History
Most of this property was previously owned by the Popp family, who since early settlement times had farmed the rich land. The Popps initially had a dairy farm, and then converted to grain crops such as soybeans, wheat and corn.
Acquisition of this land took place in several purchases between 1978 and 1987. Due to the land's suitability for flood control, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District assisted with some of the acquisition.
The Natural Scene
Prior to European settlement, this land supported a tallgrass prairie dotted with a few small wetlands. Restoration of that prairie has been underway since the 1980s. Though the land has been drastically altered, first by farming and later during reservoir construction, a surprising diversity of grassland birds uses the preserve, including bobolinks and eastern meadowlarks.
Much of this preserve is managed for flood control, as evinced by a dam on Buffalo Creek and the reservoir that results. Careful and creative design of the reservoir has created a natural-looking wetland.
View drone photos of the wetland mitigation work ongoing at the preserve.
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Location
The entrance is on Checker Road just west of Arlington Heights Road.
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