Winter 1998

Project aims to restore one-time wetland

DuPage County, Illinois

Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve in northwestern DuPage County is proof that model airplanes and dog training can co-exist with endangered species. And now it's the site of an ambitious project to restore abandoned farm fields to a natural wetland complex.

At 2,600 acres, Pratt's Wayne Woods is one of DuPage County's largest preserves. Some surrounding land is owned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources; all told, there are nearly 4,000 acres of protected land in the immediate area.

Much of the preserve is open land — prairies and meadows. Brome grass and fescue are common here. The land is drained by Brewster Creek in the north and Norton Creek in the south. Diverse wetlands line each stream, especially in the preserve's western half. Bur reeds, arrowhead, river bulrush, and many sedges can be found. Near the parking lot are a lake and three ponds; all were dug as gravel pits earlier this century, when the land was privately owned.

Trees don't dominate the preserve, but there is a remnant of a savanna, about 22 acres, with black, bur, and white oaks, in the northwest corner. Several other stands of trees — two or three acres each, consisting primarily of cottonwood, elm, and cherry — are spread throughout.

While the surviving wetlands are healthy, the area where Brewster Creek enters the site in the northeast corner has long been a drained farm field. Many area conservation and nature groups have begun a joint project to restore this one-time wetland.

Last spring, district staff removed the first drainage tiles. As the ground slowly becomes saturated and standing water returns, wetland plants will either naturally recolonize the area or be planted there.

Over time, the Brewster Creek Wetland Restoration Project will expand to other areas of the creek. Expect to see striking changes within two or three years. Beaver are common; deer, fox, and coyote are also present. Birds in the winter include downy woodpeckers, northern harriers, and rough-legged hawks. Less frequently, visitors may see snow geese, northern shrike, and — when the ponds aren't frozen over — diving ducks like goldeneyes. The breeding season brings a number of rare birds to the preserve, including Henslow's sparrows, yellow-headed blackbirds, sandhill cranes, pied-billed grebes, and great egrets.

How about that diverse recreation? Visitors can hike, cross-country ski, and ride horses on over 12 miles of trail. The ponds and lake are stocked with catfish and bass (the largest catch on record is a 28-lb. flathead catfish). There's a campground (for youth groups only) and an equestrian jump area in the northwest corner. The eastern portion is home to a dog training area (the only place in the park where dogs are allowed off-leash) and a model airplane field. Permits and/or registration are required for horses, camping and model aircraft flying. Add to that bird watching, mushroom hunting, botanizing, photographing, and just plain hiking, and this becomes one busy piece of ground, yet an area where the natural ecosystem is getting healthier each day. Call the Forest Preserve District at (630) 942-6075 for more information.

— Chris Larson