Agencies
Services
Nature Preserve Area
8
County
Marion
Location And Access
From Helm, follow Rt. 30 south for 1.5 miles to where the highway turns west. Continue south on an unimproved road for 0.25 mile. This preserve is located along the bluff line of the Skillet Fork in southeastern Marion County.
Description
This preserve contains shrub swamp and pond communities representative of the Mt Vernon Hill Country of Southern Illinois. This spring-fed wetland, located at the base of a hill, is characterized by well defined plant communities. Within the shrub swamp the most abundant plants are buttonbush, black willow and water pepper, an herbaceous plant. The most common plants in the pond community are yellow pond lily, duckweed and dock. Colonies of sensitive fem are present throughout the entire marsh.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Dedicated
April 1990
Size
35.7 acres
Topographic Quad
Shields
Topo Map
For Further Information
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Biologist, Prairie Ridge State Natural Area, 4295 North 1000th Street, Newton, IL 62448, (618/782/2685)