Pecatonica Ridge Preserve

Pecatonica Ridge Preserve is a 160-acre preserve comprised of two units: the 80-acre former Blackhawk Kennel unit and the 80-acre Pecatonica Ridge Prairie.  Together the two units create a larger grassland preserve that protects critical habitat for grassland birds.

Pecatonica Ridge Prairie

Looking north from Pecatonica Ridge Prairie. Photo: Jill Kennay

The Natural Land Institute purchased the 80-acre Pecatonica Ridge Prairie Preserve at auction in June 2005. The preserve includes an eight-acre gem of original native prairie at the south end with species that include pasque flower, pale purple coneflower, rosinweed, porcupine grass and prairie dropseed. Plants such as Joe pye weed and tussock sedge grow in the 40 acres of wetland at the north end of the preserve.

Approximately 32 acres between the prairie and wetland were planted in corn and soybeans for many years. In 2005, NLI volunteers and staff began collecting native prairie seed to restore vegetation to the area. In April 2006, kids and volunteers restored two acres adjacent to the original prairie remnant by broadcasting a mix of the seed. Seed collecting and planting by volunteers continued until the restoration was completed in the spring of 2009.

Native prairies are rare in Illinois. Pecatonica Ridge Prairie is one of about 250 fragments scattered throughout the state. Each is a natural treasure.

Open to the public with access through a private drive. Please be respectful to the adjacent homeowner as you drive through the lane at the corner of Berglund and N. Conger Roads, Pecatonica, Illinois.  See the map below for more images about where to enter the preserve.

Blackhawk Kennel

View across the slough on the Blackhawk Kennel unit looking south. The Pecatonica Ridge Prairie unit is to the left. Photo: Alan Branhagen

The Natural Land Institute purchased the 80-acre former Blackhawk Kennel in December of 2024. This unit preserves almost 50-acres of wetland that is the core of a historic prairie slough delineated on the 1843 original land survey of Pecatonica Township. The plan is to restore the slough, which was largely comprised of fen (groundwater fed wetlands with peaty soils), and wet prairie. Today the wetland is dominated by aggressive reed canary grass but there are remnant wetland plants throughout.  Doty Creek flows through the wetland and was largely deepened to improve drainage of the land for agricultural use.  Plans will be to remove any tiling and try to reconnect the creek with the wetland, possibly by creation of beaver analogs which help raise the water level.  The southwestern and northeastern corners of the unit are upland grasslands, formerly pasture and comprised of cool season grasses and invading brush. The long-term plan is to restore the uplands to tallgrass prairie.

This unit is not currently open to the public but members may ask permission to visit via an access easement lane off the east dead end of Doty Road.

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