Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
10
County
Bureau
Location
The reserve is about two miles west of the Hennepin Feeder Canal (Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park), about five miles north of Interstate 80, and about five miles north-northeast of the small town of Mineral.
Description
McCune Sand Prairie Land and Water Reserve was established primarily to protect and restore sand prairie and sand forest communities that provide habitat for threatened and endangered species. Grade C sand prairie and Grade D sand prairie (dry and dry-mesic) occur over much of the site in a complex mosaic with Grade D dry-mesic sand forest. Characteristic plants of the sand prairies include sand lovegrass, little bluestem, big bluestem, prickly pear cactus, and fragrant sumac. Black oaks are characteristic of the sand forest and are present in a variety of age classes, including large individuals. Bur oak and white oak are also present in the sand forests, and eastern red cedar is a common species throughout the site. Six reptile species have been identified on the site, including two Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
Ownership
Bureau County Soil and Water Conservation District
Natural Division
Green River Lowland Section of the Grand Prairie Natural Division (#4d)
Registered
November 2008
Size
200 acres
Access
The site is open to the public. It is accessible from Country Road 150E at two small gravel-bottomed parking lots – a north and south parking lot. There are currently two established trails that connect the two parking lots.
Topographic Quad
Mineral
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov
