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Fifteen miles of the Kishwaukee River is identified in the Biologically Significant Illinois Streams Inventory. The clear water of this medium-sized stream with its gravel, sand, and cobble substrate supports a diverse mussel fauna. |
Size: 64,386 acres; 101 square miles
Location: North-central Illinois; McHenry and Boone Counties
The natural resources of the Kishwaukee River RRA are concentrated along the wooded corridor of the river. Originally savanna with many sloughs and marshes, the area is now primarily agricultural. This RRA drains to the Rock River. The Chain O' Lakes-Fox River RRA, which adjoins the Kishwaukee River RRA on the east, drains to the Fox River and ultimately the Illinois River.
LANDCOVER : This site is approximately half cropland and one-fourth
grassland. Forest cover accounts for 11% of the area and is concentrated
along the river. The Kishwaukee River RRA ranks fourth in percentage of
nonforested wetlands.
NATURAL AREAS : There are three Natural Areas in this RRA.
BIOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT STREAMS :Fifteen miles of the Kishwaukee River are designated as high quality by BSS standards.
HERITAGE SITES :The eight Heritage points in this RRA include two significant community types, two plant species, and four animal species.
STATE AND FEDERAL LAND : There is no state or federal land in this RRA.
NATURE PRESERVES : There are no Nature Preserves in this RRA.
NATURAL DIVISIONS : This site lies entirely within the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division.
SUMMARY OF SITE CHARACTERISTICS: SIZE, BIOLOGIC RESOURCES, AND PUBLIC LANDS
| Total Acreage | 64,386 |
| Natural Areas | |
|
Acreage |
362 |
|
Number |
3 |
| Biologically Significant Stream Mileage | 15.0 |
|
Natural Heritage Sites |
8 |
| State Land | |
|
State Parks |
0 |
|
State Conservation Areas |
0 |
|
State Forests |
0 |
|
State Fish & Wildlife Areas |
0 |
|
Acreage |
0 |
|
Percentage of RRA |
0.0 |
| Federal Land | |
|
Acreage |
0 |
|
Percentage of RRA |
0.0 |
| LANDCOVER |
Acres |
% of RRA |
| Upland forest |
5,264.98 |
8.18 |
| Bottomland forest | 1,567.73 | 2.44 |
| Wetland-nonforested | 2,456.07 | 3.81 |
| Grassland | 16,722.80 | 25.97 |
| Cropland | 33,178.06 | 51.53 |
| Urban/Built-up | 4,935.01 | 7.67 |
| Water | 258.51 | 0.40 |
| Total | 64,383.16 | 100.00 |
| ILLINOIS NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY SITES |
Acres |
| Hum Railroad Prairie West | 137 |
| Kishwaukee River | 224 |
| Pleasant Valley | * |
| * = point location, map not available |
| BIOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT STREAMS |
Miles |
| Kishwaukee River | 15.0 |
| Rush Creek | 0.0 |
| NATURAL HERITAGE CATEGORIES | ||
| Communities | Occurrences |
Types/Species |
|
Prairie |
2 | 2 |
| Threatened and Endangered Animals | ||
|
Bird |
2 | 2 |
|
Fish |
1 | 1 |
|
Mammal |
1 | 1 |
| Threatened and Endangered Plants | ||
|
Plant-Dicot |
2 | 2 |
| Geological Feature | ||
| Other |
| STATE AND FEDERAL LAND |
Acres |
|
| State Parks | 0 | |
| State Conservation Areas | 0 | |
| State Forests | 0 | |
| State Fish and Wildlife Areas | 0 | |
| Federal Land | 0 |
| ILLINOIS NATURE PRESERVES |
| None |
| NATURAL DIVISIONS |
Acres in RRA |
% of RRA |
% of Division |
| Northeastern Morainal | 64,387 | 100.0 | 2.6 |