Highlights from UDPREP's 2005 Watershed Tour
 “Three Creeks: Projects and Perspectives”

On October 13, 2005, tour participants travelled across the Upper Des Plaines River Watershed by foot, car, and coach for a first-hand look at some hot projects and a rare chance to hear site managers describe their work in detail.

The 2005 tour included stops at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Ethel’s Woods in Old Mill Creek, and Bull Creek in Libertyville.

UDPREP would like to thank the following individuals and organizations whose generous contributions helped make the tour possible (in alphabetical order):

Jim Anderson, Alison Cook, Jennifer Filipiak, Chris Fisher, Chris Geiselhart, Lake Co. Forest Preserves, Lake Co. Stormwater Management Commission, Liberty Prairie Foundation, Wendy Moderhack, Oakton Community College, Ken Schaefer, Sheila Schultz, Lydia Scott, Patty Werner, Susan Vancil, Sean Wiedel, Tony Wolff, UDPREP Planning Committee, and the Village of Lincolnshire.

Ken Schaefer, Naturalist/Groundskeeper at Oakton Community College (right), describes efforts to curb erosion along “Oakton Lake.”
Ken Schaefer (right) talks about the “seed garden” (in background). Oakton maintains this garden exclusively for the purposes of cultivating native plant seeds. The seeds are used to propagate plants across the campus.
Ken Schaefer holds a piece of concrete from the Golf Road reconstruction project. Ken experiments with “found” materials such as this in his restoration efforts.
Ken Schaefer (kneeling at right) describes erosion issues on the banks of the Upper Des Plaines River.
Jim Anderson, Natural Resources Manager for the Lake Co. Forest Preserves (right, in hat) describes woodland and upland restoration efforts at Ethel’s Woods.
A view of Ethel’s Woods. The Lake Co. Forest Preserves have been working with the Youth Conservation Corps to restore the ponds and install native plants.

Sitting on the railing of the dam between Rasmussen Lake and North Mill Creek, Jim Anderson talks about the possibility of removing the dam and restoring the creek’s natural corridor and surrounding wetlands.

North Mill Creek and surrounding wetlands would be restored as part of the dam removal project.
Jennifer Filipiak, Wildlife Biologist for the Lake Co. Forest Preserves (center, in short sleeves) answers questions about the dam removal project.
Patty Werner, Watershed Planner for the Lake Co. Stormwater Management Commission (facing camera, in white), talks about the history of Bull Creek and its place in the Upper Des Plaines River Watershed.
Sean Wiedel (left) and Tony Wolff of the Lake Co. Stormwater Management Commission share a laugh in Bull Creek as they demonstrate stream inventory techniques.


Chris Geiselhart, President of the Liberty Prairie Area Homeowners Association (center, in white) takes a question from Ward Miller, former Executive Director of the Lake Co. Stormwater Management Commission (right of Chris).

 

Tour participants examine a toppled tree and serious erosion caused by a microburst in July 2005. The massive roots of this old tree are at left. The trunk is lying on the ground perpendicular to the creek, and the base of the trunk is barely visible.

│   Home   │   Calendar   │   Who We Are   │   What We Do    │   Membership   │   Watershed Profile  │   Watershed Planning   │

│  Resources & Maps  │  Links  │  Picture Gallery  │  Supporters  │  Contact Us  │