Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
7
County
St. Clair
Location
The site is in south-central St. Clair County along the Kaskaskia River within the Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area. The nearest town is New Athens which is approximately 2 miles east.
Description
New Athens Woods Land and Water Reserve contains Grade A, B and C floodplain forest, Grade C perennial stream, back water sloughs with open marsh, and a one-acre marsh recognized by the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (New Athens Woods INAI #0833). The floodplain forests are characterized by silver maple, pecan, shellbark hickory, sugary berry, swamp white oak, bur oak, and pin oak. Many of these trees, particularly the oaks, exceed 30 inches in diameter. The perennial stream is the natural channel of the Kaskaskia River. Although disturbed it is characteristic of the river conditions prior to channelization. A large black slough contains buttonbush, willow, cottonwood, silver maple, and dogwood along the perimeter that provide nesting habitat for waterfowl and migratory songbirds. The small marsh is characterized by muck soils that remain saturated throughout the year. Common plants include cattails, bur reed, sedges, buttonbush, button weed, lizard’s tail, and rice cut grass.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Natural Division
Effingham Plain Section of the Southern Till Plain Natural Division (#9a)
Registered
February 2004
Size
267 acres
Access
Visitor access is limited.
Topographic Quad
New Athens West
For Further Information
Visit the State Fish and Wildlife Area Website or Contact the INPC
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov