LaRue-Pine Hills Ecological Area 
This spring-fed swamp surrounded by magnificent forest contains a 
unique assemblage of organisms. Despite its apparent ruggedness, 
its ecology is in a very delicate balance that could be upset by 
relatively minor modification of the area. The many springs that 
discharge into the swamp are probably the key to the swamp's 
uniqueness. The swamp is the source of Running Lake Ditch and one 
of the sources of Clear Creek. When the water table is high such 
as in the winter months, the large colume of flow flushes out 
the entire swamp, and throughout the year the springs moderate 
water temperature and supply oxygen to water depleted in oxygen 
by decomposition. 
During the summer months, photosynthesis during the daylight 
hours also helps to replace dissolved oxygen in the swamp water. 
Should a massive kill of aquatic vegetation occur, the depletion 
of oxygen could be disastrous to aquatic life over a large area. 
The canopy of forest trees and the dense duckweed cover provide 
Shade that helps to protect much of the swamp from excessively 
high summer temperatures. The submerged and emerged aquatic 
vegetation provides habitats for a variety of animals that are 
adapted to the swamp environment. 
Since maintenance of the swamp in its present condition is the most 
important consideration, the general recommendations cited above 
are imperative. Some specific recommendations follow: 
1. Collecting should be permitted only if applicant has both 
a permit from the State of Illinois and the U. S. Forest Service 
as presently required, 
2. Use of live minnows as bait should be prohibited in 
Winters Pond and elsewhere in the swamp. 
, 3. The spotted sunfish, Lepomis punctatus, should be added 
to the list of species that may not be collected even by permit. 
4. The tiles at spring mouths where spring cavefish are 
vulnerable to dipnetting should be capped. 
5. Any improvement in the road between bluffs and swamp should 
try to avoid altering the rivulets that flow from the springs into 
the swamp. In fact, the road should be maintained but not im- 
proved at all. 
6. Consideration should be given to some means of slowing 
speed of traffic on the road (warning signs, obstacles similar to 
"sleeping policemen,!' etc.) 
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