Illinois Beach

Description

Illinois Beach, dedicated in 1964, was the first Illinois Nature Preserve. In 1980, the area was also designated as a National Natural Landmark. Illinois Beach is one of the richest, biologically most diverse areas in the state. The preserve lies within the Lake Michigan Dune Section of the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division. The interesting dune and swale topography resulted from the lowering of the water levels of ancient Lake Chicago following the last glacial period. The natural communities adapted to this unique lakefront environment include lakeshore, foredune, sand prairie, sand savanna, fen, panne, sedge meadow, marsh and pond. These natural communities support over 500 plant species and a large variety of animal species. Low sand dunes near the beach contain sandbinding grasses, bearberry and trailing juniper. The dry ridges found farther inland support sand cherry, willows, New Jersey tea, shrubby cinquefoil and large colonies of prickly pear cactus. Sand prairies are common on stabilized dunes and ridges. The typical grasses are little bluestem, switch grass, Indian grass and sand reed grass. Alkaline pannes are located in some of the swales near the lake. The common plants include sedges, Ohio goldenrod, fringed gentian, Kalm's lobelia and shrubby cinquefoil. The preserve supports many species of ducks, shorebirds, gulls, herons, rails and songbirds. The preserve is in an excellent area to see hawks, falcons and shorebirds during migration.