The Gensburg-Markham Prairie dates its origins back to the closing years of the Wisconsin glaciation, when postglacial Lake Chicago deposited a large sand beach in what would later become a section of southern Cook County. The poorly drained, damp, sandy soil resisted successful farming, and early pioneer settlers left patches of tallgrass prairie grasses and forbs alone.[2]
Historyedit
Much of the prairie area was annexed by the municipality of Markham, Illinois, a suburb located south of Chicago. In Illinois, annexations of this type were a precursor to real estate development. However, the prairie patch's relatively poor drainage made it less attractive to land development. Furthermore, in the years after World War II Markham became an economically troubled and relatively slow-growing community. Finally, in 1971, the Gensburg family, owners of a key 60-acre (240,000 m2) parcel at the heart of the prairie, donated the parcel to Northeastern Illinois University. The prairie's current name, Gensburg-Markham Prairie, commemorates this donation.[2]
Restoration and todayedit
At the time of donation in 1971, the Gensburg-Markham Prairie had become deeply degraded by invasive exotic plants. Decades of prairie restoration work, begun by Northeastern Illinois University's Robert Betz, have cleared away some of the brush and allowed much of the original prairie's tallgrass flora to re-establish itself. Controlled burns have played a key role in this work. The prairie was listed as an Illinois Nature Preserve in September 1980.[1][2]
More than 100 acres (0.40 km2) of tallgrass prairie within the larger grassland are now classified as high-quality tallgrass prairie. The grassland is owned by Northeastern Illinois University with a few small inholdings owned by the Nature Conservancy. Northeastern Illinois University manages the preserve.[2]
Characteristic tallgrass prairie fauna, such as the Henslow's sparrow, have been sighted at the prairie.[2]
^ abcdeWiggers, Ray (Summer 2000). (PDF). Chicago Wilderness Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 3, 2019.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gensburg Markham Prairie.
Nature Conservancy
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
January 01, 1970
gensburg, markham, prairie, also, known, markham, prairie, acre, high, quality, tallgrass, prairie, located, markham, chicago, metropolitan, area, part, larger, indian, boundary, prairies, managed, northeastern, illinois, university, nature, conservancy, descr. The Gensburg Markham Prairie also known as Markham Prairie is a 105 6 acre 427 000 m2 high quality tallgrass prairie located in Markham in the Chicago metropolitan area It is part of the larger Indian Boundary Prairies managed by Northeastern Illinois University and The Nature Conservancy Described by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as an unusual example of sandy loam prairie it is a National Natural Landmark 1 Gensburg Markham PrairieIUCN category III natural monument or feature Map of the U S state of Illinois showing the location of Gensburg Markham PrairieLocationCook County Illinois USANearest cityMarkhamCoordinates41 36 25 N 87 41 16 W 41 60694 N 87 68778 W 41 60694 87 68778Area100 acres 40 ha Established1971Governing bodyNortheastern Illinois University the Natural Land Institute and the Nature ConservancyU S National Natural LandmarkDesignated1987 Contents 1 Ecology 2 History 3 Restoration and today 4 References 5 External linksEcology editThe Gensburg Markham Prairie dates its origins back to the closing years of the Wisconsin glaciation when postglacial Lake Chicago deposited a large sand beach in what would later become a section of southern Cook County The poorly drained damp sandy soil resisted successful farming and early pioneer settlers left patches of tallgrass prairie grasses and forbs alone 2 History editMuch of the prairie area was annexed by the municipality of Markham Illinois a suburb located south of Chicago In Illinois annexations of this type were a precursor to real estate development However the prairie patch s relatively poor drainage made it less attractive to land development Furthermore in the years after World War II Markham became an economically troubled and relatively slow growing community Finally in 1971 the Gensburg family owners of a key 60 acre 240 000 m2 parcel at the heart of the prairie donated the parcel to Northeastern Illinois University The prairie s current name Gensburg Markham Prairie commemorates this donation 2 Restoration and today editAt the time of donation in 1971 the Gensburg Markham Prairie had become deeply degraded by invasive exotic plants Decades of prairie restoration work begun by Northeastern Illinois University s Robert Betz have cleared away some of the brush and allowed much of the original prairie s tallgrass flora to re establish itself Controlled burns have played a key role in this work The prairie was listed as an Illinois Nature Preserve in September 1980 1 2 More than 100 acres 0 40 km2 of tallgrass prairie within the larger grassland are now classified as high quality tallgrass prairie The grassland is owned by Northeastern Illinois University with a few small inholdings owned by the Nature Conservancy Northeastern Illinois University manages the preserve 2 Characteristic tallgrass prairie fauna such as the Henslow s sparrow have been sighted at the prairie 2 References edit a b Gensburg Markham Prairie Nature Preserve Cook County Illinois Department of Natural Resources Archived from the original on 2013 01 30 Retrieved 2012 10 30 a b c d e Wiggers Ray Summer 2000 Classic Prairie Restorations Gensburg Markham Prairie PDF Chicago Wilderness Magazine Archived from the original PDF on August 3 2019 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gensburg Markham Prairie Nature Conservancy Illinois Department of Natural Resources Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gensburg Markham Prairie amp oldid 1006648206, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
