Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
10
County
La Salle
Location
The site is located near the towns of Lenore and Grand Ridge, northeast of the La Salle County Highway 5 and Vermilion River intersection. There are many protected INPC sites in proximity including Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve, Matthiessen Dells Nature Preserve, Starved Rock Nature Preserve, Curt & Helen Simonson Land and Water Reserve, and Pecumsaugan Creek/Blackball Mines Nature Preserve.
Description
Sandy Ford Land and Water Reserve consists of several natural communities, including two creeks, mesic floodplain forest, mesic and dry mesic upland forest, hill prairies, old field, sandstone cliffs, and a small portion of the Vermilion River. Mesic and dry mesic upland forest, usually found on the woods above the steep ravines, make up most of the reserve. The forest are dominated by black oak, red oak, white oak, hills oak, and shagbark hickory. The forest flood is covered with many sedge species including Pennsylvania sedge. Hill prairies are adjacent to the sandstone cliff overlooking the Vermilion River. Characteristic prairie plants growing on the hill prairies include big bluestem, little bluestem, purple prairie clover, lead plant, and culvers root. Relict species including Canada yew and white pine are present along the sandstone cliffs. The floodplain lining the two creeks are made up of sycamore, Ohio buckeye, and pawpaw, with Christmas fern, lady fern, and showy orchis in the understory. The Vermilion River which runs along the west boundary of the site is identified by the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI #1447) as a high-quality river and habitat for state endangered and threatened species. It is an outstanding example of the rivers and creeks of the Illinois River watershed. The site also has a rich flora and fauna that includes a diverse assemblage of spring and summer wildflowers, typical woodland wildlife, and common and uncommon interior forest birds.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Recourses
Natural Division
Grand Prairie Section of the Grand Prairie Natural Division (#4a)
Registered
August 1998
Size
200 acres
Access
The site is open to the public. Allowed activities on the trails include birdwatching and nature observation.
Topographic Quad
Leonore
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov