| Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve | |
|---|---|
 Heron Pond | |
  Map ofIllinois | |
| Location | Johnson County,Illinois |
| Nearest city | Vienna |
| Coordinates | 37°22′01″N88°57′00″W / 37.367°N 88.950°W /37.367; -88.950 |
| Area | 1,861 acres (753 ha) |
| Designated | 1972 |
| Official name | Cache River and Cypress Creek Wetlands |
| Designated | 1 November 1994 |
| Reference no. | 711[1] |
Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve (also known simply asHeron Pond) is a parcel of protectedwetland property located inBelknap, Illinois, approximately 5 miles (8 km) southwest ofVienna, inJohnson County. It was designated aNational Natural Landmark in 1972.[2] As part of theCache River basin, it is classified as awetland of international importance under theRamsar Convention.[1]
Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve protects a swath of Cache River drainage upstream from the Post Creek Cutoff.[3] Its biology and geology are representative of the Coastal Plain natural division in Illinois,[4] which is the northernmost extent of theGulf Coastal Plain in North America. It combines upland limestone bluffs (Wildcat Bluff), Cache River floodplain, and a driermesic woodland (Boss Island).
The wetland sections of this Nature Preserve protect severalold growth stands ofbald cypress andwater tupelo, and aheronrookery. As of 2023, the Illinois state-championcherrybark oak can be viewed from the Todd Fink-Heron Pond hiking trail.[5][6]
The name of the Wildcat Bluff upland may commemorate one of the nature preserve'stop carnivores, thebobcat.River otters can also be found at Heron Pond.Birdwatchers visit Heron Pond – Little Black Slough to search for a variety ofraptors, including theblack vulture,red-shouldered hawk, and thebarred owl, and enjoy a variety of songbirds, including theKentucky warbler and theyellow-throated warbler.[2][6]
The Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve complex comprises 1,861 acres (753 hectares) of land accessible fromU.S. Highway 45. In terms of area, it is the largest natural area owned and operated by theIllinois Department of Natural Resources.[2]
A floating boardwalk that is part of the Todd Fink-Heron Pond Trail allows visitors to enter the bald cypress/water tupelo swamp.[6][7]
The name of the small nearby town ofCypress, Illinois, appears to commemorate the cypress trees of the upper Cache River drainage, including the groves now protected within the Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve.
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