Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
2
County
Cook
Location
The reserve is located on the west side of the Arthur L. Janura complex, nestled between the townships of South Barrington, Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, and Elgin. It is roughly bounded by Golf Road on the south, IL-Route 49 on the east, the Canadian National Railroad on the west, and the paved bike trail north of Shoe Factory Road on the north. The site surrounds the smaller Shoe Factory Road Nature Preserve on all sides except its northern border, which is formed by Shoe Factory Road.
Description
Poplar Creek Land and Water Reserve is composed of restored dry-gravel hill prairie, dry-mesic prairie, savanna, mesic woodland, and remnant streamside fen communities. Additionally, there is a degraded floodplain surrounding Poplar Creek and a constructed lake, colloquially known as Lake Leaky, as well as several cultural communities. The restored dry grave hill prairie surrounds and provides a buffer to the remnant prairie within Shoe Factory Road Nature Preserve. The large dry-mesic to mesic prairie reconstruction provides additional buffer to the remnant, as well as habitat for several grassland species that are sensitive to habitat fragmentation. The reserve also supports state-endangered and state-threatened species and 23 other wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need as identified by the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan.
Ownership
Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Natural Division
Morainal Section of the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division (#3a)
Registered
February 2023
Size
572 acres
Access
The site is open to the public. A parking lot and picnic grove provide access to the site.
Topographic Quad
Streamwood
For Further Information
Visit the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Website or Contact the INPC
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov