May 2021
Randy Nyboer, former District Natural Heritage Biologist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Endangered Species Program Manager for the Illinois Natural History Survey, will lead a virtual tour of the rare flora of Apple River Canyon and the new Townsend Glade Land & Water Reserve. The video will be presented during a live Zoom meeting and will be posted on our website to watch after May 20.
The Natural Land Institute acquired the 149-acre Townsend Glade property in 2018 and designated it as an addition to the Apple River Canyon Land & Water Reserve in September 2020. The rare flora and unusual cliff communities of the Apple River Canyon in eastern Jo Daviess County have been recognized for more than 100 years. It’s unique geology and high-quality natural communities support 13 species of rare and endangered plants, including the only known population of Bird’s-eye primrose in Illinois. The Townsend Glade property has wet and dry dolomite cliffs that support the state-endangered white camass (Zigadenus elegans) and two state-threatened species, cliff goldenrod (Solidago sciaphila) and Sullivantia (Sullivantia sullivantia). Stands of native white pines and Canada yew grow on the bluffs along the canyon.
Randy Nyboer has an MS degree in Botany from Eastern Illinois University. He worked on the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory in Southwestern Illinois and then served as District Natural Heritage Biologist in northwestern Illinois from 1978-1990 and Regional Administrator for the Division of Natural Heritage from 1990-2002. He was an Environmental Consultant and Endangered Species Program Manager for the Illinois Natural History Survey from 2002-2007 and worked on the update of the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory from 2008-2013. Starting in 2014 he led the terrestrial ecology team to evaluate the natural quality of the natural communities in the 60,000 acres of the Forest Preserves of Cook County to guide management and restoration of the land. Randy lives with his wife in Morrison, Illinois.