Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area
Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area | |
---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
Location | Kendall County, Illinois, USA |
Nearest city | Yorkville, Illinois, Plano, Illinois, Millbrook, Illinois |
Coordinates | 41°37′39″N 88°31′21″W / 41.62750°N 88.52250°W |
Area | 1,350 acres (550 ha) |
Established | 1969 |
Governing body | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area is an
Location
The Park is divided by the Fox River, with the northern area situated next to the
History
There is evidence that the Fox River valley near Silver Springs was populated by indigenous people near the end of the last ice age, 10–14,000 years ago.[1] The original 1,250 acres (510 ha) tract of land that became Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area was purchased by the state of Illinois in 1969, and has been open since January of that year.[2][3] The park is located in Kendall County, Illinois, five miles (8.0 km) west of the city of Yorkville. Since the original acquisition in 1969, 100 acres (40 ha) have been added to the park[2]
Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area was one of five new state parks opened in northern Illinois from 1969–1971. As part of more than 20,000 acres (8,100 ha) added to the
The park had nine extant
A
Bodies of water
Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area covers 1,350 acres (550 ha) and includes four distinct bodies of water, two
The park's name comes from a
Wildlife
Plant species native to Illinois prairies prior to European settlement are found within the park's 45-acre (18 ha) prairie restoration. While the plant life varies by season, species observed in the park include:
The Fox River at Silver Springs has numerous species of freshwater fish including,
Besides its prairie restorations and bodies of water, Silver Springs has areas of
Activities
When in season, hunting and fishing are two of the park's primary activities; during the fall and winter over 1,300 acres (530 ha) are opened to the public for hunting.
Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area has trails for
Notes
- ^ a b c d "Region Two Ecosystem Program: Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area," Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Conservation 2000. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area," Illinois Department of Natural Resources, official site. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
- ^ a b Bukro, Casey. "New State Park openings", (ProQuest), Chicago Tribune, 27 June 1971. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
- ^ Woller, Dorothy M. and Gibb, James P. "Public Groundwater Supplies in Kendall County," (PDF), Illinois Department of Registration and Education, 1974, p. 15. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g Baratta, Divina. "Silver Springs State Fish & Wildlife Area Archived 2007-10-21 at the Wayback Machine", Chicago Wilderness Magazine, Winter 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
- ^ "Map of Loon Lake, via Chicago Paddling and Fishing Guide, original map: Hydrologic Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, February 7, 1996. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
- ^ "Lower Fox River Watershed," Watersheds of Illinois — 1996, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, 1996. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
- ^ "Map of Beaver Lake, via Chicago Paddling and Fishing Guide, original map: Hydrologic Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, February 7, 1996. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Thomas, Gary. "Get away for a day: Silver Springs is the perfect place to connect with nature Archived 2006-09-07 at the Wayback Machine," Outdoor Illinois, September 2002, via Illinois Periodicals Online, Northern Illinois University. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
- ^ "Illinois will celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Days Sept. 22-23 Festivals planned for Silver Springs SFWA, John A. Logan College," (Press release), Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 17 September 2007.