A major ecological change is beginning in northern Illinois, where conservation officials are reversing more than a century of farming changes to restore nearly 800 acres of natural land. The $15 million restoration project at Dutch Gap Forest Preserve in Antioch will remove major farm drainage systems, restore natural water flows and bring back wetlands, streams, prairies and savannas across the 794-acre site. According to a news release from the Lake County Forest Preserve District, the goal is to return the damaged land to a self-sustaining natural state after generations of heavy farming.
Undoing a century of agricultural drainage
Years of farming greatly changed the water system and plant life at the Dutch Gap site. To make the land suitable for crops, farmers installed large networks of underground clay tile drains, dug deep drainage ditches and moved a natural stream into the artificial Dutch Gap Canal to drain water from marsh areas. “For decades, water was redirected away from these wetlands,” said Patti Werner, ecological manager for the Lake County Forest Preserve District, in statements issued by the agency. “This restoration will allow the land to function as nature intended, improving water quality, reducing flooding and creating healthier habitat for wildlife.” Engineers and restoration workers will shut down the old drainage tile lines and fill in artificial ditches to bring back more natural water conditions. The project will also change the man-made canal to restore natural stream curves across the floodplain. This will let water settle, filter naturally and refill local groundwater reserves.
Federal partnership drives financing
The $15 million project is being carried out with the United States Army Corps of Engineers through its aquatic ecosystem restoration program. Financial records from the Lake County Forest Preserve District show that the federal government is paying 65 per cent of the total project cost, or about $9.75 million. The local forest preserve district received a $4 million credit based on the appraised value of the preserve’s land. This leaves the district’s required direct cash contribution at about $1.24 million. Public contract records from the US Army Corps of Engineers show that the agency’s Chicago District office handled the initial solicitations and engineering specifications.
Protecting rare habitats and native species
In addition to restoring wetlands and prairie ecosystems, the project will protect important natural features, including a rare one-acre remnant fen. Fens are sensitive wetlands rich in minerals and fed by alkaline groundwater springs. They support specialized plant species that are sensitive to changes in water levels and pollution from farm runoff. Restoration crews will remove invasive brush and non-native plants that have spread across the property after decades of neglect. Native plant communities, including oak savannas, sedge meadows and tallgrass prairies, will be planted again to support wildlife in the region. According to local community reports published by Patch, Dutch Gap Forest Preserve currently has no public parking areas or established walking trails. For now, the work is focused only on ecological restoration and making the land stable. District planners eventually hope to connect the preserve to the wider regional trail network after the restored habitat becomes stable.
