PRATT’S WAYNE WOODS FOREST PRESERVE

Location:

Wayne Twp. T40N R09E, Sec 06, 07, 08, 09, 17, 20 and 29

Size: 3428 acres

Natural Resources

Communities:

Flow-through and basin marsh (A,B,C)

Cultural - croplands (D)

Cultural - Unassociated growth - Grasses (C,D)

Wet floodplain forest (C)

Panne (C)

Loamy, mesic prairie (B,C)

Loamy, dry-mesic savanna (C)

Cultural - Unassociated growth - trees (D)

Loamy shrublands - wet mesic (A)

Sedge meadow (A,B)

Pond (C)

Low gradient creek (Brewster Creek - IBI range 32-40 mean 36, 14 fish species); ( Norton Creek - IBI range 32-40 mean 36, 10 fish species)

Rare Plants:

Carex cryptolepis/Small yellow sedge (E)

Carex viridula/Green yellow sedge (E)

Carex crawei/Early fen sedge (T)

Veronica scutellata/Marsh speedwell (T)

Rare Animals:

Ammodrammus henslowii/Henslow’s Sparrow (E) - breeding

Asio flammeus/Short-Eared Owl (E) - non-breeding

Chlidonias niger/Black Tern (E) - breeding

Grus canadensis/Sandhill Crane (E) - breeding

Ixobrychus exilis/Least Bittern (E) - non-breeding

Nycticorax nycticorax/Black-Crowned Night Heron (E) - breeding

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus/Yellow-Headed Blackbird (E) - breeding

Casmerodius albus/Great Egret (T) - non-breeding

Gallinula chloropus/Common Moorhen (T) - breeding

Phalacrocorax auritus/Double-Crested Cormorant (T) - non-breeding

Podilymbus podiceps/Pied-Billed Grebe (T) - breeding

Dolichonyx oryzivorus/Bobolink (W- Sc) - breeding

Porzana carolina/Sora (W-Su) - non-breeding

Rallus limicola/Virginia Rail (W-Su) - breeding

Emydoidea blandingii/Blanding’s turtle (T, Fed-SC)

• The streams, ponds, wetlands and grassland fields of this area form a very large complex of natural areas and habitat for a wide range of species, both plants and animals
• The large cool season grass fields (fescue, brome, etc.) are an important feature for the preservation of grassland birds in this area
• Fields of warm season grasses (big bluestem, indian grass, switchgrass, etc.) are also included in this grassland complex
  

• Recognized as an Illinois Natural Area (INAI #1401) for its endangered and threatened species of both plants and animals
• Owned by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

• Invasion by trees and shrubs
• Reed canary grass
• Beaver floodine
• Equestrian use
• Water quality
• Fluctuating water levels
• Possible division and fragmentation of preserve by proposed road project