Pistakee Bog Nature Preserve

Lake and McHenry Counties

Location and Access:

From Volo at jct. Hwys. 12 (59) & 120, take Hwy. 12 north 1.2 mile to Sullivan Lake Road, then turn and go west 1.4 mile to Brandenburg Road, then turn and go north and east 0.3 mile to the entrance to Volo Bog State Natural Area. There is a parking lot at the entrance. Pistakee Bog Nature Preserve is 0.5 mile northwest of the parking lot.

Description:

This large site contains a diversity of plant communities, including forested bog, sedge meadow, marsh, calcareous floating mat and pond communities. Several orchids grow here. Populations of glossy buckthorn and purple loosestrife threaten to destroy this unique natural area. Traditional chemical and mechanical methods to eliminate the purple loosestrife from the preserve have not been successful to date. Biocontrol insects have been recently released at this site to try and control this exotic.

Ownership: Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Dedicated: August 1975

Size: 228 acres nature preserve, 30 acres buffer

Topo Map: Wauconda 7.5

For Further Information Contact: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Biologist, Chain O'Lakes State Park, 8916 Wilmot Road, Spring Grove, IL 60081 (815/675-2386 ext 317) or Site Superintendent, Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside, IL 60041 (815/344-1312)

1/2009 - R. Heidorn