Douglas E. Wade Prairie

Description

Douglas E. Wade Prairie represents the original dry-mesic gravel prairie and dry-mesic dolomite prairie communities of the Freeport Section of the Rock River Hill Country Natural Division. The prairie lies on a low Rock River valley bluff where glacial deposits consist of unsorted pink calcareous sand and cobbly sediments. Loess (windblown silt) covers the till, providing a rich, well-drained soil for plants. The characteristic dry plant community of dolomite prairies include porcupine grass, leadplant, and wild indigo. The gravel prairie is dominated by side-oats grama and little bluestem. Both areas support rare and unusual plant species. Several small mammals, reptiles and ground nesting birds may also be observed at the preserve. This preserve was originally named Bicentennial Prairie to commemorate the bicentennial of the United States. In 1988 the preserve was renamed the Douglas E. Wade Nature Preserve. Doug Wade was a leader in the prairie preservation movement for many years and was a founder of the Prairie Preservation Society of Ogle County.