Agencies
Services
Nature Preserve Area
2
County
Lake
Location And Access
From Riverwoods at jct. Hwy. 21 (45) and Deerfield Road, take Deerfield Road east 2 mi. to Riverwoods Road, then north and northwest 1.8 mi. to Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area. The nature preserve is in the conservation area.
Description
Edward L. Ryerson preserve contains four distinct forest communities that are representative of the Morainal Section of the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. The wet floodplain forest is located along the Des Plaines River. Silver maple and bur oak are characteristic species. The mesic sugar maple forest is on the better-drained terrace soil. The drier uplands are dominated by oaks and hickories with younger sugar maples common in the understory. Finally, a wet flatwood is located on a poorly drained upland area. Many showy marsh and meadow plant species occur here: gentian, great blue lobelia, and cardinal flower. The area also provides valuable wetland habitat for several species of bird, waterfowl, and other wildlife.
Ownership
Lake County Forest Preserve District and Edna Herrmann
Dedicated
April 1972
Size
288.23 acres with buffer
Topographic Quad
Wheeling
Topo Map
For Further Information
Contact: Lake County Forest Preserve District, 2000 North Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville, IL 60048; Site Superintendent, Ryerson Conservation Area, Deerfield, IL 60015 (708/948-7750)
03/10 R. Heidorn
