Lake District Preserve

The Lake District Preserve is a beautiful, 207-acre, public conservancy located adjacent to the Oakland Conservation Club on County Highway A. These lands at the inlet to Lake Ripley were acquired by the District in 1997 and 2008. A combination of state and federal grants and private donations were used to purchase the property.

It has since been restored back to its original wetlands and native prairie, and functions to protect the quality of water flowing into Lake Ripley. An interpretive trail offers hikers and nature enthusiasts the opportunity to explore the diverse flora and fauna that inhabit the Preserve. Cranes, herons, whitetail deer, wild turkeys, wood ducks, frogs and eastern bluebirds are now among the variety of wildlife visitors may encounter when exploring the Preserve.

Did you know that prairie plants can reach 10 feet tall, and have roots that penetrate as far as 12 feet below the soil surface? The illustration below shows the rooting depth of common lawn grass (far left) compared to the rooting depth of native prairie plants.