Agencies
Services
Nature Preserve Area
2
County
Cook
Location And Access
The preserve is located within the Morainal Section of the Northeastern Morainal Division of Illinois in northeastern Cook County. It is in the Village of Northbrook, in Northfield Township’s Sections 3 and 4 of T. 42 N – R. 12 E, immediately east of Somme Prairie Nature Preserve and immediately west of Somme Woods Forest Preserve. The southern border is Dundee Road (IL Route 68), and the northern boundary is a commercial area. Public access is provided from the Somme Woods Forest Preserve parking lot (on Dundee Road, east of Waukegan Road).
Description
Somme Prairie Grove Nature Preserve is included within the Somme Prairie Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI #0245) site as a Category I, II, and III site. It supports high-quality (Grade B) mesic savanna and dry-mesic woodland. At the time of survey, 8.25 acres of mesic savanna and 9.35 acres of dry-mesic woodland were graded B. Another 63.79 acres of mesic savanna was graded C+, a descriptor used for an area with high potential to be restored to Grade B. Another 0.8 acres of C+ sedge meadow also occurs within the nature preserve. Somme Prairie Nature Preserve has responded well to the cooperative efforts to restore the prairie. A rich assemblage of prairie plants has survived on the site, including conservative species such as leadplant (Amorpha canescens), cream false indigo (Baptisia leucophaea), prairie brome (Bromus kalmii), prairie gentian (Gentiana puberulenta), hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens), and prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa). These conservative plants have expanded with on-going restoration efforts. The area was historically grazed, hayed, and farmed particularly in the drier areas.
Ownership
Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Dedicated
August 2021
Size
85 acres
Topographic Quad
Highland Park
For Further Information
Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Conservation Department
536 North Harlem Ave
River Forest, IL 60525
708-771-1330