News Releases - 2003

$700,000 IEPA Grant will restore, improve Springbrook Creek in DuPage County

Springfield, Ill. -- Springbrook Creek, a significant, biologically-diverse creek in DuPage County with high quality instream habitats, has been targeted for restoration by the Forest District of DuPage County and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to address pollution currently impairing it.

A tributary of the DuPage River west branch, the stream and the forest preserve through which it flows support a number of grassland bird species. The planned innovative stream reconfiguration is designed to improve water quality and habitats in the 1700-acre grassland preserve located in Naperville, Illinois.

The Forest Preserve will use $700,000 in federal funds channeled through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency under section 319 of the Clean Water Act and a combination other funds for local matching money.

Illinois EPA director Renee Cipriano hailed the plan as an innovative waterway restoration. “Springbrook Creek is an important, if overlooked, part of the DuPage River watershed. The DuPage County Forest Preserve is taking steps to restore Springbrook Creek and Prairie to its natural state, and in the process protect Illinoisans from flood damage and provide habitat for Springbrook Prairie’s diverse wildlife – as well as decrease pollution into Springbrook Creek,” Director Cipriano said.

Work will include restoring a mile and a half meandering stream channel and connecting it with the historic floodplain. That segment has been beset by heavy sedimentation caused by erosion of the stream banks during heavy storms. The plan calls for stemming erosion and stabilizing the stream banks with on-site materials and native vegetation. Another mile and a half of the creek is still in its pre-development, meandering condition.

"This project is a low-tech but innovative approach to stream restoration and pollution management,” said Leslie Berns, natural-resource supervisor for the district.

The restored stream channel will be designed to absorb large volumes of water and to slow fast-moving water during periods of heavy rainfall by creating a riparian wetland zone in the 10-acre watershed.

The project is expected to improve habitat in the stream for its fish, mollusk and macro invertebrate populations.