Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
8
County
Marion
Location
The site is in northeastern Marion County about 1.8 miles southwest of the Village of Farina along Illinois Route 37. It is separated into two tracts by Illinois Route 37 and a Canadian National rail line. It is in proximity to other sites in the Prairie Ridge Natural Area including Marion County Prairie Chicken Sanctuary Nature Preserve, Prairie Ridge - Marion County Land and Water Reserve, Prairie Ridge State Natural Area - Marion County Land and Water Reserve, and the Karl Bartel Wildlife Sanctuary Land and Water Reserve.
Description
Loy Prairie Land and Water Reserve makes up a portion of the Prairie Ridge State Natural Area (PRSNA), which is a unique site in Illinois dedicated to conserving the rarest members of Illinois’ native tallgrass prairie and marsh communities in Jasper and Marion Counties. The PRSNA has a rich diversity of plant and animal species occurring within its grassland/wetland habitat complex, including Illinois’ largest greater prairie chicken population. The reserve is an important site on the Prairie Ridge – Marion County Illinois Natural Area Inventory (INAI #074) site that provides habitat for grassland dependent species. The managed grasslands consist of non-native cool-season grasses and native warm-season grasses. Dominant grasses in the warm-season grasslands include little bluestem, side oats grama, wild rye, big bluestem, and Indian grass. Loy Prairie also contains Grade D mesic floodplain forest and Grade D dry-mesic upland forest. The dry-mesic upland forest is dominated by wild black cherry with red elm and sassafras less commonly dispersed. The mesic floodplain forest canopy consists of pin oak, ash, and silver maple. Shallow ponds and vernal ponds are found throughout the site providing breeding habitat for amphibians. A variety of wildlife, including upland game, furbearers, migratory birds, and waterfowl are found on the reserve. Over 100 bird species, including 15 listed as Species in Greatest Need of Conservation by the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, have been observed.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Natural Division
Effingham Plain Section of the Southern Till Plain Natural Division (#9a)
Registered
February 2013
Size
216 acres
Access
The tract off IL Route 37 is open to the public. Allowable uses include hiking, bird watching, and nature observation. It is accessible via a gravel lane for foot traffic only. A parking area is found between IL Route 37 and the gate which facilitates access.
Topographic Quad
Kinmundy
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov