Project Summary

The Des Plaines River Wetlands Demonstration Project has transformed a 550-acre site of abandoned farm fields and gravel quarry pits into a rehabilitated ecosystem along the upper Des Plaines River in Lake County, Illinois. The project's goal has been to bring together a team of researchers to study and quantify how wetland and river restoration can improve water quality, increase flood control, provide recreational use, and expand wildlife habitat. In addition to serving as a major research site, the project also demonstrates to the public and policy makers the multi-functional value of wetlands, transitional prairies, and upland oak grove buffers.

The project began in the late 1970s with a feasibility study funded by the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Wetlands Research, Inc. was formed in 1983 to organize and manage the project. Funding has been provided by federal, state and local governments, foundation grants and individual donors.

The site, owned by the Lake County Forest Preserve District, is 35 miles north of Chicago in Wadsworth, Illinois. As a rapidly urbanizing area, Lake County, Illinois, holds a microcosm of the problems the nation faces because of past wetland policies of extensive filling, draining, or disturbing. The county has suffered severe flood losses ($40 million in 1986), while it also faces the need to protect critical wildlife habitat. Approximately 3 miles of the upper Des Plaines River courses through the site, carrying contaminants from agricultural and urban runoff and from small treatment plants. Turbidity is the primary water quality problem of the river, preventing light from penetrating the water, inhibiting the growth of plants and the habitation of sight-feeding fish such as pike.

In 1986, restoration began on both uplands and wetlands of the site. In the upland areas restoration has focused on eliminating many Eurasian plant invaders, regrading the landscape, and reestablishing native plant communities through planting and controlled burning.

Four hydraulically-controlled experimental wetland areas, totalling 22 acres, were put into operation for research in September 1989. Two additional experimental wetland areas, containing a 28-acre complex of 10 wetlands, are designed to emulate the hydrology of sedge meadows. These areas started up in 1991.

Rewarding Results

The results of the restoration and research work have been very rewarding to both scientist and casual observer. The river, once obscured by a wall of weedy vegetation, is now visible through a rehabilitated oak grove. Restored mesic prairies are increasing in diversity, thus supporting a wider variety of fauna species. Water rests on land that formerly was drained for farming. Groundwater is being recharged and base flow increased.

As a result of restoration work, wetland-dependent flora and fauna are now present, indicating the development of a complex wetland ecosystem. For example, an increase in wetland-dependent macrophytes (such as bulrushes) was noted in 1990, and by 1991, these species made up nearly 100 percent of the macrophyte population in each of the experimental wetlands. Similarly, by 1991, the macroinvertebrate community in the experimental wetlands was made up of 60 percent snails, an important part of both temporary and permanent wetland habitats. Beavers and muskrats have returned to the site in force. Thirty-six different fish species have been observed on the site, up from only 20 species before the restoration work.

In addition, five state-designated endangered or threatened bird species that were absent before restoration are now breeding on the site:
• American Bittern
• Least Bittern
• Common Moorhen
• Sandhill Crane
• Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Another 16 state endangered or threatened species have been observed as migrants at the site:
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Great Egret
• Snowy Egret
• Little Blue Heron
• Black-crowned Night-Heron
• Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
• Osprey
• Northern Harrier
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Wilson's Phalarope
• Common Tern
• Forster's Tern
• Black Tern
• Brown Creeper
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Henslow's Sparrow

The efficiency of the experimental wetlands to purify water also has been established. The experimental wetlands have trapped more than 80 percent of the sediments and nutrients contained in the incoming river water, delivering clear water back to the Des Plaines. This research shows that to use constructed wetlands such as these to improve the water quality of an entire watershed would require converting only 2 to 4 percent of the land area to this use.

The community response to the project has been very positive. Joggers, bikers, and equestrians make use of the trails and roads on the site, while fishermen visit the river, wetlands, and quarry lakes.

The Des Plaines River Wetlands Demonstration Project continues to provide a living laboratory for university scientists, as well as a hands-on classroom for dozens of local biology and ecology students each year. The information gathered at the project site is providing new and greatly needed data about how-and at what cost-wetland ecosystems can be reestablished and used to manage this country's water and wildlife resources. This information will be applicable throughout the nation, wherever flood storage, wildlife habitat and pollution abatement are in demand.

Staff

Donald L. Hey, director
Donald Hey is director of Wetlands Research Inc. and co-founder of  The Wetlands Initiative. His research interests focus on the restoration of river and wetland systems and the development of low-cost management programs for sustaining natural aquatic ecosystems. Dr. Hey has served on numerous committees and editorial boards, including: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Assessment Plan; Technical Proposal Evaluation Committee, Everglades National Park, National Park Service; International Joint Commission, Levels Reference Study; National Research Council, Committee on Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems; Illinois Department of Conservation, Wetland Advisory Council; Ecological Engineering and Restoration Ecology. He is co-author with Nancy Philippi of A Case for Wetland Restoration (John Wiley & Sons, 1999). Dr. Hey is a member of the American Geophysical Union, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Water Resources Association, Society of Sigma Xi, Lambda Alpha International, and Society of Wetland Scientists.

Board of Directors

Robert P. Neal, president/treasurer
Mr. Neal is Assistant to the Director, Office of Administration for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He served as a member of the Lake County Board and the Lake County Forest Preserve District board from 1982 until 1998. In 1961 he founded Able Electronics, Inc., which grew to be the third largest electronic service firm in Illinois. He served 10 years as a director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Lt. Cmdr. Neal retired from the United States Naval Reserves in 1999 after serving for 26 years.

Suzi Schmidt, vice president
Ms. Schmidt has served as a Lake County Board Member and member of The Wetlands Research board since 1988. She currently is chairman of the Lake County Board and previously served as a Lake Villa Township Trustee; state director of the Illinois Lakes Management Association; and a Republican committeeman.

Randall Whitmore, secretary
Randall Whitmore is a Lake County Board Member from District 2 and a resident of Wadsworth, Illinois. He joined the WRI board in 2003.

David J. Aho
Mr. Aho is vice president of Business Development and Legal Affairs of Healthcare Alliance, Inc., a healthcare consulting company. He is a member of the American, Illinois, D.C., and Lake County Bar associations and serves on the boards of Banc One Equity Capital, Garrett Capital Advisors, and the College of Lake County Foundation.

Richard J. Brown
Mr. Brown is CEO of Cambridge Homes, Inc. and president of Richard J. Brown Realty, Inc. Mr. Brown is a past president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago, has been named to their Court of Honor, and is a member of the Hall of Fame of the Chicago Real Estate Board. A resident of Libertyville, Mr. Brown also is a past member of the Lake County Strategic Planning Committee and current member of the Wetlands Advisory Board.

Steve Carlson
Mr. Carlson is principal analyst of Carlson Consulting and past director of clinician services for Illinois Primary Health Care Association, Chicago. He is a member of the Lake County Board from the 7th District and lives in Gurnee. He is an active leader with the Grandwood Park Civic Association and a member of numerous health-care related committees and civic organizations. Mr. Carlson joined the WRI board in 2003.

David A. Giza
Mr. Giza is a corporate attorney, business strategist, and Director of Business Development for CorpLaw Associates in Kenilworth, IL. Since 1995, he has served as an elected Trustee of the Village of Libertyville, IL. He is an active member of several legal professional organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for the Central Lake County YMCA and the Wisconsin Association of Lakes.

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