Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
10
County
Lee
Location
The reserve is three miles northwest of the town of Franklin Grove and encompasses parts of the watershed of Franklin Creek and Clear Creek. The site is within Lee and Ogle Counties. It is located within a resource rich area of Illinois, near many other legally protected conservation lands. The closest protected sites are the adjacent Nachusa Grasslands Nature Preserve and Sand Farm Land and Water Reserve.
Description
Nachusa Grasslands Land and Water Reserve protects a portion of the largest high-quality natural area in the state. Together, this macro-preserve of protected land contains eleven relict natural community types. The Nachusa Grasslands Land and Water Reserve contains portions of the Nachusa Grasslands Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site, including six relict natural community types (dry gravel prairie, dry-mesic gravel prairie, dry-mesic dolomite prairie, dry-mesic savanna, sedge meadow, and low-gradient stream) and extensive, high-quality re-created prairies. Prairie recreations represent the largest area of the reserve and serves as the matrix that connects all the restored natural communities found on-site. These lands and diverse habitats supports numerous state-listed (and some federally listed) plants and animals. Native plant diversity is extremely high with over 703 native plant species. Animal diversity continues to increase as the site expands with restoration and prairie re-creations. Nachusa Grasslands is an experimental site dedicated to furthering the science of restoring functional and sustainable midwestern prairie ecosystems.
Ownership
The Nature Conservancy
Natural Division
Oregon Section of the Rock River Hill Country Natural Division (#2b)
Registered
December 2022
Size
1,704 acres
Access
Public access is encouraged in certain areas. Trailheads are established throughout the site; however, hikers are not allowed in the units occupied by bison. At the visitor center, there is a pavilion with interpretive panels, trails, ADA parking, and toilets.
Topographic Quad
Daysville, Grand Detour, & Franklin Grove
For Further Information
Visit The Nature Conservancy Website or Contact the INPC
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686