Projects

Kishwaukee River Watershed Strategic Plan,
7 Counties in Illinois & Wisconsin

The Kishwaukee River has a 1,250 square mile watershed located in between the Chicago and Rockford metropolitan areas. Growth from both areas is extending into the watershed, which is of concern as the Kishwaukee River features one of the highest Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) values in northern Illinois , and is home to 14 threatened and 14 endangered species. WRC was retained to conduct a Geographic Information System (GIS) study of the watershed by the Kishwaukee River Ecosystem Partnership (KREP) through funding provided by the Conservation 2000 program of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This plan, completed in late 2003, provides a framework for identifying, organizing and prioritizing preservation and restoration strategies.

One of the KREP partnership goals was to identify natural resource objectives and strategies through an all-inclusive watershed planning process. In 2001, KREP decided to aggressively work towards meeting that goal, and set out to develop a "Strategic Plan for Habitat Conservation and Restoration" for the Kishwaukee River watershed and each of its subwatersheds. The project was designed to be a Natural Resource Information Based Plan, which would use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology as a tool to help address the environmental needs, concerns, and opportunities of the watershed. This multi-year watershed protection project had several phases. The first phase, completed in 2001-2002, included identification and compilation of available natural resource and land use GIS data. The KREP project team, led by WRC, Inc. created and analyzed more than 100 GIS data layers for each of the 42 subwatersheds identified within the Kishwaukee River Watershed. As part of the project, many new data layers of GIS coverage for the watershed were created, including ones identifying channelized stream segments, open water areas, Conservation Reserve Program areas, Ecowatch River Monitoring sites, and drainage districts. Once the project is completed, the GIS database was distributed to all resource agencies and groups working to protect the Kishwaukee watershed.

Phase Two, completed in 2003, included the analysis of the GIS information and the beginning of the strategic planning process to identify natural resource concerns in each of the subwatersheds. The data derived from this GIS analysis was organized to develop resource "indicators", such as percentage of remaining wetlands compared to the percentage of hydric (wetland) soils historically present; the presence of threatened and endangered species; etc. These indicators were used to evaluate, examine, and compare each of the 42 subwatersheds. A stakeholder meeting was held in December, 2002 to solicit additional input on resource concerns from citizens and agency staff throughout the watershed. The subwatersheds were then examined individually to determine the specific recommendations to preserve and/or restore the natural habitat. These recommendations were incorporated into the individual subwatershed plans, which are appended to this report. Following the development of draft protection plans for the subwatersheds, Kishwaukee Partnership organized stakeholder meetings to obtain local input on available data as well as information about strategies that will assist watershed stakeholders in working to preserve and enhance the watershed features. The four target stakeholder groups were municipalities/local government, environmental groups, agricultural landowners, and agencies. KREP presented the draft recommendations and these stakeholder groups and is currently soliciting their input in order to refine the strategic plan and create a useable document with practical, realistic solutions.

The final phase of the project will be undertaken by the Partnership directly, and will include the consolidation of the stakeholder and KREP goals and the updating the final plan recommendations for the Kishwaukee watershed and each of the 42 subwatersheds. The plan includes a diverse list of specific recommendations coming from a large toolbox of potential solutions. A key component to the final plan was the identification of missing natural resource data that, once collected, will help stakeholders make better, more informed decisions. This plan also includes funding scenarios needed to address each of the identified solutions or additional research.

Photos Above: Watershed location (left) and an example of a subwatershed-level assessment for the project using GIS (right).

7th Avenue Creek Storm Channel Improvements,
St. Charles, IL

WRC was retained by the City of St. Charles, IL to prepare an alternatives analysis and preliminary design for improvements to a severely eroded storm channel that connects an urban storm sewer system to 7^th Avenue Creek. Stormwater runoff from an urban neighborhood developed prior to stormwater management regulations was discharging into an open channel, creating channel incision that was threatening the outfall structures, as well as generating erosion and sedimentation problems that could adversely impact the Fox River. Design options ranged from enclosing the channel, creating a hard armored channel, or the use of a bioengineering solution utilizing natural channel design principles. The project report was completed in late 2002, and the client opted to pursue the natural channel design option. WRC prepared the final project plans, bid documents, and oversaw the construction process, which took place during the summer of 2003. WRC also helped the client apply for and obtain Section 319 funding to design an innovative stormwater BMP at the downstream end of the project channel, which will be designed in 2004.

Palatine Hills Golf Course Stream Stabilization,
Palatine, IL

Salt Creek drains heavily urbanized suburban areas immediately west of Chicago , and has had a long history of major flooding, as well as major structural flood control projects. This approach has resulted in regional flood control projects at intervals along the stream channel, however, the intervening segments of channel are prone to heavy erosion due to the high flows being routed through them. The Arlington Heights Branch of Salt Creek flows through Palatine Hills Golf Course, which is owned by the Palatine Park District. Major stream channel incision and streambank stabilization was threatening golf course improvements and infrastructure, and a number of traditionally engineered approaches were investigated. However, the client realized that the ½ mile reach of stream channel was the major amenity of the course, and decide to pursue a natural channel design approach. WRC provided the project engineering services for this project which was completed on a design-build basis. The project included bioengineering practices for streambank protection and construction of artificial riffles to mitigate channel incision brought on by urbanization of the upstream watershed. Construction was completed late fall 2002.

Above: Central section of project reach prior to construction (left) and 2 weeks after construction was complete (right).

Des Plaines River Diversion Channel Habitat Restoration, Hodgkins, IL

As part of the effort to reverse the flow of the Chicago River , and to increase shipping between Lake Michigan and the Illinois River , a diversion channel was excavated through bedrock to divert the Des Plaines River away from its historic course. The resultant linear channel has only minimal in-stream habitat available, with almost no riparian wetland vegetation present. To increase the amount and diversity of in-stream habitat, WRC was hired to design and supervise the installation of rock structures to increase low flow sinuosity, create variations in velocity distribution, and reduce near-bank shear stress to aid in re-vegetation of the lower bank. The project was initiated by the Hofmann Dam River Rats, a local river enthusiast group that is actively involved in the restoration of the Lower Des Plaines River . Construction of structures was completed during the summer of 2003, and WRC is currently working on a second phase to design additional rock structures at a location immediately upstream of the first project phase.

Above: Project Location Map (left); Jetty concept design (center); Jetty immediately after construction (right).

Lake Run Habitat Restoration Project,
Kane County, IL

WRC, Inc. was retained by Kane County to develop a concept plan for a joint project with the Kane County Forest Preserve District to restore a portion of Lake Run, a major tributary in the Blackberry Creek Watershed. The project site located with the 500+ acre Aurora West Forest Preserve. There are only 4 perennial tributaries in the watershed, and most of them are very habitat-degraded. Lake Run is the largest (14.7mi²) tributary and contains Nelson Lake Marsh, one of the highest quality natural areas in the County. Restoring the in-stream habitat of this tributary will provide benefits to much of the watershed, in light of the extensive work being done by the County and partnering agencies in other parts of the watershed. Many adjacent wetlands along the riparian corridor of Lake Run have been drained. Over 90% of the stream is channelized. As a result, much natural stream function and habitat is lost. This project’s goal is to restore the stream’s natural function and restore/enhance drained adjacent/historic wetlands. The project length is 3,600 feet in length and spans over 50 acres in the forest preserve. 25 acres of wetlands will be restored and 12.5 acres of low-quality wetlands will be enhanced by removing invasive species and by other active management. Natural stream function in the project reach will be attained by a wider native stream buffer, facilitating the channel’s remeandering, creating floodplain terraces that are accessible to the stream, and installing instream habitat features like riffles, pools, and coarse material (gravel) substrate. The project addresses numerous recommendations stated in the Blackberry Creek Watershed Management Plan, Vol. 1 (Sept. 1999). The project also meets goals in the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership’s Integrated Management Plan for Illinois (1999). In addition to concept design, WRC, Inc. also assisted the County with numerous grant applications to help offset the cost of the project.

Above: Watershed location map (left) and example of concept plan prepared for the project.

DuPage River Dam Assessment,
DuPage and Will Counties, Illinois

The West Branch of the DuPage River drains a rapidly urbanizing watershed area west of Chicago , but still features a high degree of environmental quality. Four dams present on the River have been identified as impediments to fishery passage, and creating localized water quality impairments. The Conservation Foundation ( www.theconservationfoundation.org ) retained WRC to investigate and formulate alternative solutions to improve environmental, recreational, aesthetic and safety characteristics of the dams. The project report was completed in 2003.

Warrenville Grove Dam McDowell Grove Dam

Hammel Woods Dam Channahon Dam

McHenry County Defenders Office, Woodstock, IL

WRC is assisting the McHenry County Defenders, an environmental advocacy group, in the design of an environmentally-friendly office, which abuts high quality wetlands near the headwaters of the Kishwaukee River . The project, which incorporates “green design” into the architectural elements of the proposed office and recycling center, also includes site design and stormwater Best Management Practices. These BMP’s will not only protect adjacent wetlands on the property, but also serve as an example to area developers/builders on how to integrate development into the landscape without degrading the surrounding ecosystem.

Above: McHenry County Advanced Identification (ADID) Wetland Map

Click here to view current draft site plan.

Esping Park Stream Channel Restoration Project,
Geneva, IL

WRC, Inc. was retained by the City of Geneva in 2003 to implement a stream channel restoration project for a small, urban tributary to the Fox River in an area of the City that has been subjected to frequent flooding. The project will include hydraulic and geomorphic analysis of stream channel geometry and flood conveyance and design of a stable channel at a lower elevation to facilitate reduction of flood profiles near a residential area in the southeast region of the City of Geneva. The project is scheduled to be permitted and constructed by the end of 2004.

Bull Creek Stabilization Project,
Lake County, IL

Bull Creek is one of the few streams in Illinois that drain into Lake Michigan , flowing through a ravine system that drains a heavily urbanized watershed shed that largely developed before the implementation of stormwater management ordinances. As a result, the stream features a very flashy hydrology that has caused channel incision, lateral channel migration, and major streambank erosion where the stream channel has migrated to the edge of the valley floor and is actively cutting into the sideslopes of the ravine. WRC was hired by the Bull Creek Stakeholders Association with funding provided through the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission ( www.co.lake.il.us/smc ) to develop a stream corridor restoration plan. The project included in-stream and bank stabilization project for an 1,800 foot reach of Bull Creek between Illinois Beach State Park and Sheridan Road in Beach Park , IL . Project includes bioengineering practices for streambank protection and construction of artificial riffles to mitigate extreme channel enlargement that has destroyed the in-stream habitat and threatened residential homes perched 10-30 feet above the channel. Project design was completed in 2002, with the first phase constructed in 2003 and the final phase being constructed in 2004.

Kane County NPDES Phase II Permit,
Kane County, IL

The Kane County Department of Environmental Management retained WRC to assist Kane County in preparing the County's NPDES Phase II program which must be approved by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The project included development of a program to meet the criteria for the various Control Measures required by NPDES Phase II, including educational programs, employee training programs, public involvement strategies, and illicit discharge detection & elimination. WRC also acted as a liaison for the County by providing guidance and assistance to local agencies in the county who were also required to implement a stormwater pollution control program to address the requirements of NPDES Phase II. The program was to be finalized and sent to the IEPA by the NPDES Phase II deadline of March 10, 2003.

Oak Openings BMP Basin, Lake County, IL

WRC was retained to provide engineering services for design of an off-line wetland-style settling basin to improve the water quality of storm runoff to Bull Creek, near Grayslake , Illinois . The project was initiated to stop significant channel incision that was moving up a small swale discharging into Bull Creek. Project construction was completed in the fall of 2001.