Agencies
Services
Nature Preserve Area
1
County
Boone
Location And Access
From Caledonia at jct. Hwy. 173 and Caledonia Road, take Caledonia Road 3.5 mi. north to Kinnikinnick Creek Conservation Area, which is west of the road. The nature preserve is in the county conservation area. A parking lot is on the east side of the preserve.
Description
This 57 acre preserve is typical of the forests found in the Rock River Valley at the prairie-forest border. It contains a spring-fed creek, upland forest, floodplain forest, and bedrock outcrops of the Winnebago Section of the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. In presettlement times, oak savannas were probably very common in Boone County, and this preserve contains some savanna remnants. The dominant canopy species is white oak, with ironwood , cherry, ash, and basswood as common associates. The upland community gives way to a floodplain forest along Kinnikinnick Creek. It contains black willow, butternut, and box elder. Some of the associated wetland plants include skunk cabbage, great angelica, blueflag iris, sedges and rushes. Kinnikinnick Creek is a spring-fed stream, and although it drains a watershed of about 11,520 acres, it retains a high quality status. The creek supports two unusual fish species: mottled sculpin and Ozark minnow. Other woodland wildlife is abundant; great horned owl, red-tailed hawk, raccoon and deer, are just a few of the area residents. Exotic species control (multiflora rose, buckthorn, and honeysuckle) and erosion control are management priorities.
Ownership
Boone County Conservation District
Dedicated
November 1974
Topographic Quad
Belvidere North
Topo Map
For Further Information
Contact: Boone County Conservation District, 7600 Appleton Road, Belvidere, IL 61008 (815/547-7935)
1/2009 - R. Heidorn
