Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
6
County
Coles
Location
The site is on the east side of the Embarras River and adjacent to the south of County Rd. 720 N., about 3.5 miles east of the city of Charleston in Coles County. The west boundary meets the boundary of the Embarras River. There are many protected natural areas in proximity.
Description
Warbler Bluff Land and Water Reserve protects a biologically diverse segment of the Embarras River, which is habitat for several state-threatened or endangered species. It protects and buffers approximately 0.3 miles of the Embarras River and associated upland forest habitat. The Embarras River is recognized as a high-quality stream by the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, providing habitat for several threatened or endangered species of fish, reptile, and mussels. Natural communities at Warbler Bluff include Grace C dry-mesic upland forest, Grade C mesic upland forest, and Grade C mesic floodplain forest. Dry-mesic upland forest occurs along the tops of the ridges at the highest points of the reserve. Characteristic plants are white oak, red oak, black oak, shagbark hickory, and flowering dogwood. Mesic upland forest occurs along ravine slopes and is the dominant natural community. Characteristic plants are sugar maple, red oak, pawpaw, and Ohio buckeye. Mesic Floodplain Forest occurs along an intermittent unnamed creek. Characteristic plants are Ulmus sp., silver maple, hackberry, and bur oak.
Ownership
Grand Prairie Friends
Natural Division
Grand Prairie Section of the Grand Prairie Natural Division (#4a)
Registered
May 2022
Size
42 acres
Access
The site is open to the public. There are trails throughout the site and a parking lot to accommodate visitors.
Topographic Quad
Westfield West
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov