About the Site
In 2006, the District purchased 203 acres and in 2007 acquired another 49 acres. Restoration work began immediately removing dense buckthorn, garlic mustard, and box elders, which made for native wildflowers seeds which lay dormant and were awaken on the woodland floor. In July, 2008 staff also sowed 118 acres of former agricultural fields with prairie seed. The area around High Point contains about 70 vernal ponds, hosting one of the highest concentrations of ephemerals wetlands in the Midwest. These spring ponds provide necessary breeding areas for amphibians and reptiles. These ponds cannot support fish because they dry up in the summer; instead they provide critical habitat for frogs and salamanders that need water to reproduce, lay eggs, and grow through the tadpole phase. Without fish to prey on them, these amphibians thrive.
Gracing the woodland floor and restored sedge meadow areas, 108 native plant species thrive including March phlox, Turk’s cap lily, downy gentian, Solomon seal, May apple and wild bergamot, geranium, sweet potato and strawberry.
The appeal to protect this property was enhanced by the amount of dedication by the surrounding landowners to conservation. Since 2004, neighbors have committed half of their 800 private acres, within a five-mile radius, to restoration. Additional, roughly 60 acres of private lands adjacent the site are being permanently protected through conservation easements with the assistance of the Land Conservancy of McHenry County, another 60-acre tract has received a state Land and Water Reserve dedication, and two additional properties have been designated as Illinois State Natural Area Inventory sites.
High Point marked the 31st site with improved amenities open for the public to enjoy.
Cache Your Way Question
What are the only 3 year round owl residents of McHenry County?
About the Hide
Basic hide of a camoed may container. LOTS of spots at ground zero so just keep looking!
Geocachers
Please join us in playing! All are welcome who observe and obey the rules. Please do not move or vandalize the container. Please do not remove the informational card from the container, this is an essential game piece for cachers completing the Cache Your Way program. For more information on the program, visit our website www.mccdistrict.org/web/re-geocache.htm or follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MCCDGeocaching
District Geocaching Rules
For a complete list of rules, visit our website www.mccdistrict.org/web/re-geocache.htm
McHenry County Conservation District Information
Visit our website at www.mccdistrict.org or call 815-338-6223 for camping/shelters, 815-479-5779 for educational programs or 815-678-4532 for the Lost Valley Visitor Center