© Thomas G. Wilson

A major restoration project at Raven Glen Forest Preserve in Antioch will reshape 421 acres, restoring wetlands, prairies and woodlands while helping the landscape hold more stormwater.

The project will likely begin this fall or winter and is expected to last five years. It will focus on land east of Savage Road and west of Route 45. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Chicago District is leading the work in partnership with the Lake County Forest Preserves.

The Raven Glen project is part of a broader federal initiative to restore ecosystems and reduce flooding risks along 67 miles of the Des Plaines River in Lake and Cook counties. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin secured $11 million for the watershed initiative.

The project will restore Hastings Creek and surrounding wetlands along the southern end of Raven Glen, improving habitat, water quality and stormwater storage.

This portion of the site operated as a dairy farm until the late 1990s. During the 1950s and 1960s, its farmstead was considered state-of-the-art.

To support farming, underground drain tiles moved water away from the fields and Hastings Creek was altered. Workers will disable the tiles, reshape the land and reconnect the creek to its floodplain. They will also add shallow, rocky areas called riffles and restore the creek’s natural curves.

Once restored, the wetlands and floodplain will hold stormwater longer and release it more slowly. This will reduce pressure on areas downstream, improve water quality and benefit the Upper Des Plaines River Watershed.

“This work is about rebuilding the natural systems that once functioned here,” said Matt Ueltzen, manager of restoration ecology for the Lake County Forest Preserves. “Wetlands, floodplains and native plant communities work together to hold stormwater, improve water quality and support wildlife.”

Crews will remove invasive plants, sow native seed and plant native seedlings to restore marshes, meadows, prairies and woodlands across the project area.

Raven Glen spans 604 acres and features rolling terrain, scattered wetlands and oak-hickory groves. A pedestrian tunnel beneath Route 45 connects the preserve to the 501-acre Ethel’s Woods Forest Preserve, creating a large stretch of protected land for wildlife and outdoor recreation.

The preserve and its trails will remain open during the project, though brief, temporary trail closures may occur to ensure visitor safety.

Media Contact: Kim Mikus, 847-268-3202, [email protected]

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