of the Shawnee are many high-quality natural areas and rich assemblages of species unique to Illinois. )anfCav«iNA j^Simpsqd TaMh)) PrajfigNA : Tri(|T»i^f-Sarfd^'G ■Mptdrie^uffNA Sarft(«itbne,^arre' Black Lake NA , ■ Shawneelown Old Shawneetown KENTUCKY TGe&fogiiia ,- T^'aiPond^lA Cenleffi^ fieolojica 'ft->^Uack5on Hollo BJgejl Smith S^rir aline Landing NA Frieie Ga«4 li)A Jackson H0I,6 Barrens MA ' 1 1 Copperous Branch Hill Prairie N/ | -Mansoii Ford NA'"^ r :' [.-< " LusltCreekNA —• Sulplwr S[?rmgsjAj83N^- Simmons Creek • Hurricane HoHev/"Wea NA- Quai-el£i-eels;Ar^aWA*';=». Flick Hill NA '': 'Pleasant Valley"HillP(aine-NA . ick Hollpiw Amphipod Site NA* Reddict Ho(li\ Pine Hollow NA (>' WiSl i ye i T r ai;l "^ 'E NF BOUNC^Y BrowntieKPSHJffWA , 'Area MA- ' '-^'^'^ ^"^^^ ^'"^ I; NA -,. Lusk Ci'eek Canyon NA fe-wi^'- '■ -' EaslForkOxalls SJts'NA Bi,iN« ~i .; .iiMarlfia's Woods Site IJa '--- - yChiniaphilaSrte-NA . . Do.ubfe Bfinch HoteHA " ^^ ■^^llayes Creek StteeNA ,^^ ^ .'taskaskia-JSbs^s NA ^ 74^R|l&0ffle Plug 65'ological fjetj Hicks (3ec1oglratA(eaNA • .^3 i_;^ji BigCreek'NA fSilteK' Battel^ Sock Ipf"^^ Elter Hollow NA < Area NA e City Glade NA Wan eek NA Qttn'AHole Cave NA - /Big $(nlfli%)«^ene Glaft NA ''"^^^^^"^ ^'Bl^^e^sLanding . . ^ Peters Creek NA HosFckXiE^llA nng CJave Syst6(ti,NA ' e f^lnfle Tna Collier Ljg fi eys , /Geoi Area NA ! Glade NA NA """ r I Wly/^tJfTsLanding Geological Area NA glCner Ffill Uiwestone Glade NA Rosiclare Big GranTPierre Creek Site NA' Herman Hill Site NA Little Grand Pierre South Glade NA vGolconda Hombeftfi^ffng NA tbnett^eek Barrens ^ ^Barrens NA* KENTUCKY [IcaJAfea-tjlA- ea\ey Creek Site NA* \ ReaeartA Natural Area NA Lino Laird Ravine NA Silverbell Site NA ^'C/ „r. ^ ^^y,'etac£DUS RHls NA eaNA / i Xl^to^lt^PfillLt^.Oog Creek Barrens NA* Dean Cemetery/East BarrenJiN^^. "^ r^>nvbissac iVwer Springs NA Kickas(ila Cemetery BarreiSv.-^ r-l'-^n'"^" C%terv Barrens East NA and Springs NA* SjIVU jSnoy^^Vng^ fJ* ' T^nielerABarrens North NA* MaBsacSP Fwl Massjc Area NA McGhee Flatwoods NA' Brookpon dnd ' Hamlelsburg tnd NA ClMlLake NA Shawnee Hills ^^1 Natural Area Town State Land z^;;^^ Federal Land /\/ Stream y\/ Significant Stream A/ Highway /\/ County 7 Miles Shawnee Hills Upland Forest 7 Miles Bottomland Forest/Swamp Nonforested Wetland Grassland Cropland Water Urban/Built-up 152 Cache River Size: 443,616 acres 693 square miles Location: Southern Illinois along the Cache River; Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski, and Union counties. Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 27% B bottomland forest 8% I I wetland <1% I I grassland 29% B cropland 32% I [ urban built-up 2% I I water 1 % Cache River The Cache River RRA is located at the southern tip of Illinois. The upper reach flows through the hills of the Ozark plateau; the lower Cache flows through flatter coastal plain where drainage is slow and wetlands become more abundant. Unique features include bald cypress-tupelo gum swamps and several species associated with the southern U.S. The Cache River RRA shares a common border with the Illinois Ozarks RRA; the large, contiguous forests that occur along the boundary are split into the two RRAs. Landcover ♦ The landcover is fairly evenly divided among three categories — cropland (32%), grassland (29%), and upland woods (27%). In terms of percentage of the site, the Cache River RRA ranks fourth for grassland, fifth for upland woods, and sixth for bottomland woods. This site has the eighth highest acreage of nonforested wetlands. Natural Areas ♦ Sixty-three Natural Areas totalling 18,444 acres are located in this RRA. This RRA ranks third in number of Natural Areas and fourth in acreage of Natural Areas. Significant features include caves, springs, barrens, ponds, lakes, swamps, woods, and geological features. The largest Natural Areas are Heron Pond- Little Black Slough (6,613 acres) and the Lower Cache River Swamp (6,561 acres). Biologically Significant Streams ♦ Six stream segments totalling 53 miles have been designated as BSS. Horseshoe Lake and Lake Creek support a number of species that are extremely rare in Illinois. Heritage Sites ♦ There are 298 Heritage occurrences, the second highest number among the RRAs. There are 17 community types, 41 plant species, and 43 animal species represented. Seven large forest tracts and two rookeries are located here. State and Federal Land ♦ The total acreage of public land in this RRA is 65,665 acres, or 15% of the land area. There are three state parks and two state conserva- tion areas. The majority of public land is federally owned and consists of Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge and Shawnee National Forest. Nature Preserves ♦ Eight Nature Preserves are located in the Cache River RRA. Principal natural features include glades, upland forests, floodplain forests, bluffs, ravines, ponds, and cypress-tupelo swamps. Natural Divisions ♦ The Natural Divisions of the Cache River RRA are the Coastal Plain (58%), Shawnee Hills (35%), and Ozarks (7%). Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage 443,616 Natural Areas Acreage 18,444 Number 63 Biologically Significant Stream Mileage 52.8 Natural Heritage Sites 298 Cache River -153 State Land State Parks 3 State Conservation Areas 2 State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Acreage 11,924 Percentage of RRA 2.7 Federal Land Acreage 53,741 Percentage of RRA 12.1 Landcover Acres % of RRA Upland forest 117,758.90 26.55 Bottomland forest 35,327.44 7.96 Wetland-nonforested 2,508.85 0.57 Grassland 130,500.20 29.42 Cropland 143,676.50 32.39 Urban/Built-up 7,187.96 1.62 Water 6.646.45 1.50 Total 443,606.30 100.01 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Acres Archimedes Cave 28 Badlands Geological Area 4 Big Brushy Ridge 145 Black Powder Hollow Geological Area <1 Britten Spring 5 Cache Valley Geological Area 5 Cave Creek Barrens 8 Cedar Bluff 330 Cedar Bluff Cave 5 Chestnut Hills 674 Cooper Creek Hollow Mine 5^ Cypress Pond 499 Deer Pond 154 Diswood Site «■ Draper's Bluff 587 Dusky Salamander Sites * Ethridge Limestone Glade 56 Firestone Creek Cave 29 Fort Massac Area 21 Goreville Interchange Geological Area 13 Halesia 36 Horseshoe Forest 231 Horseshoe Lake 351 Horseshoe Lake Nuttall's Oak Site <1 Horseshoe Lake South 3 Horseshoe Lake State Conservation Area *■ Indian Point 108 Jug Spring * Lake Creek 59 Lick Creek Geological Area 14 Lino Laird Ravine 72 Little Black Slough-Heron Pond Area 6,613 At the extreme southern tip of Illinois, the land flattens and is poorly drained. Southern flora is present in this area, the north- ernmost extent of the coastal plain that stretches to the Gulf of Mexico. Swamps, dominated by bald cypress (some of the largest and oldest trees in Illinois) and tupelo, are reminiscent of Louisiana bayous. The Heron Pond- Little Black Slough Nature Preserve is a significant natural area with high-quality swamp and flood- plain forest as well as upland forest and glade communities. 154 • Cache River The green treefrog is one of the most colorful frogs in North America. Its bright green-to-olive coloration protects it from predators as it perches on vegeta- tion in swamps, floodplain sloughs, and marshes. In Illinois, the green treefrog is limited to the extreme southern tip of the state. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites (continued) Lower Cache River Swamp Magazine Mine Hollow Mason Cave Mermet Lake East Mermet Lake Flatwoods Mermet Swamp Mounds West Geological Area Ohio River-Hillerman Olmsted Geological Area Open Pond Opossum Trot Trail Post Creek Cutoff Geological Area Post Creek Cutoff Site Provo Cemetery Rich's Cave System Roaring Spring Area Round Bluff Scout Cave Sielbeck Forest Tract Sielbeck Q Ditch Area Silverbell Site Teal's Cave Thalia Site Thebes Area Thornton Ravine Unity Area Weaver's Woods West Vienna Woods White Hill Cave White Hill Quarry Wolf Creek Area "■ = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams Cache River, Big Creek to Karnak Horseshoe Lake Lake Creek Limekiln Slough Ohio River, L&D 52 to Metropolis Ohio River, L&D 53 to Mound City Natural Heritage Categories Communities Floodplain Forest Lake Wetland Cave Forest Prairie Primary Threatened and Endangered Animals Amphibian Bird Fish Acres 6,561 * 12 50 64 47 9 108 6 37 49 4 57 59 17 59 59 232 206 40 1 4 1 20 1 29 32 25 4 599 Miles 8.1 22.0 3.7 5.5 2.4 10.9 Occurrences Types/Species 10 3 3 1 11 2 7 2 10 5 1 1 7 3 19 2 37 15 7 5 Cache River -155 Mammal Reptile Crustacean Mollusk Threatened and Endangered Plants Lichen Plant-Dicot Plant-Monocot Plant-Fern/Fern Ally Geological Feature Geological Feature Other Forest Block >500 Acres Rookery State and Federal Land State Parks Feme Clyffe Fort Defiance Fort Massac State Conservation Areas Horseshoe Lake Mermet Lake State Forests State Fish and Wildlife Areas Federal Land Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge Shawnee National Forest Proclamation Boundary Shawnee National Forest Ownership Illinois Nature Preserves Cave Creek Glade Chestnut Hills Halesia Heron Pond-Little Black Slough Horseshoe Lake Mermet Swamp Round Bluff Section 8 Woods Natural Divisions Coastal Plain Shawnee Hills Ozarks Major Water Bodies Acres in RRA 256,009 155,257 31,480 525 51 8 8 3 9 4 10 6 1 1 66 24 20 14 2 2 10 7 2 % of RRA 57.8 35.0 7.1 0.1 Acres 1,162 62 137 8,160 2,404 34,497 66,908 19,244 Acres 40 272 19 2,131 579 47 56 322 %of Division 55.4 17.1 7.7 0.0 Significant natural features that represent forest, wetland, and aquatic habitats are found at Horseshoe Lake, an old oxbow of the Mississippi River. Near-virgin woods of beech, sugar maple, swamp chestnut oak, and American elm grow on the island in the middle of the lake. Bald cypress, tupelo, swamp Cottonwood, willow, and button- bush are found in the shallow water. Several interesting and rare species are known from here, including the spotted gar, pugnose min- now, green treefrog, mole salamander, broad-banded water snake, green water snake, prothonotary warbler, red-shoul- dered hawk, big- eared bat, and rice rat. Cache River Natural Area Town State Land m ^ Federal Land /\/ Stream /\/ Significant Stream /\/ Highway /\/ County 6 Miles Cache River Upland Forest Bottomland Forest/Swannp Nonforested Wetland Grassland 6 Miles Cropland *" Water Urban/Built-up 158 • Cretaceous Hills Size: 87,928 acres 137 square miles Location: Southeastern tip of Illinois along the Ohio River; Massac and Pope counties. Landcover at a Glance B upland forest 31% H bottomland forest 9% [~| wetland <17o I I grassland 24% I I cropland 32% I I urban built-up <1% I I water 3% Cretaceous Hills The Cretaceous Hills RRA encompasses the southeastern tip of the state. The area is characterized by rolling hills of sand, gravel, and clay and bottomlands along the Ohio River. Landcover ♦ Predominant landcover types are cropland (32%), upland woods (31%), and grassland (24%). This site ranks fourth in percentage of upland woods, ninth for grassland, and fifth for bottomland woods. It has one of the lowest acreages for nonforested wetlands. Natural Areas ♦ There are 19 Natural Areas. Important natural features include barrens, springs, lakes, ponds, and flatwoods. Biologically Significant Streams ♦ Two stretches of the Ohio River totalling 14 miles are designated as BSS streams. Heritage Sites ♦ There are 74 Heritage occurrences. Seven community t)pes, 25 plant species, ten animal species, and two rookeries are located in this RRA. State and Federal Land ♦ Fort Massac State Park is the only state land in this RRA. Federally owned land consists of 12,000 acres in the Shawnee National Forest. Nature Preserves ♦ Significant features in the two Nature Preserves are slope, ridge, and ravine forests, seep springs, cypress swamp, floodplain forest, and flatwoods. Natural Divisions ♦ This RRA is 89% in the Coastal Plain Division and 10% in the Shawnee Hills Division. Summary of Site Characteristics: Size, Biologic Resources, and Public Lands Total Acreage Natural Areas Acreage Number Biologically Significant Stream Mileage Natural Heritage Sites State Land State Parks State Conservation Areas State Forests State Fish & Wildlife Areas Acreage Percentage of RRA Federal Land Acreage Percentage of RRA Landcover Upland forest Bottomland forest Acres 27,471.32 8,315.74 87,928 1,940 19 14.1 74 1 619 0.7 11,999 13.6 % of RRA 31.24 9.46 Cretaceous Hills • 159 Wetland-nonforested 412.86 0.47 Grassland 20,896.33 23.77 Cropland 28,118.41 31.98 Urban/Built-up 357.46 0.41 Water 2,353.70 2.68 Total 87,925.82 100.01 Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Sites Acres Burke Branch Research Natural Area 167 Caney Creek Site » Cave Creek Barrens * Clear Lake 40 Cretaceous Hills 449 Dean Cemetery East Barrens » Dog Creek Barrens * Fort Massac Area 183 Kickasola Cemetery Barrens and Springs * Klondike Spring 3 Lewis Estate 355 Lewis Estate North 404 Lewis Estate South 44 Massac Tower Springs 45 McGhee Flatwoods * Poco Cemetery Barrens East 1 Poco Cemetery Barrens North * Round Pond 247 Snow Springs 1 * = point location, map not available Biologically Significant Streams Miles Ohio River, L&cD 52 to Metropolis 2.8 Ohio River, at mouth of Cumberland River 11.3 Natural Heritage Categories Communities Occurrences Tvpes/Species Floodplain Forest 3 2 Lake 1 1 Wetland 5 2 Savanna 8 2 Threatened and Endangered Animals Bird 3 2 Fish 3 2 Mammal 2 1 Reptile 1 1 Mollusk 4 4 Threatened and Endangered Plants Plant-Dicot 23 13 Plant-Monocot 18 11 Plant-Fern/Fern Ally 1 1 Geological Feature Other Rookery 2 1 State and Federal Land State Parks Acres Fort Massac 619 Cretaceous Hills is an area of low, gravel hills. Acidic seeps, which support some of the most interesting natural communities in the state, are found in this area. Seeps are caused when groundwater, percolating through the gravel, flows to the surface where it meets underlying sandstone. An abundant and diverse flora grows in these moist areas, including many unusual and rare species of orchids, mosses, and ferns, some with four foot- long fronds. ison Township Praiffe-NA Frieze CavfNA Gopperous Branch Hill Prairie NA -, 'Big Grand Pierre Creek SifeW/' r'-Manson.FordNA' ' -- rJ J: Sulphur Springs Area NA MuskGreek-WA Flick HHfNA „-' uarrel Creek Area NA"- ■HniPrairieWA— ■ ^— ^T\tj HARDtN CD.:^^#^ '■■•fcWfiopflgtat ^ Firestone Creek Cave NA •*Ethridge^nestone Glad 7\ .MASS/VC CO. Melcher MiR [ ©rand Pie dicjk Hoflfew Amehipod Site 'tsforg Sivamt, ■ '"Pitie Molls' tick HolloW Dixon Springs/ Werner Tf^ NA Rosiclare Herman Hill^te" Simmons Creek - Hurricane Hollow Area NA lOlconda lermet Lake/Ffatwcf6i^ NA ^Merff>elIake5G^ /lermefLake East NA /lermet Swamp NA J \^ Sielbeck Q Ditch Arfea NA ♦ sielbeckFWtTr HAWN^NF BOUNDA^ "^^ • BrownfielcMjft NA (ppi Homberg''Sp/ihg NA Barrens I #