Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
5
County
Woodford
Location
The site is in southern Woodford County, 13 miles northwest of Bloomington-Normal. Four sections are bounded by the Mackinaw River; the boundary at these locations extends to the middle of the river. The other sections are bounded by nearby protected natural areas along the Mackinaw River including Chinquapin Bluffs Land and Water Reserve and Ridgetop Hill Prairie Nature Preserve.
Description
Letcher Basin Land and Water Reserve encompasses 1.5 miles of the Mackinaw River containing a portion of the Mackinaw River Illinois Natural Area Inventory (INAI #0788) site. the Mackinaw River is a high quality medium gradient stream that contains habitat and occurrences for endangered and threatened species. The reserve covers a gradient of communities as it rises from the river to uplands. The Grade B stream is lined by Grade C wet-mesic floodplain forest and some Grade C dry-mesic upland forest. There is also a low-lying oxbow with Grade C wet floodplain forest. The largest community type is Grade D mesic prairie restoration planted on former agriculture fields. There are 11 Species in Greatest Need of Conservation which have been identified on site, including 5 mussel species, 4 bird species, 1 fish species, and 1 amphibian species.
Ownership
ParkLands Foundation
Natural Division
Grand Prairie Section of the Grand Prairie Natural Division (#4a)
Registered
June 2014
Size
172 acres
Access
The site is open to the public. Access to the property is from the north on County Road 1975E/Denman Road, where there is a small, informal parking area for visitors.
Topographic Quad
Secor
For Further Information
Visit the ParkLands Foundation Website or Contact the INPC
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov