Restoring Native Diversity to Aquatic Ravine Ecosystems

Ravine 7L-Millard ParkHighland Park, IL 2010-2013

Funded by 2010 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (USEPA)

Project Management Park District of Highland Park City of Highland Park (ROW)

Project PartnersGary Borger Chapter of Trout Unlimited (Design, Construction, Advisory, Stream Monitoring & Maintenance)Shabica and Associates (Design)V3 (Design & Construction)

Conservation Land Stewardship (Construction )

Project SummaryImprovements to the stream channel of Ravine 7 (Millard Park) and its con�uence with Lake Michigan in order to improve physical and biological processes and ecosystem functions for native �sh and macroinvertebrates. A signi�cant outreach and educational component was included.

Historically, potamodromous �sh such as Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Chub and White Sucker were identi�ed in Lake Michigan tributary ravine streams by the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS). But little was known about present-day �sh populations, hydrology and water quality in the ravine systems. In 2009, the Park District identi�ed several impairments to �sh habitat in Ravine 7L.

The challenge came in designing stream restoration structures (pools and ri�es; sheltering overhangs) that native �sh could navigate while building them securely enough to withstand the pounding provided by high �ows during storm events. At the opposite end of the �ow spectrum, we had to �gure out how to provide shelter during times of very low or no �ow.

Key Project ThemesFish Habitat, Community Engagement, Habitat Goal Setting,

Stormwater impacts, water quality monitoring

Modest improvements to stream structure and reestablishing more natural water �ow would encourage the use of the ravine streams by cool water species of �sh.

OverviewHistorical Context

Goal: Restore Fish Habitat

The project opened and naturalized the outfall of the ravine stream at Lake Michigan for �sh passage, stabilized 1,400 linear feet of streambank rock, native plugs and/or seeds; installed 11 pool and ri�e structures in the stream channel, including a maintainable sediment pool; and provided overhangs for shelter and cobble/gravel substrate for spawning. Over the three year course of the project, the District documented six species of Lake Michigan �sh using the stream for habitat. White Sucker and Lake Chub successfully spawned in the project area.

Action StrategiesProject Concerns

Project Concerns

June 2, 2016A project by the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Chicago Botanic Garden, The Field Museum, and Openlands.

Case StudyProject

Restoring Native Diversity to Aquatic Ravine Ecosystems

Stream Monitoring From 2010 to 2013 a baseline of hydrology and water quality measures was established which was not previously available for Ravine 7L. Trends in water quality measures were variable and but indicated a signi�cant increase in dissolved oxygen over the study period. No meaningful di�erences were found for other water quality parameters. Stream �ow was established as seasonal in nature, corresponding with the seasonality of �sh movement into the ravine from Lake Michigan. Hydrology overall remained �ashy in nature with extremes of �ow and no �ow driven by rainfall events. Consequently, sediment loading during storm events remains an issue, as stormwater directed to the streams accelerates soil wash out in these erosion prone systems.

External FactorsThough short term trends in water quality parameters did not reveal signi�cant gains, it was important to establish this baseline and bring new awareness to the issues facing ravine health. These results actually point out a signi�cant issue--namely that the ravine streams like all urban waterways, are highly in�uenced by poor water management practices in the watershed surrounding them.

Next StepsWhile our reach-level project opened the ravine stream for successful use by Lake Michigan �sh of their historic habitat, much work remains to be done at the watershed scale in order to improve water quality to support them.

A unique design team of Shabica and Associates working with members of our local chapter of Trout Unlimited—an organization known nationally for its work on high quality trout streams. Together, we developed a series of modi�ed weirs/ri�es that held water behind (to create sheltering pools) while allowing �sh to climb up a gradually sloped incline.

Hand placement of the river boulders was important to create interspacing where �ow could be concentrated to aid �sh in passage.

This was accomplished by construction crews (V3 and Conservation Land Stewardship) guided in the �eld by our TU project manager, Matt Jennings. We also worked with the North Shore Water Reclamation District to cut a narrow passageway for �sh through a steel groin that was barring entry to the ravine stream from Lake Michigan. Large sandstone slabs were used throughout the project area to create sheltered overhands and two large pools accompanied by overhangs were excavated.

Criteria for Success

Ravines are Living Landscapes

June 2, 2016

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Starting in 2012, Highland Park High School environmental science students visited Ravine 7L to learn about ravine ecosystems, water quality monitoring, �sh life cycles and the importance of macroinvertebrates in the system.

Using remaining GLRI funds, we used this program as the basis for a Ravine Education Program for elementary school students. In conjunction, techniques of �sh rearing have been introduced to local Highland Park elementary schools and the high school through the Trout in the Classroom program led by Gary Borger Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Students raised and released Rainbow Trout �ngerlings to the ravine stream in 2012, 2013 and 2014. This spring, more than 400 local 5th graders took part in science �eld trips to learn about ravine ecology at the District’s new Lakefront Interpretive Center at Rosewood Park.

This extension of ravine restoration and education to our community’s popular swimming beach is a result of the “ripple e�ect” created by our successes at Ravine 7L.

Focus restoration on the initial segment of stream and the outfall-- in our case that is what has been used by the most number and kinds of �sh.

If you have a chance to address erosion on side streams tributary to the main stream, do so. Fish do not typically run up these steeper gradients and they are a major source of sediment loading to the main stream.

Welcome the public to visit your project through guided tours, signage and volunteer clean ups and monitoring e�orts. Have resources at the ready for those who are interested in taking on stewardship of their own properties.

We would not use quartzite to stabilize the streambanks. While it is hard to get vegetation established in the ravines, we would put more emphasis (funding) on trying to get that to work. Unlike our rounded river boulders

in the stream channel, the quartzite requires maintenance to replace stones washed out during storm events.

Many thanks to Rebecca Grill and Matt Jennings for sharing this project with the ravine region.

For More Information Rebecca GrillNatural Areas ManagerPark District of Highland Park at rgrill@pdhp.org

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The project site remains in good repair and continues to support native lake �sh during spring spawning runs. Last year (July 2015) we identi�ed a new species in the ravine (Sand Shiner) and also in mid-May found three adult rainbow trout using the outfall for shelter.

Lessons Learned

Lasting Impact

Community Engagement as Management

Advice to Ravine Communities

June 2, 2016

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