Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
5
County
Tazewell
Location
The site is located on the border of Tazewell and Peoria Counties in East Peoria. It is adjacent to the lower Peoria Lake and the Illinois River. There are many nearby protected natural areas including Fon du Lac Seep Land and Water Reserve, Fon du Lac Seep Nature Preserve, and Bennett's Terraqueous Gardens Nature Preserve.
Description
Cooper Park Wetlands Land and Water Reserve protects a portion of the Cooper Park North Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site (INAI #1139) and is included within the Peoria Wilds Resource Rich Area. The reserve contains several wetland plant community types, ranging from open marsh with emergent aquatic vegetation to floodplain forest. Even though most of these communities are in the early stages of succession, they still provide important natural habitats in an area undergoing increased urban development. Most of the site consists of young, second growth floodplain forest dominated by silver maple, green ash, and cottonwood. There is additionally shrub swamps dominated by black willow in the marsh community, and a narrow strip of lower Peoria Lake along the lake’s shoreline.
Ownership
Fon du Lac Park District
Natural Division
Grand Prairie Section of the Grand Prairie Natural Division (#4a)
Registered
December 2001
Size
55 acres
Access
The site is open to the public with trails throughout.
Topographic Quad
Peoria East
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov