Agencies
Services
Nature Preserve Area
5
County
Mason
Location And Access
From Kilbourne, take Highway 97 north 4 miles to a county road. Turn west on the county road and go 2 miles to another county road. Turn north on this road and go 0.5 mile. The preserve is on the west. The preserve is reached by walking west along the hedgerow 0.1 mile to the preserve.
Description
This preserve contains sand prairie typical of the Illinois River Sand Areas. Large, gently rolling dunes are covered with little bluestem, goats rue and prickly pear cactus. An inventory of plant species, completed in 1989, resulted in the discovery of the rare hairy bead grass. Lark sparrows, bluebirds, six lined racerunners, coyotes and plains pocket gophers are also present on the site. Approximately ten acres of pines were removed in 1989. Efforts are now underway to restore the former pine plantation area back to native sand prairie vegetation.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Dedicated
August 1989
Size
93 acres
Topographic Quad
Kilbourne
Topo Map
For Further Information
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, District Natural Heritage Biologist, 700 S. 10th Street, Havana, Illinois 62644 (309-543-3262).