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Kidd Lake Marsh
Monroe County, IL | 445 Acres
Type: Natural Area and State Park
Owned by: State of Illinois – Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Our role: Given the ecological importance of the Mississippi River area’s wetlands, HeartLands Conservancy acquired a 94.5-acre addition to Kidd Lake March in 2011. The addition was transferred to the State to be incorporated into the State Natural Area and is an important breeding and resting area for migrating waterfowl and provides critical habitat for a wide range of birds and amphibians.
Hours: Open Sunrise to Sunset (note hunting hours may vary)
Location & Directions
Kidd Lake Marsh Natural Area is located along Bluff Road in Monroe County, at the base of the Mississippi River bluffs, near the community of Fults. From IL-3 in Waterloo take IL-156 (Park Street) west to Valmeyer. In Valmeyer take Bluff Street south to S. Michael Street.
Take S. Michael Street, which turns into Bluff Road, south approximately 8.2 miles to the Kidd Lake State Natural Area. There is no parking lot, but visitors can park in a grassy area at the south end of the area. Kidd Lake State Natural Area can also be accessed taking Bluff Road in Prairie du Rocher (near the grain elevator) and travelling north approximately 8.2 miles 5.3 miles to Kidd Lake.
Trails & Facilities
There are no trails at this location. However, there are trails nearby at Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve.
This site is primarily open for hunters via the State. Map and brochure (pdf).
Wildlife & Habitat
Kidd Lake Marsh is an example of the once expansive wetlands of the Mississippi River floodplain (the American Bottom). The Marsh was once a part of an 800-acre lake.
Habitat here consists of marshes and wet prairies.
Plants of interest include cattails, lotus, smartweeds, false asters, and other wetland plants.
Depending on the season, you may be able to see a variety of birds and other wildlife. Water birds, such as Canada geese, snow geese, mallards, teals, wood ducks, and gadwalls are common fall inhabitants. In the summer you might see great blue heons, little blue herons, great egrets, sora, and coots.
Muskrats, toads, frogs, and minks may be seen here depending on the season.
Regulations
Open sunrise to sunset 7 days a week, for foot traffic only. Bow hunting is allowed via State permitting. For further regulations on the site, visit: https://huntillinois.org/sites/kidd-lake-sna/
Bryan Werner MEPRD
Overview
Kidd Lake State Natural Area
Kidd Lake State Natural Area protects what remains of the ecologically rich 800-acre shallow lake remnant of the Mississippi River at the base of Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve. The marsh is home to a wide variety of wildlife—from water-loving mammals, turtles, frogs, and endangered snowy egrets.
In the spring visitors will be able to listen to a number of different frogs looking for mates in early spring make a lot of noise on warm humid nights. In the winter dome-shaped mounds can be seen throughout the marsh are muskrat houses.
Once prominent breeding areas for a variety of egrets and herons, the Mississippi River floodplain area has lost the majority of its wetlands that the birds rely on. Protected wetlands and wet prairie restorations are helping to restore the habitat they need to thrive. The recent return of a snowy egret to the property is a hopeful sign that when we care for the land and water, nature responds.
By conserving this rare and ecologically rich landscape, we’re not only protecting habitat—we’re ensuring that future generations can connect with the historic beauty of the American Bottom and the wildlife it sustains.
If you would like to find out more about how to create a new public conservation area and conserve wildlife habitat, feel free to call Anna McAtee at (618) 566-4451 ex 23 or email her at an*********@*******************cy.org.
You may find information on our Land Conservation page and Ways to Give page helpful, too.