The Skokie River valley is a remnant of the Ice-Age ‘Lake Chicago’, a thirty mile marsh known for waterfowl and rare wetland plants which once extended from Waukegan to Chicago. In recent times, our Skokie River Prairie was drained and severely overtaken by buckthorn and other non-native species. Much has been done since 1995 to liberate the native species from suppression, and the results show dramatically as the native prairie plants spring back from long dormant seeds to retake their places in the sun. The Skokie River Prairie connects with miles of Lake County Forest Preserve and Lake Forest Open Lands trails, making it a great place for hiking, and cross country skiing.
Recently designated an Illinois Registered
Land and Water Reserve
A joint program of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and The Illinois Department of Natural Resources
What is the Register of Land and Water Reserves?
The Register of Land and Water Reserves is a voluntary land and water protection program that provides protection and management for lands and waters supporting significant natural heritage or archaeological resources. Registered Reserves may be in public or private ownership. The agreement to register an area as a Registered Reserve is similar to a conservation easement and is between the landowner and the Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission jointly. The agreement may be for a term of years or permanent. The landowner continues to own the registered property, except certain rights as specified in the registration agreement are given up. The property can be sold or passed on to heirs subject to the agreement.
Lands and waters eligible for registration include the following:
- Lands and waters included on the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory.
- Habitats of State listed threatened species of animals or plants.
- Forests at least 100 acres in size that support breeding populations of area sensitive forest wildlife species.
- Grasslands at least 80 acres in size that support breeding populations of area sensitive grassland wildlife
- species.
- Wetlands at least 50 acres in size or an area that includes several wetlands totaling 50 acres in size.
- Degraded but restorable prairies at least 20 acres in size.
