Nature Preserve Area
3
County
Cook
Location And Access
The site is in the Village of Hodgkins, adjacent to the DesPlaines River, within the Chicago Lake Plain Section of the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division.
Description
Santa Fe Prairie Nature Preserve contains high quality mesic and dry-mesic gravel prairie recognized by the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory. Gravel prairie is extremely rare in Illinois and the Midwest. Mesic gravel prairie dominated by prairie dropseed, big bluestem, and Indian grass makes up most of the site. There is also dry-mesic gravel prairie that is dominated by big bluestem, Indian grass, prairie dropseed, and porcupine grass. Prairie cord grass, blue joint grass, and multiple sedge species dominate the wet prairie. Characteristic species of the marsh community include bluejoint grass, narrow-leaved cattail, great bulrush, common arrowhead, and winged loosestrife. Approximately 225 native plant species have been recorded from the site.
Ownership
I. and M. Canal Natural Heritage Corridor Civic Center Authority
Dedicated
October 1997
Size
10.84 acres
Topographic Quad
Berwyn
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686