Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
9
County
Johnson
Location
The northern boundary of the site runs along the Johnson/Williamson County line, 0.5 miles northeast of the town of New Burnside, and 0.6 miles northeast of the junction of U.S. 45 and State Route 166 at the north boundary of the Greater Shawnee Hills Section of the Shawnee Hills Natural Division.
Description
Wise Ridge Land and Water Reserve is a forested upland which contains Grade B dry and dry mesic upland forests identified by the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI #0060). The dry forest has an overstory dominated by post oak, blackjack oak, and black hickory, with an understory dominated by herbaceous plants such as dittany, hoary puccoon, and asters. Most of the site consists of dry-mesic upland forest, which was impacted by previous timber harvests, but many pockets remain uncut. Oaks dominate the site, and herbaceous plants such as American columbo, black snakeroot, and rue anemone are common in the understory. The remainder of the site is composed of Grade C and D mesic/wet-mesic forest found along the boundaries and pine plantation.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Natural Division
Greater Shawnee Hills Section of the Shawnee Hills Natural Division (#13a)
Registered
May 2012
Size
388 acres
Access
The site is open to the public. The Tunnel Hill State Trail, an Illinois Department of Natural Resources recreation site, lies along portions of the south and east boundary, providing access to the reserve. There is no vehicular access, but benches and bike parking are found at the base of the main trailhead.
Topographic Quad
Stonefort & Creal Springs
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov