Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is an Illinois state park on 10,200 acres (4,128 ha) in Alexander County, Illinois, United States.
| Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
  Map of the U.S. state of Illinois showing the location of Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area  Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (the United States) | |
| Location | Alexander County, Illinois, USA |
| Nearest city | Miller City, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 37°07′50″N 89°19′59″W / 37.13056°N 89.33306°W |
| Area | 10,200 acres (4,128 ha) |
| Governing body | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Natural features
editIn April 1927, the Department of Conservation purchased 49 acres for development as a Canada goose sanctuary.[1][2] Additional tracts of land were purchased to increase the size to today's 10,200 acres (4,128 ha). The topography is largely flat with shallow sloughs.[3]
The Horseshoe Lake SFWA includes Horseshoe Lake.[2]
Flora
editNative southern hardwood forests and bald cypress, tupelo gum, swamp cottonwood, elm, and tulip poplar trees can be found in the area.[1][2] Two large tracts have been dedicated as Illinois Nature Preserves and are used for scientific research and education.[1] Common aquatic plants include buttonbush, lotus, duckweed, coontail, and water primrose.[2]
Fauna
editCanada goose can be found in the fall and winter seasons. Native mammals include white-tailed deer, red fox, gray fox, muskrat, beaver, fox squirrel, and gray squirrel.[2] Reptiles include the cottonmouth snake, assorted water snakes, and various species of turtles.[2] The lake contains fish such as carp, sucker, channel catfish, black bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, crappie, bowfin, and gar.[2][4]
Recreation
editFour picnic areas with picnic tables and stoves are located around the park.[1]
There are 38 Class A camping sites, 40 Class B/E camping sites, and 10 Class C sites available.[1]
There are 4,190 acres (1,696 ha) available for hunting.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "About Horseshoe Lake Alexander County". dnr.illinois.gov. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Bogner, William C.; Fitzpatrick, William P.; Blakley, Donald S. (June 1, 1985). "SEDIMENTATION RATES IN HORSESHOE LAKE, ALEXANDER COUNTY, ILLINOIS" (PDF). Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ a b "Hunt Illinois". huntillinois.org. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ "Lake Profile -- HORSESHOE LAKE - ALEXANDER". www.ifishillinois.org. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- "Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area". Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on June 3, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- USGS. "Horseshoe Lake State Conservation Area, USGS Tamms (IL) Quad". TopoQuest. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
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