In the six miles from the Indiana border to Momence lie 1,800 acres of one of the largest wetland areas in Illinois, the Momence Wetlands. These are remnant of a vast 400,000-acre wetland that stretched from Momence to South Bend, Indiana. Presidents Grover Cleveland and Theodore Roosevelt, as well as European nobility, hunted in the marsh before it was drained in 1917. West of Momence, the Kankakee River is a scenic, recreational resource flowing on or near bedrock with numerous riffles, pools, and islands for much of its length.

SIZE: 231,005 acres; 361 square miles

LOCATION: Northern part of east-central Illinois near the Indiana border; Iroquois, Kankakee, and Will counties

The Kankakee River RRA is relatively flat with low sandy ridges. Before the land was drained and cultivated, sand prairie and marsh were common; the area is now largely agricultural. Aquatic systems and savannas are important remaining natural resources of the area. The Kankakee River forms the core of the RRA and is unusual in Illinois because it is on or near bedrock.

One of the principal sand areas in Illinois is found in Kankakee and Iroquois counties. The area is the ancient bed of a large glacial lake. Dunes (some reaching almost 700 feet in height) and swales characterize the area. Sand savanna, sand prairie, and pin oak fkatwoods are some of the interesting communities found here. The sandy bottom streams support fish species, such as the ironcolor shiner and weed shiner, that are rare in Illinois. The Kankakee River has one of the most diverse and abundant mussel populations in the state.

LANDCOVER : Cropland covers 65% of this RRA, followed by grassland (19%) and urban/built-up (7%). The Kankakee-Iroquois RRA ranks low among the RRAs in percentage of upland and bottomland woods. Nonforested wetland acreage is moderate.

NATURAL AREAS : There are 17 Natural Areas in this RRA. Several are associated with the Kankakee River and account for the largest acreage. Many savannas occur in this RRA.

BIOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT STREAMS : This site ranks fifth in terms of total BSS stream mileage with 63 miles. Approximately half the mileage is the Kankakee River.

HERITAGE SITES Several significant community types are included in the 67 Heritage points located in this RRA. Fourteen significant community types, 17 plant species, and nine animal species are located here.

STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS : Kankakee River State Park and the Iroquois County Conservation Area are the state owned land in the RRA. There is no federal land in this site.

NATURE PRESERVES : Three Nature Preserves are located in this site. Large sand savanna with dune and swale topography, and upland and bottomland forest are significant natural features in the preserves.

NATURAL DIVISIONS : This site lies entirely within the Grand Prairie Natural Division.