Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
1
County
Jo Daviess
Location
The site is in south-central Jo Daviess County, northeast of South Airhart Road, and just north of the Carroll County line. It is situated on the westernmost tip of a long ridge that runs along the east side of the Rush Creek valley.
Description
Rall Woods Land and Water Reserve consists of loess hill prairie, dry-mesic barrens, dry-mesic and mesic woodland, dry-mesic and mesic upland forest, mesic floodplain forest, seeps, and springs. The prairie remnants are distributed along five small hill prairies located on ridge tops of southwest facing bluffs in varying quality. Dominant species within the least disturbed hill prairies include little bluestem, purple prairie clover, goat’s rue, Indian grass, big bluestem, and Scribner’s panic grass. Approximately 0.7 acres are Grade C, “best of its kind” loess hill prairie identified by the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (Falling Down Prairie INAI #1683). Barrens are dominated by bur oak, shagbark hickory, and eastern redcedar. Woodlands feature scattered white oak groves interspersed with bur oak, red oak, black walnut, hop hornbeam, and hackberry. Upland forests are dominated by red oak, bitternut, basswood, black walnut, and eastern cottonwood. Floodplain forests along spring runs are dominated by red oak, slippery elm, and bitternut. The site also provides habitat for several Species in Greatest Conservation Need as identified by the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, and 44 species of birds that use the site during breeding season including a variety of forest sensitive birds.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Natural Division
Wisconsin Driftless Natural Division (#1)
Registered
May 2009
Size
283 acres
Access
The site is open to the public and can be accessed via one of two gravel parking lots off South Airhart Road, one at the north border and one near the south border of the property.
Topographic Quad
Blackhawk
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov