Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
3
County
Cook
Location
The site is located at the very southern end of Cook County, just west of I-57. It is within the north half of Section 29 of Rich Township on the southwest side of the Village of Matteson.
Description
The Butterfield Creek Headwaters is made up of glacial till which varies in topographic relief. The uplands areas are comprised of silt loam with pebbles and cobble scattered together. The soils of the lower depressional areas are comprised of silty clay loam. The natural communities on the reserve include agricultural fields planted to prairie, open water, and remnant wetlands. Small pockets of wetland found in saturated areas or adjacent to the open water host species like prairie cord grass, blue joint grass, and various sedge species. These open water and wetland remnants also provide important migratory stop-over area for wetland bird species. The site additionally acts as a buffer for the high-quality black soil remnants of the Old Plank Road Prairie Nature Preserve found along the northern end of the reserve.
Ownership
Village of Matteson
Natural Division
Morainal Section of the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division (#3a)
Registered
March 2005
Size
84 acres
Access
The site is open to the public; however, no user amenities exist.
Topographic Quad
Frankfort
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov