On your visit to Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve you can connect with nature. Relax on a creek-side bench, explore a variety of natural habitats, or join us in restoration activities. Hike around, watch for birds, listen for frogs, take pictures, and just relax. Although relatively small in size, the Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve contains an impressive variety of geologic and hydrologic features and their associated plant communities.
Situated over a small series of geologic faults, the Preserve features outcroppings of both St. Peter sandstone and Ordovician-age dolomite. These geological differences result in the presence of both acid- and alkaline-wetlands – adding greatly to the area’s biodiversity. Additional wetland features include sedge meadows, a small brook, and a portion of the Preserve's namesake, Elkhorn Creek.
Several remnant hillside prairies can be found at the Preserve, with Little Bluestem the dominant grass. Various forbs (prairie wildflowers) are present as well. The woodland component of the preserve includes oak savannah areas as well as a bit of floodplain forest.
How to find us:
The Preserve is located about three miles southwest of Forreston, Illinois, in northwestern Ogle County. It is at the intersection of West Grove and Freeport Roads on the southeast corner. The parking area is accessed from West Grove Road.
http://www.nwilaudubon.org/elkhorn-creek.asp
