Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
3
County
Kankakee
Location
The site is located 4 miles west of the Illinois/Indiana border and 2 miles east of Momence along the Kankakee River bottomlands. It is 2 miles west of Momence Wetlands Nature Preserve and 12 miles north of Iroquois County State Wildlife Area.
Description
Momence Wetlands Land and Water Reserve consists contiguous floodplain forest and upland forest adjacent to the Kankakee River. It is within the Momence Wetlands complex, which is the last remaining vestige of the Grand Kankakee Marsh in Illinois that once encompassed nearly a million acres extending on both sides of the Kankakee River in Illinois and Indiana. The portion of the Kankakee River which flows through the site is recognized by the Biological Stream Characterizations as one of Illinois’ finest water resources and containing outstanding biological features. The high-water quality and endangered species habitat is due in large part to the filtering of sediments and agriculture runoff provided by the reserve’s forests. Only a few large tracts of floodplain forest remain in this part of the state, making the site an outstanding and highly significant remnant of Illinois’ natural heritage. Wet floodplain forests are dominated by pin oak, silver maple, swamp white oak, river birch, and green ash. The upland forest is composed primarily of white oak, black oak, white ash, and shagbark hickory. These forests also provide habitat for several area-sensitive forest species, and three state listed species. Notable plant species include the swamp cottonweed, pumpkin ash, and climbing hempwood – all of which are southern swamp species that have their only known northern outliers in the Momence Wetlands.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Natural Division
Kankakee Sand Area Section of the Grand Prairie Natural Division (#4e)
Registered
May 1998
Size
519 acres
Access
Site visitation is limited because it is land-locked by water and surrounding private land.
Topographic Quad
Illiana Heights
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov
