Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
5
County
Woodford
Location
The site is in Palestine Township and Kansas Township about 14 miles northwest of Bloomington-Normal.
Description
Chinquapin Bluffs Land and Water Reserve is included on the Mackinaw River Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Site (INAI #0788). The Mackinaw River is a high-quality medium-gradient river that hosts a usually high concentration of mussel species. The site consists of upland forest (Grade C and D dry-mesic and mesic upland forests), floodplain forest (Grade C mesic to wet mesic floodplain forests), mesic prairie, glacial drift hill prairie (Grade C), marsh, seep, and old field. Many of the natural communities are undergoing restoration to enhance the quality of the Mackinaw River by contributing to less surface runoff, which will in turn allow for decreased erosion and nutrients enrichment; and this will benefit aquatic communities, especially mussels. Chinquapin Oaks also protects 14 bird species sensitive to the effects of forest fragmentation and 18 Species in Greatest Need of Conservation (3 mussels and 15 birds) identified by the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan.
Ownership
ParkLands Foundation
Natural Division
Grand Prairie Section of the Grand Prairie Natural Division (#4a)
Registered
October 2009
Size
757 acres
Access
The site is open to the public.
Topographic Quad
El Paso & Secor
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov