As the name suggests, great blue herons are plentiful at the site, with dozens of nests grouped in some large sycamore trees along the river. A majority of the site is bottomland forest, and Virginia bluebells are abundant in the spring.
Prior to its reforestation in the mid-twentieth century, much of the property was utilized for agricultural production. Considering the relatively short lifespan of the forest, its condition is impressive and illustrates the positive effects of restoration efforts.
The land was purchased through the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation grant and a donation by Shawn Tabeling and Brian Keigher of Hidden River Development, LLC.