Agencies
Services
Nature Preserve Area
2
County
Lake
Location And Access
From Lake Villa at jct. Hwys. 83 & 132, take Hwy. 132 west 1.2 miles, then go north 0.3 mile. The nature preserve is on the west side of Cedar Lake. Special Note: No access has been developed to this preserve, however the site can be viewed by boat from Cedar Lake. Due to unstable soils, entry to this preserve is not recommended.
Description
Cedar Lake is a deep to shallow glacial lake created by the Wisconsinan ice sheet. In Illinois, glacial lakes are restricted to the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. The preserve contains a small part of the lake and adjacent marsh and bog communities. The bog community is of particular interest, having been formed by the accumulation of sphagnum moss peat in what was once the west end of Cedar Lake. It is in an early stage of bog succession as the result of fire. The more mature trees and large shrubs, such as tamarack and poison sumac have yet to be reestablished since fires occurred in the preserve in the 1960's and late 1980's. Plants typical of the graminoid (grassy) acidic bog include cranberry, sundew and pitcher plant. Marsh and lake communities are included in the preserve. These more open water communities harbor the blacknose shiner along with several other notable fish species.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Dedicated
August 1975
Size
27.5 acres with an additional 2.7 acres of buffer
Topographic Quad
Antioch
Topo Map
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686