Shawnee Forest – Heron Pond in the Cache River Natural Area, southern Illinois

This trip will take us into southern Illinois where we will explore a variety of forest habitats.  On first stop will be the LaRue-Pine Hills Ecological Area located within the Shawnee National Forest.  This areas contains an interesting mix of habitats, including steep bluffs, mesic and dry forests, hilltop prairies, bottomland swamp forests, and open ponds. Perhaps the most spectacular feature of this area is the limestone cliffs that rise nearly straight up (120 m) from the bottomland swamp forests that border the Mississippi River. These cliffs provide overwintering sites for the region's poisonous snake fauna, including the cottonmouth and timber rattlesnake.  On Sunday, we will head east towards the magnificent bottomland and cypress swamp forests within the Cache River State Natural Area.  Some of the bald cypress trees within this old-growth forest are estimated to be greater than 1000 years of age!
 
 

Introduction

Schedule

Relevant References (see reprints in Biology office for copies of some selected references)

Cypress swamp forest reference list
Shawnee Forest reference list

Heron Pond Interpretative Trail Guide (available to copy in Shawnee folder in Biology office)

Cache River State Natural Area Brochure (available to copy in Shawnee folder in Biology office; see link below)

Distribution of Vegetation in Illinois in 1820 (white paper available to copy in Shawnee folder in Biology office)

Common Plants (list available for download here; diagrams available for copy in Biology office)

Maps:

Cache River State Natural Area
Cache River Landcover Map
Shawnee National Forest: shows location of Larue Pine Hills Ecological Area

Links:

Heron Pond & Cache River State Natural Area
Natural Resources of the Cache River Area
Shawnee National Forest

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