Red Wing Slough/Deer Lake

Description

Red Wing Slough/Deer Lake Land and Water Reserve consists of a palustrine emergent dominated by cattail with some open water interspersion that supports an unusual concentration of wildlife. The wetland complex is important for nesting and migratory state-threatened and endangered wetland dependent avifauna and other waterfowl species. A total of seven state endangered or threatened plant and animal species have been documented at the site. Redwing Slough – Deer Lake is a tributary to the North Branch of Mill Creek, a sub-watershed of the Des Plains River. The marsh complex contains a combination of palustrine and aquatic community types. The large expanses of open water areas are dominated by submerged aquatic species such as are coontail, milfoil, pondweeds, and white-water crowfoot. In the quiet bays and edges of islands are bands of free-floating duckweeds, watermeal, and great duckweed. Floating cattail islands occur in several locations in the central portion of the marsh. Much of the perimeter of the marsh contains a floating fringe of cattail, with the outer edge (landward) of the floating mat supporting wet prairie vegetation and the interior edge of the cattail abruptly changing to submergent vegetation. Wet prairie species occur scattered throughout the mats. Commonly occurring species included jewelweed, spikerush, dock, and sedges. The border of the marsh has undergone a significant effort to recreate prairies on former farm fields to protect hydrology and establish a buffer for sensitive waterfowl breeding areas. There is a small remnant wet prairie near the northeastern edge of the marsh which is dominated by blue joint grass, tussock sedge, and joe pye weed. The upland perimeter contains many habitat types, including old field, pine plantation, shrub thickets, young woodland, mature hardwoods, and active row crop agriculture.