Dutch Gap Forest Preserve Restoration To Revive Wetlands, Prairies In Antioch

ANTIOCH, IL — A long-planned restoration project at Dutch Gap Forest Preserve in Antioch is set to transform farmland and degraded habitat back into wetlands, prairies and savannas.

The Lake County Forest Preserves and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District are beginning the estimated $15 million project, which aims to restore natural water flow and wetland habitat across the nearly 794-acre preserve, according to a news release from the forest preserves.

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Decades of farming altered the landscape, including the installation of underground drainage tiles, drainage ditches and the rerouting of a natural stream into the Dutch Gap Canal to drain wetlands for crops.

Those changes left the landscape less capable of holding stormwater, filtering water and providing habitat for native plants and wildlife, according to a news release. The preserve currently includes about 534 acres of farmland, while little wetland or other native habitat remains.

"Opportunities like this—to restore an entire preserve at a landscape scale—are scarce," said Pati Vitt, director of natural resources. "For decades, water was redirected away from these wetlands. This restoration will allow the land to function as nature intended, improving water quality, reducing flooding and creating healthier habitat for wildlife."

The project will restore native prairie, savanna and wetland communities while protecting a rare one-acre remnant fen. Crews will disconnect portions of the underground drainage system, allowing water to once again spread across wetlands and floodplains.

Over the next three years, contractors also will remove invasive trees and shrubs, reshape the Dutch Gap Canal into a more natural, meandering stream corridor and use prescribed burns to maintain the restored prairie, savanna and wetland habitats, forest preserves officials said.

Dutch Gap is located east of Route 45 and north of Route 173 between Prairie Stream and Pine Dunes forest preserves. The preserve is part of a larger ecological complex and greenway in north-central Lake County and was identified as a restoration priority in 2015.

About two years ago, a contractor was hired to study water movement throughout the preserve and develop a plan to remove or disable the underground drainage system. The Forest Preserves acquired Dutch Gap through five purchases in 2010 and 2011, along with a small donation last year, according to a news release.

The preserve currently does not have parking or trails, although a future trail connection is planned.

The Army Corps will fund 65% of the project, or about $9.75 million. The Forest Preserves will receive a $4 million credit for the value of the land, bringing its direct contribution to about $1.24 million.