State park in Illinois, USA
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
.
Natural features
[
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]
In 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
[
edit
]
Native 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
[
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]
Canada 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
[
edit
]
Four 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
.