ML15188A124
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| Issue date: | 09/30/2008 |
| From: | Lake County Stormwater Management Commission |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
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3 watershed inventory and analysis
3 watershed inventory and analysis
3.1 INTRODUCTION
An understanding of the unique features and natural
© Lake County Stormwater Management Commission processes associated with the watershed, as well as the current and potential future condition, is critical to developing an effective watershed plan. The watershed inventory and analysis organizes, summarizes, and presents watershed data in a manner that clearly communicates the issues and processes that are occurring in the watershed so that Dead River watershed stakeholders can make informed decisions about the watershed's future. The inventory and analysis helps to identify causes and sources of watershed impairment and provides the basis for recommending both Bull Creek headwaters near Lewis Avenue (BL04).
programmatic and site speci f c actions intended to improve the watershed, which are found in Chapter 5.
As part of this effort, the project team collected and reviewed available watershed data and reports, investigated stream reaches, wetlands, natural areas, and other resources in the f eld, and gathered input from watershed stakeholders.
Examples of information investigated includes water quality, streambank erosion, soils, wetlands, f ood damage areas, the detention and drainage system, population, and current and future land use.
© Conservation Design Forum Geographic Information System (GIS) software was used to compile, analyze, and display this complex geographical information in graphical and map format so that stakeholders can easily understand the condition and location of watershed resources. The project team also investigated water quality Lower reaches of Bull Creek (BL08) upstream of Illinois Beach State Park.
by modeling the amount of dif ferent pollutants that are expected from various land uses.
This chapter presents the results of the inventory and analysis in a series of maps, tables, graphs, photographs, and narrative format. A summary of the watershed assessment
© Lake County Stormwater Management Commission is included at the end of the chapter.
The Lake Michigan shoreline.
25 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis 3.2 WATERSHED SETTING The Dead River is intermittently hydrologically connected to Lake Michigan and at other times this connection is The 15.9 square mile (10,115 acres) Dead River watershed obstructed by a sand bar dam created by littoral drift, which is is located at the most northeastern corner of Lake County broken during high river f ows. Nonetheless, the Dead River and Illinois, within the Lake Michigan watershed. The Dead watershed is one of the few remaining Illinois tributaries that River watershed drains from west to east, from the fairly drains to Lake Michigan. Thus, the importance of managing f at headwaters reaches in the west, through a number watershed resources to protect Lake Michigan water quality of ravines, to the lake plains of Illinois Beach State Park can not be overstated.
before discharging to Lake Michigan. Stream reaches and tributaries f ow through the municipalities of Beach Park, Zion, and Waukegan. 3.4 CLIMATE AND PRECIPITATION The watershed includes a number of large wetlands, The climate of the Dead River watershed, and of Northeastern depressional areas, signif cant natural areas, 55 threatened Illinois, exhibits a wide range of temperatures over the and endangered species recognized by the State of Illinois calendar year. Mean high summer temperatures are in the and four threatened and endangered species recognized by low eighties; mean low winter temperatures are in the low the federal government. Illinois Beach State Park and the teens. Although the temperatures f uctuate from season to Nature Preserve are highly unique natural area containing season, the large thermal mass of Lake Michigan makes assemblages of species found nowhere else on earth, and the f uctuation less extreme than is typical in Northwestern is one of the few remaining undeveloped shorelines in the Illinois, for example. This attenuation of extreme high State of Illinois, providing important migratory habitat for f ve temperatures during the summer months and extreme low distinct bird species groups. It also deserves special mention temperatures during the winter months results in a slightly that the overall quality and connection of the Bull Creek, Glen milder microclimate along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Flora Tributary, and Dead River stream systems to Lake Michigan is highly important for the proper management and Precipitation and snowfall in the watershed average 34.09 stewardship of this valuable aquatic resource. and 37.9 inches per year, respectively. While Lake Michigan helps to moderate temperature, it contributes to the regions heavy winter snowfalls in the form of lake-ef fect snow .
3.3 WATER RESOURCES Precipitation is greatest during the late spring and summer and is typically associated with low-pressure weather The water resources within the Dead River watershed systems. These systems result in the thunderstorms that are composed primarily of 12.6 miles of stream and 1719 are commonplace across the Midwest during the summer acres of wetlands. From north to south, the major stream months. The ravines of the watershed have unique micro-channels are: an unnamed tributary to the north, Bull Creek, climates and assemblages of plant species due to the which f ows into the Dead River , and Glen Flora Tributary, moderating ef fect of Lake Michigan. Tables 3.1 and 3.2 which f ows into Lake Michigan. Bull Creek is made up of present the 1971-2000 temperature and precipitation four tributaries, listed from north to south: the 27th Street normals for the watershed.
Tributary, North Branch of Bull Creek, South Branch of Bull Creek, and the Wilson Avenue Tributary, as illustrated in Figure 3.1.
The Glen Flora Tributary, formerly known as the Little Dead River, used to discharge south of Midwest Generation into a ditch. Current alignment of the Glen Flora Trib is under the railroad tracks, north into Johns Manville lagoons, and then east through ponds and a pipe that discharges to the Lake.
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 26
FIGURE 3.1: WATER RESOURCES 27 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis Table 3.1 1971-2000 Temperature data for Waukegan climate station Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Totals High (deg. F) 28.5 32.9 43.0 54.6 66.7 77.1 81.7 80.1 73.1 61.6 47.3 33.9 Low (deg F) 12.0 16.6 25.0 35.6 45.8 55.3 61.3 60.5 52.4 40.6 29.9 18.3 Mean (deg. F) 20.3 24.8 34.5 41.5 56.3 66.2 71.5 70.3 62.8 51.3 38.6 26.1 Days High=90 (num) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 2.2 4.3 2.9 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.6 Days High=32 (num) 19.0 12.8 5.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.3 13.2 52.6 Days Low=32 (num) 29.5 25.2 23.8 10.3 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 5.0 18.3 27.9 142.2 Days Low=0 (num) 7.0 4.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 3.4 14.8 Table 3.2 1971-2000 Precipitation data Waukegan climate station Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Totals Rainfall (inch.) 1.60 1.40 2.15 3.73 3.44 3.62 3.49 4.22 3.40 2.42 2.57 2.05 34.09 Days Total=0.01' (num) 7.9 7.1 8.7 10.4 10.6 9.7 9.1 9.4 8.6 8.3 9.3 9.1 108.4 Days Total=0.10' (num) 4.2 3.9 5.1 7.1 6.8 6.7 5.9 6.4 5.8 5.0 5.9 5.1 68.3 Days Total=0.50' (num) 1.0 0.7 1.3 2.7 2.5 2.4 2.5 3.3 2.5 1.5 1.8 1.4 24.1 Days Total=1.00' (num) 0.2 0.2 0.5 1.1 0.9 0.8 1.1 1.3 0.9 0.4 0.5 0.3 8.3 Snowfall (inches) 11.5 9.5 5.3 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.9 8.2 37.9 Days Total=0.1' (num) 4.8 4.8 2.8 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.4 4.8 20.0 Days Total=1.0' (num) 3.0 3.0 2.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 2.7 12.5 Days Total=2.0' (num) 2.0 2.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.6 7.5 Days Total=5.0' (num) 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.5 Source: Illinois State Climatologists Off ce, Illinois State Water Survey, http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/atmos/statecli/.
3.5 GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY The Dead River watershed is located within the Wheaton expanse of coastal land formed by deposition and migration Morainal Country subdivision of the physiographic division of a succession of nearly parallel beach sand ridges. Sixty-called the Great Lake Section of the Central Lowland six acres of the globally rare Panne ecosystem type is found Province. The Dead River watershed is in the area of here. Pannes are groundwater fed wetlands found within northeastern Illinois whose character resulted from the the depressions between sand ridges or dunes. Coastal most recent Wisconsin Episode of glaciation (approximately processes, such as waves, nearshore currents and f uctuating 14,000 years ago), which left drift (broken up rock and lake levels, cause the erosion, movement and distribution of sediments) and moraines (piles and ridges of rocky debris left sand and sediment along the Lake Michigan shore, which by retreating glaciers) more than 50 feet thick. The youngest present shoreline erosion and coastal management issues.
moraine in Illinois, the Zion City Moraine, is comprised of The net direction of this sand movement is southward due three small ridges in and around Zion.The Zion City Moraine to prevailing winds from the north and northeast that push is one of f ve Lake Border moraines, all roughly parallel to wave action south along the shoreline.
the present-day shoreline of Lake Michigan. The western limit of the Dead River watershed, or the watershed divide, is The topography of the Dead River watershed is variable created by the Highland Park Moraine, another Lake Border and slopes from a high point in the northwest to the east moraine. Green Bay Road (Illinois 131) generally follows the where it meets with the Lake Michigan water level elevation.
crest of this moraine through Lake County (see Figure 3.3.) It is generally f at or gently sloping in the eastern third (the beach plain), relatively f at in the western third with a few Illinois Beach State Park is part of a distinct and unique areas of greater (but still gentle) slopes, and the central third coastal landform called the Zion beach-ridge plain, an is generally f at but dissected with steep ravines formed by downcutting and other hydrologically-driven changes. (See Figure 3.4)
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 28
© Lake County FIGURE 3.2 ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK DUNE AND SWALE SYSTEM FIGURE 3.3 LAKE COUNTY LANDFORMS (data source: Illinois State Geological Survey; Lake County Department of Information; andTechnology, GIS and Mapping Division; Lake County Stormwater Management Commission.)
29 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis The stream headwaters begin at approximately 760 feet above sea level and enter the beach ridge plain at around 580 feet. Thus, the watershed elevation varies between approximately 760 feet and 575 feet at Lake Michigan. The elevation data for the watershed, depicted in Figure 3.4, was used in a number of the inventory and assessment steps of the watershed planning ef fort, including identifying watershed boundaries, f ooding assessments, and de f ning smaller drainage areas within the watershed that are referred to as Subwatershed Management Units (SMU s), which is discussed in Section 3.13.2 below.
3.5.1 RAVINES
© Conservation Design Forum The bluf f and ravine system associated with the Lake Michigan coastal plain and Bull Creek deserves special mention because it is a unique landform feature. These ravines formed prior to European settlement when water running off the western areas of the watershed towards Lake Typical ravine Michigan found the path of least resistance creating a small channel down the eastern slope of the moraine. As more water followed this same course, the channel deepended until the ravines were deeply cut through the moraine. the impervious cover, and stormwater collection and conveyance locations of the ravines are illustrated in Figure 3.4. systems, a greater volume of runoff water reaches the stream and ravines more quickly today than in the past, subjecting Over time, the ravines developed some interesting the relatively fragile slopes to more destructive runoff energy characteristics. The incision of the ravines into the underlying than prior to development.This increased speed and volume soils eventually intersected with the groundwater table of runof f entering ravines has led to destabilization and in some locations, and water slowly seeped out through erosion of the stream and ravine banks and incision of the the steep ravine banks. This water caused wetland-like stream bed. Debris blockages, common in ravines, can trap conditions to develop at the bottom of the slopes, creating sediment and cause water to back up behind the blockage unique, groundwater-fed growing conditions and plant and, in some cases, cause f ooding. Blockages also divert assemblies called fens or seeps . These fens are rare in water towards the streambanks, further exacerbating northeastern Illinois and deserve special consideration for erosion problems. Development near or adjacent to ravine preservation. These are described in further detail in Section edges and bluf fs has further compromised these systems.
3.11.3. Removal of vegetation for development reduces the stability of the soil and can cause signi f cant and catastrophic Ravines also experience microclimates, small areas where bank failure, threatening property and infrastructure. Roof the climatic conditions (such as temperature and humidity) and footing drains direct water into the ravines, adding to are dif ferent from those of the surrounding landscape, erosional forces. The sensitivity of these ravine systems, sometimes due to air masses moving up and down the combined with the problems associated with development ravines from the Lake Michigan beach plain. These air of the watershed, create special management challenges masses have different characteristics than those outside of for watershed stakeholders.
the ravines, whcih creates unique growing conditions and communities of plants and animals. Sources: Guide to the Geology of Illinois Beach State Park and the Zion Beach-Ridge Plain, Lake County , Illinois, Michael J. Chrzastowski and Wayne T. Frankie, Illinois State Geologic Survey, 2000.
Due to development of the watershed, the increase in T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 30
1 3
15 74 4
48 Lewis Ave.
27 29th St. th Str e et T rib uta ry Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve 33rd St.
ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK North Bran ch Bull Cre ek Wadsworth Rd. 59 Bull 69 64 Creek Green Bay Rd.
57 63 Beach Rd.
South BranchBu ll C re e iver k
Wi Dead R l so Sheridan Rd.
nA ven 43 ue T ri LAKE MICHIGAN b.
North Ave.
73 Yorkhouse Rd.
Glen Flora Trib.
35 McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
40 Sunset Ave.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 14 Feet 76 Legend Greenwood 13 Ave.
Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve State Park 1 Subwatershed Management Unit ID Bluff & Ravine Surface 140 Elevation (ft)
Glen Flora Ave.
Express 140 575 - 580 640 - 660 720 - 740 800 - 820 Burtick St.
way 580 - 600 660 - 680 740 - 760 No Data 11 600 - 620 680 - 700 760 - 780 620 - 640 700 - 720 780 - 800 10 This map is provided for general locational information only. Map features have been derived from various Amstuz sources, each of which has its own scale and 75 accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division United States Geological Survey FIGURE 3.4 SURFACE ELEVATION 31 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis Chicago River/Lake Shore Area Assessment Volume 1: Geology , Critical Trends Assessment Program, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Knowledge of the location of hydric soils is important for 2001. a number of reasons. Hydric soils provide an indication Ravine Systems in the Lake Michigan W atershed, Illinois. Illinois Coastal of historic wetlands and locations for potential wetland Management Program Issue Paper - TAG D. Illinois Department of Natural restoration. Hydric soils also are areas that may be prone to Resources, August 8, 2007.
f ooding or otherwise wet conditions if the infrastructure that Lake Michigan Action Plan DRAFT, June, 2006. drains the soil (tiles and ditches) is not maintained. Hydric soils occur along natural drainageways and therefore can be useful in identifying natural connections between isolated 3.6 SOILS wetlands where no apparent connection exists, and where restoration can improve hydrology.
Three categories of soil characteristics were investigated and mapped for this inventory . These were hydric soils, hydrologic soil group, and soil erodibility . Hydrologic and 3.6.2 HYDROLOGIC SOIL GROUPS hydric soils help us determine which management practices are appropriate for dif ferent applications throughout the Under a system devised by the U.S. DepartmentAgriculture, of watershed. Understanding the extent and location of hydric soils are classif ed into four hydrologic soil groups (HSG), A, soils helps to identify possible locations for restorinig former B, C, and D, based on the degree to which certain soil types wetlands. Erodible soils indicate areas where development absorb and in f ltrate precipitation. Precipitation that is not or improper management may cause erosion, and where absorbed or inf ltrated becomes runoff. Therefore, hydrologic maintaining vegetative cover can help hold soils in place. soil groupings within a watershed are one determinant of how much rainfall will run of f as surface f ow to streams. In general, Group A (sandy soils) has the highest permeability 3.6.1 HYDRIC SOILS and least runoff potential whereas Group D (predominantly clay soils) has the lowest permeability and highest runof f Hydric soils are those that have been saturated, f ooded, or potential. Figure 3.5 shows the location of Hydrologic Soil ponded long enough during the growing season to develop Groups in the Dead River watershed. Note that there are anaerobic (oxygen-lacking) conditions in the upper part or soil two classif cations for open water: Open W ater (shown as layer. These conditions favor the growth and regeneration of blue) is based on the Lake County GIS system, and HSG Z hydrophytic (wetland) vegetation. Hydric soils have unique (shown as white) is based on the county soil survey which physical and chemical properties that can be detected in the classif es water as Z. Thus, both blue and white areas are f eld. Hydric soils that are drained will retain those chemical considered as water features for this map.
and physical properties.
For many hydric soils, the runof f potential depends on the Hydric soils occur throughout the Dead River W atershed, drainage capacity of the soils. In their drained state, soils as shown in Figure 3.5. Approximately 2436 acres (24%) of tend to have lower surface runof f potential since water can 10,194 total acres are hydric soils. The hydric soils data is inf ltrate into the soil. In their natural undrained state, with from the Lake County Soil Survey developed by the Natural the water table at or near the surface, hydric soils often have Resources Conservation Service and was provided by Lake high surface runoff potential (HSG D) since the soil is already County. The greatest concentration is within Illinois Beach saturated and can not accept or inf ltrate more water. For the State Park, along some of the current or former stream mapping, hydric soils that have modi f ers such as ponded channels, and associated with current or former large or undrained, were mapped based on the undrained HSG.
wetland complexes. These hydric soils in their natural state Hydric soils with no such modi f er were mapped based on were often poorly drained soils, or well-drained soils that the drained HSG. The percentages of each HSG in the are saturated due to a high water table, typically associated watershed are shown in Table 3.3.
with wet prairies, wetlands, and streams. See Figure 3.9 Presettlement V egetation, which illustrates the location of As indicated in Figure 3.5, the hydrologic soil groups change these wet landscape elements.
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 32
1 3
15 74 4
48 Lewis Ave.
27 29th St. th Str e et Tr i bu t ar y
Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve 33rd St.
ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK North Bran ch Bull Cre ek Wadsworth Rd. 59 Bull Creek 64 69 Green Bay Rd.
57 63 Beach Rd.
South BranchBu ll C re e iver k
Wi Dead R l so Sheridan Rd.
nA ven 43 ue T ri LAKE MICHIGAN b.
North Ave.
73 Yorkhouse Rd.
Glen Flora Trib.
35 McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
40 Sunset Ave.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 14 Feet 76 Greenwood 13 Ave.
Legend Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve Subwatershed 140 Management Unit State Park Hydrologic Soil Group Glen Flora Ave.
140 wa y Burtick St.
A B C D Z 11 Hydric Soil Open Water Express 10 This map is provided for general locational information only. Map features have been derived from various Amstuz sources, each of which has its own scale and 75 accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division FIGURE 3.5 HYDROLOGIC SOIL GROUPS 33 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis from C to A moving from west to east along the topographic Table 3.3 Hydrologic Soil Groups gradient with B and C soils generally occurring west of the Hydrologic Soil Group Acres Percentage bluff line and A soils occurring in the lake plain. Most D soils HSG A 1,005 9.9%
occur within the lake plain and along the drainageways. HSG B 4,296 42.1%
Nearly all occurrences of D soils in the Dead River watershed HSG C 3,542 34.7%
are hydric and classif ed as D due to poor drainage resulting HSG D from landscape position where there is a high water table 1,197 11.7%
HSG Z rather than due to very low permeability. Some of the hydric 155 1.5%
D soils are muck soils that have very high organic content, with the greatest prevalence of muck soils occurring in the lake plain.
Hydrologic soil groups can infuence the types of management when possible, and should remain under vegetative cover measures that can be used. For example, stormwater to maintain soil stability.
inf ltration practices designed to reduce stormwater runof f by allowing some of it to seep into the ground, will be more Source: Lake County Soil Survey, U.S. Department ofAgriculture & National effective on A and B soils where permeability is higher than Resource Conservation Service, 2005.
on C and D soils, where inf ltration of water would be diff cult.
Likewise, attempting to restore wetlands on A soils, where water inf ltrates easily, would not be very successful because water will not pond or sit near the ground surface, which is typical of most wetlands.
3.6.3 SOIL ERODIBILITY Classif cation of a soil as highly erodible is dependent on both the erosion factor of the soil and the ground slope.
Erosion factor , Kw , is a measure of a soil s susceptibility to detachment and transport by rainfall. Factor K is one of several factors used to predict the average annual rate of soil loss by sheet and rill erosion in tons per acre per year . The estimates are based primarily on percentage of silt, sand, and organic matter and on soil structure and permeability .
Values of K range from 0.02 to 0.69. Other factors being equal, the higher the value, the more susceptible the soil is to sheet and rill erosion by runoff. Slope is also an important determinant of erosion potential. Erosion potential increases (for a given erosion factor) when slope increases.
In the Dead River W atershed, approximately 537 acres (5.3% of the watershed area) of soils are considered highly erodible. These results are illustrated on Figure 3.6 using Lake County GIS data. Much of the highly erodible soils are located within areas of steep slope, such as the ravines, and along the Lake Michigan bluf f east of Sheridan Road, but they also occur in other areas of the watershed.The erodible soils should be preserved from development or alteration T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 34
1 3
15 74 4
Lewis Ave.
48 27 29th St. th S tr ee tT ri b u ta ry Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve 33rd St.
ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK North Bran ch Bull Cre ek Wadsworth Rd. Bull Creek 59 69 64 Green Bay Rd.
57 63 Beach Rd.
South BranchBu ll C ree iver k
Wi Dead R lso nA Sheridan Rd.
ve 43 nue T r ib LAKE MICHIGAN North Ave.
73 Yorkhouse Rd.
Glen Flora Trib.
35 McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
40 Sunset Ave.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 14 Feet 76 13 Greenwood Ave.
Legend Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve 140 State Park 140 Glen Flora Ave.
Highly Erodible Soil w ay Burtick St.
11 E x p re s s This map is provided for general locational information only. Map features have been derived from various sources, each of which has its own scale and 10 accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission 75 Amstuz September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division FIGURE 3.6 SOIL ERODIBILITY 35 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis 3.7 WATERSHED JURISDICTIONS Members Randall E. Whitmore (2nd), Brent C.1 Paxton (4th), Robert Sabonjian (8th), Mary Ross Cunningham 3
The Dead River watershed includes parts of (9th), and Angelo D. Kyle (12th); State Representative the municipalities of Zion, Beach Park, and Eddie Washington (60th) and JoAnn Osmond (61st); State 4
Waukegan, which are responsible for most Senators Terry Link (30th) and Michael Bond (31st); United land use and development decisions, as States Representatives Melissa Bean (8th) and Mark Steven well as stormwater management, within their 48 Kirk (10th); and United States Senators Barack Obama and boundaries. Zion and W aukegan Townships Dick Durbin.
have limited jurisdictional authority within the watershed, limited primarily to some highways and roads. Lake County retains land use and development jurisdiction over unincorporated areas. The Lake County Forest Preserve District owns and manages natural areas, Lewis Ave.
Zion such as Thunderhawk Golf Course and L yons 27 29th St. th S tr ee tT Woods Forest Preserve. The State of Illinois ri b u ta 59 64 Wadsworth 69 ry Department of Natural Resources maintains Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve 33rd St.
and manages Illinois Beach State Park and the 57 ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK nature preserves within the park. Beach Park North Bra 63 nch Bull Creek Wadsworth Rd. Bull Creek Elementary School Districts in the watershed include Zion District 6, Beach park Community Wadsworth Green Bay Rd.
Consolidated District 3, and W aukegan South BranchBu Beach 43 Rd.
Community Unit 60. High School Districts ll C ree k
ver 73 Dead Ri include Zion Benton Township District 126 and Wi lso nA Sheridan Rd.
ve n Zion Waukegan Unit 60. Zion and W aukegan Park ue Tri LAKE MICHIGAN b.
Benton North Ave.
Districts manage both natural and recreational / Yorkhouse Rd.
developed parklands within the watershed. 35 Glen Flora Trib.
The North Shore / Beach Park and North McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Shore Sanitary Districts provide sanitary sewer Blanchard Rd.
service for the entire watershed. The Beach 40 Park Drainage District maintains drainage ways Waukegan within a boundary that covers portions of Beach Sunset Ave.
Park and small portions of other communities as well; its boundary does not follow the municipal 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 Feet Greenwood Ave.
boundary because the drainage district pre- Legend 14 Watershed Boundary Lake Co. Forest Preserve dates the incorporation of the village. The IL State Park 13 drainage district f rst tries to address drainage Jurisdiction Boundaries Glen Flora Ave.
Waukegan Wadsworth w ay and f ooding problems that may cause damage Unincorporated Area Burtick St.
Zion to property and/or structures and then removes Express Beach Park Township Boundary 140 debris from stream channels as a secondary 140map is provided for general locational information This goal. The Waukegan Port District is responsible only. Map features have been derived from various Amstuz sources, each of which has its own scale and accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate. 11 for W aukegan Harbor and the W aukegan Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 Regional Airport. DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division 10 Illinois Department of Natural Resources 75 The following political jurisdictions are covered by the Dead River watershed: County Board FIGURE 3.7 JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 36
FIGURE 3.7 JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES (CONTINUED) 37 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis Table 3.4 Watershed Demographics This list of jurisdictional parties and responsibilities within the Dead River Watershed Demographics watershed, and the cross-jurisdictional nature of streams and Population Households Employment other natural resources (i.e., they do not stop at jurisdictioinal Year
(%change) (%change) (%change) boundaries), demonstrates the need for cooperation and Existing 1970 44,907 (na) No data 21,791 (na) coordination among jurisdictions to achieve watershed 1980 44,635 (1%) 15,737 (na) 19,420 (-11%)
improvements. Jurisdictional boundaries are illustrated in 1990 43,757 (-2%) 15,814 (1%) 18,435 (-5%)
Figure 3.7.
2000 50,163 (15%) 16,720 (6%) 19,251 (4%)
Forecasted 2020 51,225 (2%) 19,444 (16%) 20,857 (8%)
Source: Lake County Illinois Maps Online, http://gis2.co.lake.il.us/maps/.
Table 3.5 Watershed Demographics by Municipality Dead River Watershed Demographics 3.8 WATERSHED DEMOGRAPHICS Population Households Employment Year
(%change) (%change) (%change)
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP , Beach Park 2000 10,072 3,636 565 formerly the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission) 2030 16,729 (66%) 5,674 (56%) 1,012 (79%)
is responsible for the northeastern Illinois region's of f cial Waukegan 2000 87,901 27,787 37,146 forecasts of population, households, and employment. 2030 92,714 (5%) 31,516 (13%) 44,702 (20%)
Updated every three years, these forecasts are intended Zion 2000 22,866 0,552 6,076 to portray a most likely future given market forces and the 2030 32,585 (42%) 11,390 (51%) 10,032 (65%)
impacts of expected public policy . Forecasts are based Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, endorsed 2030 largely on expected changes in local land use patterns and forecasts, September 2006.
municipal boundaries as presented by each of the region s 272 municipalities and 6 counties between the present and 2020, and between the present and 2030. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning uses the type of land use change and the area that will be af fected to determine the effect of those changes on population, employment, and housing. For example, a municipality planning to change land from a vacant manufacturing factory to single family housing can reasonably expect that change to reduce employment and increase population and households.
by the year 2030, most of which is assumed to occur outside Table 3.4 and 3.5 list demographic data for the Dead of the watershed boundaries.
River watershed and for Beach Park, W aukegan, and Zion individually. Table 3.4 shows f gures for the area of the three This type of data is useful for planning the types of municipalities within the watershed boundary only . The improvments and best management practices that are f gures in Table 3.5, however, ref ect each municipality in its most appropriate for the watershed. In a rapidly growing entirety. Population distribution is graphically represented in watershed, best management practices that prevent the Figure 3.8. The data indicates slow growth, and occassional degradation of watershed resources should be highlighted decline for some areas, in population, household, and and recommended for those areas expected to be developed employment f gures for the years 1970 to 2000. These and built. In more stable watersheds, such as Dead River /
f gures are based on actual census data. Projections from Bull Creek, recommendations for watershed improvements the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and Lake can focus more directly on restoring watershed streams and County indicate continued slow growth in population, natural resources and on installation of best management households, and employment through 2020. However , practices to reduce the impacts of the developed landscape individual municipalities are forecasted to grow signi f cantly T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 38
FIGURE 3.8 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION 39 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis on watershed resources. standards, with an understory of grasses and forbs.
Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, endorsed 2030 Except for the beach ridge and oak woodlands along forecasts, September 2006. the ravines, most of the presettlement vegetation cover types were converted to agriculture and urban land uses (including areas developed to provide living, working, 3.9 LAND USE AND COVER learning, recreation, and other uses for people.) The beach Land use and cover refer to the type of use assigned to ridge is the only large contiguous area where the existing a parcel, such as residential or commercial, and the type land cover remains generally consistent with pre-settlement of surface coverage found on a parcel, such as forest and conditions.
grassland, respectively . This information, as well as an understanding of the landscape characteristics prior to European settlement, provide a foundation for understanding 3.9.2 CULTURAL RESOURCES the impact of current and future land use on watershed resources and the restoration potential. In the 1700s, the Lake Michigan dunes area originally, which is now Illinois Beach State Park, was part of the Three Fires of the Algonquin Nation: the Potawatomi, Chippewa, 3.9.1 PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION and Ottawa. Prior to then the area had been occupied by the Miami. In the late 1600s French explorers f rst visited The pre-European settlement land cover map (Figure 3.9) for the area as part of their survey of what was then known as the Dead River watershed was derived from the US General the Northwest Territory. By the time Illinois became a state Land Survey Of f ce surveyors f eld notes. This historic in 1818, the area was full of transient hunters and trappers.
information provides signi f cant clues to understanding and In 1836, a treaty was made with the local Native Americans, planning restoration activities within the watershed. who were moved westward, and the area became part of Lake County.
The map illustrates that in the early 1800s, savanna (a mix of scattered oak trees within prairies) covered the majority A number of historical structures, primarily homes and current of the upland areas in the central and western thirds of and former businesses, are found within the watershed.
the watearshed, and beach ridge (a ridge of sand running With regard to archeological potential, however , the parallel to the shoreline) covered the eastern third along Illinois Historic Preservation Agency does not make known the Lake Michigan shoreline that is now Illinois Beach archaeological areas available to the public. Nonetheless, State Park. The beach ridge consisted of low dunes that it is the professional opinion of the planning team that any were typically capped with stunted cedars, juniper berries remaining archeological resources would be found either and pine, oak and willow trees. A few large areas of oak within the beach ridge plain and Illinois Beach State Park, woodlands (wooded areas dominated by oak species but also including other tree and shrub species) existed along the ridges and ravines that now line Sheridan Road, with a small line of upland forest extending up the Bull Creek ravine.
A few small patches of wet meadow, wet prairie and marsh (types of wetlands, with wet meadow the driest and marsh the wettest of those listed) were scattered within the central area of the watershed. The savannah ecosystem type, which is now globally rare, occurred along the intersection of the great Eastern forests and the Midwestern open prairies. Its open, pleasant character and fertile soils resulted in mass conversion of these lands for agriculture and settlement.
Oak woodland landscapes were more densely wooded than savanna, but would have been considered open by today s T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 40
1 3
15 74 4
Lewis Ave.
48 27 29th St. th S tr ee tT ri b u ta ry Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve 33rd St.
ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK North Bran ch Bull Cre ek Wadsworth Rd. 59 Bull Creek 69 64 Greenbay Rd.
57 63 Beach Rd.
South BranchBu ll C ree iver k
Wi Dead R lso nA Sheridan Rd.
en v 43 ue Tri LAKE MICHIGAN b.
North Ave.
73 Yorkhouse Rd.
Glen Flora Trib.
35 McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
40 Sunset Ave.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 14 Feet 13 76 Greenwood Ave.
Legend Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve State Park 140 Presettlement Land Cover Existing Open Water Glen Flora Ave.
w ay 140 Marsh Prairie Beach Ridge Burtick St.
11 E x p re s s Wet Meadow/Prairie Oak Woodlands Savanna Upland Forest 10 This map is provided for general locational information only. Map features have been derived from various 75 Amstuz sources, each of which has its own scale and accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division FIGURE 3.9 PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION 41 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis along the coast of Lake Michigan, or along streams and Table 3.6 Existing Land Use and Cover within watershed ravines and surrounding areas. Land Use & Cover Acres Percentage Agricultural 201 1.9%
Source: www.stateparks.com/illinois_beach. Commercial 209 2.0%
Government and Institutional 268 2.6%
3.9.3 EXISTING LAND USE Industrial 164 1.6%
Multi Family 98 0.9%
The composition of existing land use and cover for the Single Family 2,651 25.4%
Dead River watershed are shown in Table 3.6 and Figure Transportation, Utility and Waste 3.10. The watershed consists primarily of older developed 2,218 21.3%
Facilities neighborhoods, with some more recent development Forest and Grassland 935 9.0%
occurring in the western, headwaters of the watershed. In Public and Private Open Space 2,791 26.8%
aggregate, natural and open lands, located largely in the Wetlands 658 6.3%
coastal plain of the watershed, comprise more than a third of Water 226 2.2%
the land area in the watershed and single family residential a quarter. This information is used to understand the impacts of development on watershed resources and water quality ,
and will be used as part of the non-point source pollution loading modeling in Section 3.14.4.
Single and multi family residential development make up a little over one quarter (26.3%) of the watershed acreage.
Table 3.7 Land Use Categories Land Use & Cover Category Def nition Agricultural Cropland, pastureland, orchards, nurseries and greenhouse operations, and horse farms and stables.
Shopping malls and parking, off ce and research parks, off ce buildings and hotels, retail (such as department Commercial stores, grocery stores, hardware stores), and cultural / entertainment (such as museums, historic sites, fairgrounds, recreation centers, yacht clubs, and marinas and harbors).
Forested land or grassland that is vacant, which means undeveloped and unused land, forests not located within Forest and Grassland parks or forest preserves, and other land that has not been developed for any human purpose.
Government administration and services, medical and health facilities, educational facilities, correctional facilities, Government and Institutional and religious facilities.
Mining, mineral extraction, manufacturing and processing, warehousing and distribution centers, wholesale facilities, Industrial and industrial parks.
Multi Family Apartment and retirement complexes.
Parks, golf courses, nature preserves, playgrounds and athletic f elds when associated with another open space Public and Private Open Space activity, swimming beaches, camping and picnicking, and group or organized camps & retreats Single Family Single homes, duplex homes, townhomes, and farmhouses.
Transportation, Utility and Waste Roads, railroads, airports, non-residential parking areas; communications (telephone, radio, and television facilities, towers, and dishes; utilities (power lines, gas, water, sewage, solid waste / landf lls, pipelines, treatment plants and Facilities power substations); and rights-of-way for these uses.
Water Rivers, streams canals, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, lagoons, and Lake Michigan.
Wetlands Wetlands over 0.25 acres in size.
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 42
1 3
15 74 4
Lewis Ave.
48 27 29th St. th S tr ee tT ri b u ta ry Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve 33rd St.
ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK North Bran ch Bull Cre ek Wadsworth Rd. 59 64 Bull Creek 69 Green Bay Rd.
57 63 Beach Rd.
South BranchBu ll C ree iver k
Wi Dead R lso nA Sheridan Rd.
ve 43 nue T ri LAKE MICHIGAN b.
North Ave.
73 Yorkhouse Rd.
Glen Flora Trib.
35 McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
40 Sunset Ave.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 14 Feet 76 13 Greenwood Ave.
Legend Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve State Park 140 Existing Land Use Institutional Commercial Transportation, Utility Glen Flora Ave.
140 Agricultural Industrial and Waste Facilities w ay 11 Burtick St.
Forest and Grassland Multi Family Water E x p re s s Open Space Single Family Wetlands 10 This map is provided for general locational information only. Map features have been derived from various 75 Amstuz sources, each of which has its own scale and accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division Lake County Planning, Building and Development This map does not represent a pure land use map in as such, as it contains land cover designations such as 'wetlands' and 'forest and grassland.' A true land use map would have those areas being
'vacant' and otherwise having no 'use.'
FIGURE 3.10 EXISTING LAND USE 43 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis Commercial, industrial, transportation, utility , and waste Table 3.8 Future Land Use and Cover (Illinois 2020)
(landf ll) facilities make up 24.9% of the watershed, and Change from 2006 government and institutional only 2.6%. Combined, the Future Land Use Area (Acres) Percentage (Acres) urban land uses make up 53.8% of the watershed area.
Agricultural 0 0.0% -201 Agricultural land, forest and grassland, open space (including Commercial 407 4.0% 198 recreational areas and some nature preserves), water , and Institutional 125 1.2% -143 wetlands make up 46.2% of the watershed - a large portion of which are the publicly held Illinois Beach State Park and Industrial 28 0.3% -136 Lyons Woods Forest Preserve and three golf courses. Open Multi Family 373 3.6% 275 space is typically different from forest and grasslands in that Single Family 3,551 34.6% 900 it is usually associated with at least some sort of human use, Mixed Use 185 1.8% 185 from bird watching in a nature preserve to soccer f elds. Transportation, Utility Review of Figure 3.10 shows signi f cant open space along and Waste Facilities 2,097 20.4% -121 Lake Michigan except to the south where the lake plain is Open Space 3,371 32.8% -1013 covered by industrial and utility land uses. Transportation Water 136 1.3% -90
/ Utility (Waukegan airport) also covers a signi f cant portion of the west central portion of the watershed. Commercial use is located primarily along Sheridan Road and Lewis Avenue. Single family residential is scattered throughout the Road, Wadsworth Road, and Yorkhouse Road, as well as watershed, intermixed with pockets of multi-family residential, along Green Bay Road. Conversion of 1200 acres of open institutional, and wetlands. lands to more urban uses is expected to occur , primarily to residential use, in the northwest and southwest quarters of the watershed. Interestingly , some existing development 3.9.4 FUTURE LAND USE land uses are indicated as changing to a dif ferent land use.
For example, the area around the State Highway 173 and Through land use decisions and development standards Kenosha Road intersection is planned to become primarily and controls, the municipalities and Lake County have the industrial and commercial with some multifamily residential majority of the land use discretion to determine the future and mixed use development. Lewis Avenue is planned to of the watershed. Without proper attention to development become a commercial and industrial corridor rather than location and design, future impacts to watershed could primarily residential and open space. The northern half of include increased f ooding and streambank erosion and the Sheridan Road will convert from residential and scattered degradation of water quality , aquatic habitat, and f oristic commercial to mixed use development.
diversity. A note on land use tables andf gures: the categories and acreage totals for the existing and future land uses are According to this table, we can assume that the Dead different due to differences in the way Lake County and the River watershed will become more heavily residential and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning categorize and commercial by converting agricultural, institutional, industrial, calculate them. For example, it is unlikely that the watershed and especially open spaces to residential and commercial will lose 90 acres of due to conversion or other land use use. Typically, conversion of industrial and institutional land change, though this is how the data is currently reported. to residential use results in less impervious cover and a lower impact on water runoff and quality than industrial and Table 3.8 and Figure 3.1 1 show the distribution of future institutional. This is due largely to the reduction of parking lots land use and cover for the Dead River watershed and and an increase in turf grass lawn coverage. However , this is based on municipal comprehensive plans and data apparent gain will be more than of fset by the water quality provided by the Lake County Department of Information and runoff impacts that will result from convertion of open and Technology. Much of the watershed is expected to be space and agricultural land to more urban uses, including single family residential in 2020 (35%) with commercial and residential, due to the increase in impervious cover.
industrial uses clustered along Lewis Avenue, Sheridan T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 44
1 3
15 74 4
Lewis Ave.
48 27 29th St. th S tr ee tT ri b u ta ry Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve 33rd St.
ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK North Bran ch Bull Cre ek Wadsworth Rd. 59 64 Bull Creek 69 Green Bay Rd.
57 63 Beach Rd.
South BranchBu ll C ree iver k
Wi Dead R lso nA Sheridan Rd.
ve 43 nue T ri LAKE MICHIGAN b.
North Ave.
73 Yorkhouse Rd.
Glen Flora Trib.
35 McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
40 Sunset Ave.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 14 Feet 76 13 Greenwood Ave.
Legend Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve State Park Future140 Land Use - IL Industrial Open Space Glen Flora Ave.
140 w ay Agricultural Multi Family Water Institutional Single Family Transportation, 11 Burtick St.
Utility and Waste Facilities E x p re s s Mixed Use Commercial This map is provided for general locational information 10 only. Map features have been derived from various sources, each of which has its own scale and 75 Amstuz accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division This map does not represent a pure land use map in as such, as it contains land cover designations such as 'wetlands' and 'forest and grassland.' A true land use map would have those areas being
'vacant' and otherwise having no 'use.'
FIGURE 3.11 FUTURE LAND USE 45 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis Land use conversion from primarily open to a more urban (See Figure 3.12.) These recommendations are likely to land use will increase the impervious cover of the watershed, have a positive impact on the City of W aukegan, watershed which will also have a signi f cant impact on f ooding, water resources, and Lake Michigan and its shoreline.
quality, and other watershed resources. To help reduce the negative impact of additional impervious surfaces, best The plan recommends sensitive redevelopment of the North management practices should be integrated into development Harbor, which suffers from an industrial legacy (as detailed in designs wherever possible. Conversely , the redevelopment the Water Quality section), and ecological and hydrological that is projected for the watershed provides opportunities to restoration of the valuable and rare North Lakefront, which provide stormwater BMPs for urban areas that currently have will include wetlands, beach habitat, and public access and little or no stormwater controls. Conservation development, recreation. The North Lakefront will be reconnected to Illinois a practices that attempts to preserve the drainage and Beach State Park, Lake Michigan, and other local open space inf ltration capactiy of the developed landscape, is another resources (ravines, the W aukegan River , and the Robert very effective way to ameliorate the negative ef fects of land McClory bike trail), both recreationally and ecologically.
use conversion.
The W aukegan Moorlands, located generally along North Discussions to expand the Waukegan Regional Airport to the Sand Street, east of the Union Paci f c tracks and west of north and east of its current footprint are currently underway. Midwest Generation and bounded by East Greenwood These discussions have resulted from the desire to improve Avenue to the north, will be an open space area containing safety and accommodate future demand by lengthening restored wetlands, waterways, wildlife habitat, and and/or relocating the airport's primary runway . A number recreation trails that will interface with future potential open of alternatives exist for the airport, some of which would space integrated into the current arrangement of public and include the acquisition and conversion of residential, open private property. Partnerships with local landowners such as
/ recreational, and commercial land uses to transportation, Midwest Generation and the North Shore Sanitary District utility, and waste facility land use category . Alternative will be essential to this ef fort. The Moorlands also may expansion designs would likely convert between 128 to 290 include the restoration of the former Little Dead River (see acres of existing land uses for airport use. The impact on Figure 3.24) and the creation of treatment wetlands for North imperviousness in the area is unknown, since the areas of Shore Sanitary District overf ow.
runway and turf grass of the airport expansion are unknown at this time. However , any change may result in additional The plan recognizes the global importance of the freshwater discharges of airport-related engine and deicing chemicals dune and swale system of the lakefront and recommends into the Bull Creek stream system. However , when properly enhancing and expanding this ecosystem within the North implemented, the airport's spill prevention plan can Lakefront area and as an extension of Illinois Beach State signif cantly reduct the risk of impact to water quality and Park. In spite of the industrial legacy of the area, remnant watershed resources. This plan is discussed in Section ecosystems remain including fore-dune wetlands adjacent 3.14.4 of this chapter. to the beach and patches of plants and wetlands.
3.9.5 W AUKEGAN LAKEFRONT 3.9.6 ZION NUCLEAR POWER STATION REVITALIZATION The Zion Nuclear Power Station site, located on the Lake In December of 2003 the W aukegan City Council amended Michigan shoreline between the Illinois Beach State Park its Comprehensive Plan to incorporate A 21st Century Vision North and South Units at the southeastern corner of the for W aukegans Downtown and Lakefront Master Plan as watershed, was permanently shut down and retired in part of the overall land use strategy. The Master Plan, which February, 1998 after 25 years of operation. In March 2008, establishes the planning and actions necessary for a revitalized plans were announced to decommission the plant over the downtown and lakefront, includes recommendations for the next 10 years at a cost of approximately $978 million. The area from W aukegan Harbor to Illinois Beach State Park. City of Zion plans the future land use of this area to be single family residential.
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 46
© City of Waukegan FIGURE 3.12 WAUKEGAN LAKEFRONT MASTER PLAN 47 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis components of the watershed green infrastructure system, The proximity of this site to Lake Michigan and the valuable which is discussed in Section 3.12. The location of these natural resources of Illinois Beach State Park suggest that resources are shown in Figures 3.13 and 3.17.
signif cant care should be taken to ensure that appropriate land use and stormwater management measures are used 3.11.1 ILLINOIS BEACH ST ATE P ARK AND for the decommissioning and eventual redevelopment or PRESERVE restoration of this site.
Sources: Lake County , Illinois, Department of Planning Building and llinois Beach State Park (and Spring Bluff Nature Preserve in Development. the Kellogg Creek watershed, which is included here as part A 21st Century V ision for W aukegans Downtown and Lakefront, City of of the Illinois Beach State Park description) is a 3000-acre Waukegan, 2003. biologically rich area in Illinois, containing approximately 2000 acres of Illinois Nature Preserves (Illinois North Dunes Nature Preserve and Illinois Beach Nature Preserve), and 3.10 TRANSPORTATION a very high concentration and diversity of threatened and endangered species and rare plant communities. Illinois According to state and local transportation authorities, no Beach Nature Preserve was the f rst dedicated Nature signif cant roadway construction projects are planned in Preserve in Illinois and is a National Natural Landmark.
the watershed except for two highway resurfacing projects Illinois Beach is visited by an average 2.8 million people planned by the Illinois Department of Transportation. One annually for a variety of pastimes including birdwatching, is on Illinois Route 137 (Sheridan Road) from Russell Road hiking, photography, and botany.
to Greenwood Avenue (7.9 miles). The other is on Illinois Route 173 (Rosecrans Road / Bethlehem Avenue) from Together these natural areas support 14 dif ferent natural IL-131 (Green Bay Road) to IL-137 (Sheridan Road) (3.06 community types (unique assemblages of plants and miles.) Stakeholders, however , suggested that discussions animals), including 66 acres of the globally signi f cant Lake have occurred regarding the widening of Green Bay Road Michigan panne, 1 11 acres of sand savanna (a regionally and narrowing Sheridan Road in the future. declining upland habitat with a sandy soil), sedge meadow (wetlands found along streams, f oodplains, and upland The impact of streets and highways on the watershed, depressions in the landscape that occassionally hold water),
particularly water quality , is signi f cant. Table 3.9 lists a wet prairie (a wetland type with a specif c set of plants), dune number of water quality pollutants and their sources, all of (sand ridge), and lakeshore . The palustrine (non-f owing or which are associated with the transportation system. Rain ponded) wetlands found here are considered nationally water f owing over the surface of our streets can carry these decreasing and of regional and local conservation concern.
pollutants into our wetlands, streams and Lake Michigan, Over 500 species of plants and 300 species of animals are where they can accumulate and impair the quality of these known to occur here, and the complex provides habitat for resources for aquatic life. Furthermore, Lake Michigan is the 160 migratory bird species. According to one report, Illinois source of drinking water for millions of people, and removing Beach State Park is the highest quality natural area in the these pollutants prior to consumption is an expensive Lake Michigan watershed in Illinois. Studies also indicate process.
that a dune remnant that is approximately one mile south of Source: Illinois Department of Transportation FY 2006-201 1 Proposed Highway Improvement Program, Highway District 1 Lake County. the Park contains amphibian species richness that exceeds Watershed stakeholders, personal communication. two nearby nature preserves.
Over 6 miles of some of the last remaining undeveloped shoreline in the state exist here in a series of dry sand ridges, 3.11 NATURAL RESOURCES black oak sand savanna, dunes, and high quality wetland swales including sedge meadow , marsh, fen, and 66 acres This section of the plan describes the natural areas within of a globally-rare plant community called Lake Michigan the Dead River watershed, including parks, preserves, panne. Pannes are shallow troughs of sand kept wet by the plant and animal species concerns, ravines, wetlands, and water table and/or springs within nearby dunes, which often recreational trails. These features make up some of the T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 48
1 3
15 74 Robert McClory Bike Path 4
Lewis Lew w Ave.
48 29th St. 27 th S tr ee tT !
ri b u ta w Golf rhawk ! Robert McClory Bike Path ry estt Preserve Preserve Illinois Beach Loop ILLINOIS O BEA BEACH A H STATE STA TATE P PAR PARK RK Noorrtth th Br B anncchh B Wadsworth Rd. 59 Creek C
Cr eek !
69 Bull Creek 64 ! !
Green Bay Rd.
57 63 Beach Rd.
Bea !
SSouth outh Branch B r a nc h B u ll C ! !!! !
ree ! !!
k !
Wi l so nA Sheridan S
Sh eridan Rd.
Rd.
ve 43 nue T r ib !
North Ave.
73 !
Yorkhouse Rd. !
35 to Illinois Beach State Park ! !
Wadsworth Glen Glen Flora Flora Trib.
T ib.
Tr McAree Rd.
! Lyons Ly ns W Forest Fore r
Woods ood ds Preserve P r serv re rve Blanchard n Rd.
Rd. !
40 !!
De ad Riv er !
Sunset Ave. !
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 14 Feet 76 w
wood Greenwood A Av ve..
v Ave.
13 !
Legend ! !
Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve 140 State Park !
Natural 140 Areas Glen Flora Ave. !
Existing Greenways w ay ! !!
Nature Preserve 11 Burtick St.
Proposed Greenways E xp ress ! !!
Threatened and Existing Trails Endangered Species Proposed Trails 10 This map is provided for general locational information !
75 only. Map features have been derived from various !!
Amstuz sources, each of which has its own scale and accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission !!
September, 2007 !
DATA SOURCES: !
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division Illinois Department of Natural Resources Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning FIGURE 3.13 NATURAL AREAS, TRAILS, AND THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES 49 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - BASED PLAN
3 watershed inventory and analysis support uniques assemblages of plant species . Only a few Table 3.9 Illinois Beach State Park Invasive and Exotic Species hundred acres of this wetland community are believed to Common Name Scientif c Name exist anywhere in the world. Common Reed Phragmites australis Reed Canary Grass Phalaris arundinacea These systems support a wide variety of species including a number of those listed in Appendix A, which are at risk of Narrow-leaved and Hybrid Typha angustifolia and T. x Cattails glauca being lost forever. The Federally threatened Pitchers (Dune)
Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicarea Thistle and Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid are the subjects of a population recovery plan at Illinois Beach State Park, Crown vetch Corollia varia which is also being assessed for reintroduction of the Karner Multif ora Rose Rosa multif ora blue butter f y which feeds on the Wild lupine found there. Black Locust Robinea psuedoacacia Illinois Beach State Park provides both wetland and upland Bush Honeysuckles Lonicera spp nesting habitats for the state endangered Blandings turtle, Glossy Buckthorn Franula alnus as well as a suite of wetland birds and rare insect species.
Sheeps Fescue Festuca obtuse The water courses within the park provide important Kentucky Blue Grass Poa pretense spawning and nursery habitat for yellow perch, northern Cottonwood Populus deltoids pike, longnose sucker , blacknose shiner , and blackchin Box elder Acer negundo shiner. Restoration and creation of wetlands with a surface Willow Salix interior and Salix nigra water linkage to the open waters of Lake Michigan, such as Weeping Willow Salix babylonica those in Illinois Beach State Park, may be critical shelter ,
Cypress spurge Euphporbia cyparissias spawning and feeding habitat necessary for the recovery of aquatic Great Lakes species. However , Dead River, one Sweet Clover Melilotus spp.
of the few remaining natural tributaries to Lake Michigan Canada Thistle Cirsuim arvense in Illinois, may be too small and shallow to function as Lyme Grass Elymus arenarius substantial aquatic habitat for Great Lakes f sh species.
Much of the shoreline of the park has been designated critical habitat for the federally endangered piping plover and other migratory bird species including the Caspian tern, common tern, oldsquaw, black scoter, willet, whimbrel, and sanderling. Due to the regionally important resting and foraging areas for migrating shorebirds and raptors, and breeding habitat for grassland and wetland birds, Illinois Beach State Park has also been designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society (2004).
State and Federally Listed Species Illinois Beach State Park contains suitable habitat for 4 federally threatened or endangered species as well as a
© Illinois Department of Natural Resources number of state-listed endangered and threatened plant and animal species, as listed in Appendix A. According to expert knowledge of the insect diversity of the area, out of 31 insect species identif ed as state imperiled (found at only 1 or 2 sites statewide), 20 are found only at Illinois Beach.
An endangered species is one that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a signi f cant portion of the area in which it lives. A threatened species is one that is likely to become Illinois Beach State Park dune and swale system is classi f ed as ADID wetland #1650.
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 50
© Illinois Department of Natural Resources / Deb Nelson Prairie white-fringed orchid
© Illinois Department of Natural Resources
© Illinois Department of Natural Resources / Deb Nelson FIGURE 3.14 ILLINOIS BEACH ST ATE P ARK MAJOR RESTORATION AREAS Karner blue butterf y and pitcher's thistle
© Illinois Department of Natural Resources / Deb Nelson Woodland management 51 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis endangered in teh foreseeable future. The State of Illinois monthly workdays to conduct invasive species control, seed determines standards for listing species that live within the collection, brush cleariing, and monitoring of conditions.
borders of the state regardless of how rare or common they Major restoration areas are shown in Figure 3.14.
are outside those borders. A Federally listed species must be threatened or endangered throughout all or a signi f cant Shoreline Erosion portion of the geographic range in which it lives. Sand movement along the Lake Michigan shoreline (also called littoral transport, see Figure 3.16) is a natural process Management and Restoration driven by wind and currents that serves to regenerate and Management plans for the Illinois Beach State Park Nature maintain the natural shoreline and the communities that Preserves have been developed that focus on exotic species depend on it. Some of the threatened and endangered and their negative impacts to native communities, with some species found in the park depend on this sand movement to mention of the movement of sediment, exotic species seeds maintain their habitat, such as the piping plover and Pitcher's (reed canary grass, phragmites), and other water-borne thistle. However , beach erosion, driven by wind, water pollutants into the park through stormwater runof f from the currents, and shoreline structures, is a major management Dead River watershed. However , these plans are neither issue for Illinois Beach State Park and has already caused comprehensive nor highly detailed, and updated restoration the loss of a number of acres of beach and dune plant and management plans should be developed. communities, including the unique Lake Michigan panne ecosystem type and habitat for threatened and endangered Stewards are actively managing 20 invasive plant species species. The area most af fected by beach erosion extends at Illinois Beach using an integrated approach that includes generally from the marina south to the Zion Nuclear Power mowing, hand pulling, brush clearing, prescribed burns, and Station, but other areas may be more mildly af fected. If this carefully timed and targeted herbicide application. However, loss of beach continues, these species and the rare habitat increases in sediment and nutrient loads in surface water that supports them, could be lost forever. Figure 3.15 shows f ow from the entire watershed are associated with changes the extent of erosion between 1967 and 2006.
that favor invasive species and degrade the native plant community. Roads, culverts, ditching, f uctuating Lake Management measures have been attempted, such as pea Michigan levels, and beaver activity also have altered the gravel stabilization, sand replenishment, and armoring, yet hydrology in Illinois Beach State Park in complicated ways these and other solutions are expensive and have not proved causing f ooding in some places and drying of wetlands to be very successful.These and other solutions, such as the in others. Invasive species tend to do will in these areas construction of structures to slow erosion, also can cause where the presettlement conditions have been altered and other problems such as the loss of aesthetic, recreational, destabilized. Invasive plant species move by a variety of and biological values. According to one stakeholder , sand methods, the most common being seed dispersion by replenishment from sources in the vicinity of W aukegan wind, water, and animals eating and excreting or otherwise Harbor, which is known to be contaminated with a variety carrying and depositing seeds. Some invasive plants spread of substances, may pose the additional complications via underground roots. The most aggressive and invasive of moving contaminated materials into uncontaminated plant species that are degrading conditions at Illinois Beach areas. The continued movement and loss of the Lake State Park are included in Table 3.9. Michigan shoreline is an ongoing management issue that is complicated by the competing needs and desires of those Nearly $200,000 in grant supported restoration and habitat who use the lakefront.
enhancement funds have been applied to improving conditions at the park. In early 2007, it was announced that Potential Contamination Issue a $350,000 federal National Coastal W etland Conservation Asbestos containing materials (ACM) and asbestos particles grant has been awarded to fund habitat restoration / invasive and f bers are also known to be present in Illinois Beach species removal projects on 240 acres at Illinois Beach State Park. The degree of human health risk associated with State Park and Spring Bluf f Nature Preserve, the latter in asbestos, however, continues to be in dispute by the various the adjacent Kellogg Creek watershed. Ongoing volunteer public and private interests involved in the issue. Additional opportunities to help manage and restore the park include information can be found at the US Department of Health and T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 52
1967 SHORELINE
© Illinois Department of Natural Resources / Illinois State Geologic Survey 2006 SHORELINE
© Illinois Department of Natural Resources FIGURE 3.15 ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK SHORELINE EROSION FIGURE 3.16 LITTORAL (SAND) TRANSPORT Natural processes that contribute to the movement of sand and sediment along the lakeshore. Sediment can move in either direction depending on the direction of the wave approach, but the net direction predominates.
© Illinois Department of Natural Resources Beach erosion has exposed this buried pipe from 11 feet in 2003 to over 20 feet in 2005, Illinois Beach State Park 53 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
- Investigate any potential artif cial or disturbed hydrologic Registry (http://www .atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/illinoisbeach/ conditions that may be negatively impacting L yons ibp_toc.html) and the Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society Woods. This may include removing drain tiles and (www.illinoisdunesland.org). working with watershed stakeholders to reduce erosion and increase stormwater in f ltration within the Dead 3.11.2 LYONS WOODS NATURE PRESERVE River watershed to help reduce sedimentation and surface water inputs into Lyons Woods.
The 264-acre L yons Woods preserve was assembled and acquired as a Forest Preserve due to its history and natural
- Continue to implement prescribed f re to restore quality between 1976 and 1986 and lies within the Zion City and maintain wet prairie, savanna, and woodland Moraine geologic formation. It is a dedicated Nature Preserve communities and reduce densities of invasive species.
and uses are listed as threatened and endangered species preservation, wildlife habitat, wildlife viewing, and recreational
- Continue control of invasive species such as reed trails. The diverse range of natural communities include an canary grass and buckthorn.
old pine nursery (planted by hand), wet prairie, oak savanna (savanna with dispersed oak trees), fen (a groundwater fed
- Continue monitoring plant and wildlife populations to wetland), and oak woods containing white, bur , and black assess any changes in quality , diversity and habitat oaks, as well as a variety of bird species including the use over time and adapt management and restoration bluebird. Over 260 plant species and several threatened and activities based on responses of plant and wildlife endangered plant and animal species are found here, and communities.
a Floristic Quality Index of 76 indicates a good diversity of plant species and a high quality resource area. The Floristic In 2005, 565 trees and shrubs were planted to help restore Quality Index is a tool for measuring habitat quality based on savanna habitat. In 2006 and 2007, invasive woody plant a survey of existing vegetation. Areas with an FQI greater species were cleared on 136 of the preserve 264 acres.
than 50 is extremely rare and found in less thean 5% of the land area in the Chicago region.
3.11.3 RA VINES Former land use activities that have destroyed or degraded the presettlement condition of the preserve, such as clearing, Lake Michigan ravines have been found to contain unique farming, grazing, the pine plantation, invasive species, loss assemblages of plant and animal communities, including of savanna habitat, and possibly wetland drainage, have some species that are locally rare. Due to their proximity to made management and restoration a challenge for preserve Lake Michigan, ravines may exhibit a cooler climate regime staff. Although a detailed management and restoration plan than the surrounding lands and natural communities that has not been developed for L yons W oods, management are normally found further north can be found within the activities are underway . The primary goal is to restore a ravines. Species that may be found there include paper birch landscape-scale savanna ecosystem with wet prairie and (Betula papyrifera), white pine (Pinus strobus), arbor vitae open woodland as secondary communities where present (Thuja occidentalis), Canadian buf falo-berry (Shephardia and appropriate. The following are the most pertinent Canadensis) and star f ower (T rientalis borealis). In some restoration and management issues that have or need to be locations, ravines intersect the groundwater table, causing addressed. percolation of groundwater to the surface and the formation of a seep or fen . This unique environment supports
- Continue ecological restoration to maintain and plants not found elsewhere, and a few of these have been improve the native plant communities and unique found along Bull Creek. Unfortunately , due to changes in natural diversity of L yons W oods. This encompasses the watershed and its runof f characteristics, these unique the savanna, open woodland, black oak savanna, and systems are in danger of being lost if they are not preserved wet prairie that dominated the majority of the preserve. and managed.
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 54
1 3
15 74 1659 4 4
Lewis Ave.
48 29th St. 3 27 th S tr ee tT ri b u ta ry Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve 33rd St.
ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK North Bran ch Bull Cre ek Wadsworth Rd. Bull Creek 59 64 69 2 1 Green Bay Rd.
57 1650 63 Beach Rd.
South BranchBu ll C ree iver k
5 Wi Dead R lso nA Sheridan Rd.
en v 43 ue Tr ib .
LAKE MICHIGAN North Ave.
73 Yorkhouse Rd.
Glen Flora Trib.
35 7
McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods 1831 Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
6 40 Sunset Ave.
0 2,000 4,000 1693 6,000 Feet 14 13 76 Greenwood Ave.
Legend Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve State Park 140 Watershed Hydrology Hydric Soils Glen Flora Ave.
140 Major Water Streams w ay 1832 Burtick St.
11 E x p re s s Wetlands ADID Wetlands 1 Described in Plan 1 ADID ID 10 This map is provided for general locational information only. Map features have been derived from various 75 Amstuz sources, each of which has its own scale and accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division FIGURE 3.17 WATERSHED WETLANDS AND HYDRIC SOILS 55 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis 3.11.4 WETLANDS local agencies to inventory, evaluate, and map high quality wetland and stream resources. Overall, these wetlands Wetlands, once prevalent within northeastern Illinois, demonstrated the following characteristics:
have continued to decline in area and quality . W etlands are of interest to watershed studies of this sort due to the
- Limited vegetative wetland quality and invasive species benef ts they provide. These benef ts include absorbing and of Cattails, Reed Canary Grass, and Phragmites are moderating the f ow of runof f from the landscape, reducing present in some combination at almost all the wetland the risk and damage of f ooding by providing space for areas assessed by CDF.
excess water to go, f ltration and cleansing pollutants from
- Open water areas and cattail marshes may still provide runoff, and as important habitat for watershed wildlife. some water quality improvement and runoff retention.
- Larger wetland complexes and shrub thickets may Currently, approximately 3106 acres (31% of the entire provide some wildlife habitat opportunities.
watershed area) of wetlands exist within the Dead River
- Some wetland seeps were noted along Bull Creek.
watershed, including 1831 acres of wetlands (59% of the total wetland acreage) within Illinois Beach State Park. This Map Location 1 3106 acres is 946 acres less than an estimated original 4052 Small, backwater wetland within Bull Creek probably formed acres of wetlands, a loss of approximately 23% of the original due to fallen trees within creek. V egetation consisted of wetland acreage, indicating that 946 acres of wetlands are sedges and Green Ash saplings. Due to the wetland s size, potentially restorable. The number of acres of wetland lost limited functions would be provided.
was estimated by calculating the area of hydric soil not classif ed as wetland, assuming that these areas were once Map Location 2 wetlands and have since been drained and/ or developed. Wetland seep area. Skunk Cabbage was noted along the The majority of these losses have occurred in SMUs 3B, 3C, north slope of Bull Creek. Otherwise the ground plain was and 5. Wetlands and hydris soils are shown in Figure 3.17. mostly devoid of vegetation within this immediate area.
Potential wetland restoration sites are shown in Figure 3.18 Mature trees of Sugar Maple dominate the area. Occasional seeps were noted along the N. B. Bull Creek.
During a rapid watershed assessment in 2006, Conservation Design Forum observed seven wetlands within the Dead Map Location 3 River watershed using a rapid assessment of wetland Wetland associated with the 27th StreetTributary is dominated vegetation. Due to time and resource constraints, the by Reed Canary Grass and consists of a shrubby area that site reconnaissance of these wetlands was very limited is predominantly Multi-f ora Rose and Gray Dogwood. Other and several of the areas were only assessed from the invasive species of buckthorn and honeysuckle are present road. Thus, the information presented here should not be along the upland edge. This area provides some habitat and considered representative of the watershed as a whole, water quality functions.
but only as observations. As a result, this information is not used in the Action Plan to make speci f c recommendations Map Location 4 about speci f c management measures for wetlands, but to Wetland associated with tributary located east and west of make more general statements about the need for wetland Lewis Avenue. Wetland is a cattail marsh that is dominated restoration. Nonetheless, those wetlands that were observed by Hybrid x cattail and Reed Canary Grass. Other vegetation were of marginal vegetative quality , however, it is probable noted included Green Bulrush, Redtop, Grass-leaved that they can continue to provide some water quality benef ts Goldenrod, bidens, and willow. The marsh on the west side for the watershed. of Lewis Avenue is surrounded by thicket. This wetland provides some wildlife and water quality functions.
Locations of the seven wetlands observed are provided in Figure 3.17. A summary of the observed wetlands, as well as Map Location 5 the reported conditions of Advanced Identif cation of Aquatic Mapped wetland habitat is not present. Given the size of the Resources (or ADID) W etland 1650 and 1831, follows. existing trees, it does not appear that this area had been ADID is a cooperative ef fort between federal, state, and f lled within the past several years.
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 56
Map Location 6 A large portion of the wetland habitat is cattail marsh; this area was inundated during the November site visit. Reed Canary Grass 27th S tr ee tT r
is also prevalent amongst the cattails.
ta i bu y
r 29th St.
Phragmites dominates an extensive portion of the wetland area surrounding the cattail Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve No rth Br an 33rd St.
marsh. It appears that Phragmites has ch Bu ll C r ee Lewis Ave.
k been there for a while since no other plant species except for occasional Field Thistle Wadsworth Rd. ll Creek Bu Sheridan Rd.
plants were present within that portion of the Phragmites colony that was traversed. Beach Rd.
Green Bay Rd.
South Branch Bu ll C
Given the size of this wetland system and re ek r
Dead Rive its placement within the watershed, this Wi lso n Av en u e ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK LAKE MICHIGAN Trib.
area provides water quality bene f ts and Yorkhouse Rd.
stormwater retention. North Ave.
Glen Forest Trib.
Map Location 7 / ADID Wetland 1831 Lyons Woods This mapped ADID wetland near Blanchard Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
Road in Lyons Woods is characterized as a 42-acre wetland that has functional value of Sunset Ave.
habitat and water quality. Site characteristics include the presence of threatened/ McAree Rd.
Greenwood Ave.
endangered species, stormwater retention, Legend Watershed Boundary and shoreline/bank stabilization. Subwatershed Managment Unit Forest Preserve Boundary Glen Flora Ave.
State Park Boundary Burtick St.
Wetlands ADID Wetland 1650 Wetland Restoration Opportunities Amstuz This complex within Illinois Beach State Expressw ay Park consists of approximately 4,073 acres This map is provided for general locational information only. Map features have been derived from various sources, each of which has its own scale and accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
most of which are Illinois Beach State Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Park. Based on the ADID Wetland Report Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division data sheet, this wetland complex provides functional value of habitat and water quality.
It is characterized as a high quality plant FIGURE 3.18 POTENTIAL WETLAND RESTORATION SITES community with threatened/endangered species. The wetland system also provides water quality bene f ts of sediment/
toxicant retention and nutrient removal/
transformation. Illinois Beach State Park is a listed Illinois Natural Area site.
Wetland restoration and management recommendations, including existing wetlands and restoration of former wetlands (areas of hydric soils that are no longer wetlands), are identi f ed within the Action Plan included in Chapter 5. It is possible 57 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis that former wetland areas that are undeveloped can be Table 3.10 Green Infrastructure Parcel Ownership Categories restored. (By 'undeveloped' we refer to those that remain in Public Owners Private Owners an agricultural, forest and grassland, vacant, or open space Department of Natural Resources Bank land use category.) However, this is typically a more diff cult Department of Conservation Homeowner / Business Association task than managing and restoring existing wetlands, and Department of Transportation Landf ll resources may be best spent on improving the remaining Federal Private wetlands.
Forest Preserve Private Club It is the opinion of the consultant team that all wetlands Lake County Religious Institution within the watershed are in need of some sort of restoration Municipality Trust / Trustee and management. Without a proper wetland assessment, it Park District Utility is diff cult to determine the causes and sources of wetland Sanitary District degradation and the specif c management needs. However, School District it is highly likely that without stabilizing the hydrology of State areas upstream of each wetland, by controling the quantity Waukegan Port District and quality of stormwater runof f entering these wetlands, restoration of these wetlands will prove to be a signi f cantly diff cult uphill battle due to the negative impacts of hydrology and water quality on wetland quality.
Community Enhancement of Illinois Northeastern Coastal Natural Areas, 3.11.5 GREENW AYS AND RECREATION proposal to the US Fish and Wildlife Service for the National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant Program, 2006, IDNR.
Some recreational elements in the watershed are found Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan within Illinois Beach State Park and along the Lake Michigan Lake Michigan Action Plan DRAFT, June, 2006.
shoreline, where there are hiking trails and water-based recreational opportunities such as swimming, f shing, camping, and boating. More passive recreational pursuits include bird watching, botany, and wildlife observation. Other 3.12 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE recreational opportunities, such as golf, soccer, softball, and INVENTORY similar sporting activities, are found distributed throughout the watershed. One of the primary goals of the watershed planning process is to identify green infrastructure that is important and should The Robert McClory Bike Path follows a former north-south be preserved as a functional part of the natural drainage railroad grade paralleling and east of Lewis Avenue. Hiking system, contributes to maintaining watershed hydrology, and paths are also present within Shiloh Park (Zion), Hermon may be a good location for local best management practices.
Park, and Lyons Woods Forest Preserve. Figure 3.13 depicts The inventory is designed to assess, prioritize, and plan the the trails within the watershed, though some of those shown, watershed green infrastructure, the system of open space, such as that following the east-west utility corridor just north greenways, streams, forest preserves, wetlands, and natural of Lyons Woods between Green Bay Road and Illinois Beach areas that form an interconnected support system for natural State Park, are proposed and are not currently trails. functions and processes, particularly natural hydrologic functions and the aquatic environment. Some de f nitions of Sources: Conservation Design Forum Stream Inventory (2006).
green infrastructure, such as that of the US Environmental Debbie Maurer , Lake County Forest Preserve District, Deb Nelson, Protection Agency, include stormwater management as a Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and Don Wilson, personal communication. component or bene f t.Green infrastructure, as it is used in this plan, is def ned as follows and illustrated in Figures 3.19 Ravine Systems in the Lake Michigan W atershed, Illinois. Illinois Coastal Management Program Issue Paper - TAG D. Illinois Department of Natural through 3.21.
Resources, August 8, 2007.
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 58
© Growing With Green Infrastructure, Karen Williamson, 2003
© Conservation Design Forum Water Flow FIGURE 3.20 LOCAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FIGURE 3.19 CONCEPTUAL GREEN AT THE SITE SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE HUBS AND CONNECTING LINKS
© Graphic Conservation Design Forum, aerial photograph Lake County FIGURE 3.21 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE HUBS (FOSSLAND PARK AND ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK) AND LINK (DEAD DOG CREEK)(KELLOGG CREEK WATESHED) 59 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis Green infrastructure represents a new approach As part of the ef fort to connect and expand existing green to stormwater management that is cost-ef fective, infrastructure elements, such as creek corridors or forest sustainable, and environmentally friendly . Green preserve districts, the green infrastructure inventory infrastructure techniques utilize natural systems, or identif ed parcels of land with the potential to contribute engineered systems that mimic natural landscapes, to the watershed green infrastructure system. Using Lake to capture, cleanse and reduce stormwater runof f County parcel data, the inventory f rst identif ed open and using plants, soils and microbes. partially open parcels. Open parcels are those listed in the Lake County parcel data as unimproved meaning On the regional scale, green infrastructure consists they do not have built structures, utilities, or other man of the interconnected network of open spaces and made improvements. Partially open parcels are improved natural areas (such as forested areas,f oodplains and parcels (having structures or improvements), but also wetlands) that improve water quality while providing contain signi f cant unimproved acreage. For example, a 5 recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat. acre parcel with a single family home is considered by this analysis as partially open. Figure 3.22 shows the location of On the local scale, green infrastructure consists of these parcels in various shades of green (open parcels) and site-specif c management practices (such as rain blue (partially open parcels.) This f gure shows not only the gardens, porous pavements, and green roofs) that location of these parcels, but the location of publicly- and are designed to maintain natural hydrologic functions privately-owned green infrastructure parcels, as de f ned by by absorbing and in f ltrating precipitation where it Lake County and shown in Table 3.10, and the prioritization falls. of these parcels, as described below . Table 3.12 shows summary results of the analysis of open and partially open Appropriate preservation and management of a green parcels.
infrastructure system can help allow movement of runof f through the watershed in a manner that enhances the Some of the publicly-owned green infrastructure parcels aquatic ecology of the watershed, and at the same time are protected status, meaning that there is very low risk provides natural conveyance, f oodwater storage, water that they could be converted to other land uses. Protected quality bene f ts, streambank stabilization and restoration, status parcels include those owned by the IDNR, Forest natural resource preservation, wetlands, and habitat. Green Preserves, Park Districts, and Land Conservatory of Lake infrastructure network elements typically include hubs (large, County. Some publicly-owned parcels are not protected and, intact blocks of natural areas that support a diversity of along with privately-owned parcels, are considered available habitats and wildlife and provide space for recreation and for development or conversion to a different land use.
stormwater management) and links (natural corridors and greenways that link larger natural areas). Hubs and links may be composed of: 3.12.2 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIZATION
- Lakes, ponds, and wetlands.
In order to help identify and plan the green infrastructure
- Stream corridors and waterways.
system for Dead River , the watershed planning committee
- Parks, recreational areas, greenways, and trails.
developed a methodology and prioritization process to
- Public and private conservation lands.
help sort the open and partially open parcels into their
- Other nature preserves, natural areas, and wildlife relative importance for the green infrastructure system. The habitat (woodlands, savannas, and prairies).
prioritized parcels are shown in Figure 3.22.
- Open space and vacant lands.
- Working lands such as forests, farms, and ranches. The green infrastructure inventory and prioritization process is comprised of f ve steps:
- 1. Identify open (unimproved) and partially open 3.12.1 INVENT ORY METHODOLOGY AND (improved with signif cant undeveloped acreage)
RESULTS parcels using GIS (described above).
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 60
Table 3.11 Green Infrastructure Parcel Prioritization Criteria and Impairment Categories Addressed Stream &
Flooding, Natural Streambank Floodplains, Water Restoration Resources Criteria & Hydrology Quality / Stabilization & Habitat
- 1. Parcels that intersect 100-year f oodplain X X X X
- 2. Parcels within .5-miles of the headwaters X X X
- 3. Parcels that intersect with a wetland X X X
- 4. Parcels that are adjacent to or include at least 2.5 acres of drained hydric soils X X X
- 5. Parcels with highly erodible soils X X
- 6. Parcels in a SMU where less than 10% of the SMU is existing wetland X X X
- 7. Parcels within .5-mile radius of Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Flood Problem Area Inventory site X
- 8. Parcels that are within 100 feet of a watercourse X X X X
- 9. Parcels intersecting with non-point source pollutant (NPSP) hotspot Subwatershed Management Unit. X
- 10. Parcels intersecting with or adjacent to a NPDES permitted point source X
- 11. Parcels adjacent to or including forest preserves, land trust holdings (for X X conservation), and privately and publicly preserved open space X
- 12. Parcels adjacent to or including Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI),
nature preserve (NP), high quality natural areas, high quality wetlands (ADID),
or T&E sites X X X
- 13. Parcels that connect existing open space areas X
- 14. Parcels that contain a depressional area. X Table 3.12 Green Infrastructure Inventory Results
% of open / partially open parcels acres % of watershed area parcels Total Watershed Area 10,115 - -
Public ownership 4,472 - 44%
Illinois Beach State Park 1,284 - 13%
Private ownership 5,644 - 56%
Open parcels # of parcels 1,397 - -
Area 3,443 - 34%
Parcel size (maximum / average) 321 / 2.5 - -
Public ownership 2,369 68% 23%
Private ownership 1,094 32% 11%
Protected status 2,151 62% 21%
Unprotected status 1,311 38% 13%
Partially open parcels # of parcels 80 - -
Area 843 - 8%
Parcel size (maximum / average) 65.8 / 10.5 - -
Public ownership (area) 484 59% 5%
Private ownership (area) 340 41% 3%
Protected status (area) 289 35% 3%
Unprotected status (area) 535 65% 5%
61 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis
- 2. Establish prioritization criteria for ranking the relative importance of each parcel to the green infrastructure Table 3.13 Green Infrastructure Parcel Prioritization Results network. Priority Score # of Total Area Category Parcels (acres)
(14 possible)
- 3. Apply the prioritization criteria to the parcels identif ed 0 3 82 27 in step 1 giving each parcel one point for each criteria 1 3 157 88 met. 2 3 377 150
- 4. Give each parcel a total score; parcels with the highest 3 2 240 304 scores meet the most criteria, and, are the highest- 4 2 227 566 priority for consideration in the green infrastructure 5 2 195 839 network. 6 2 114 973 7 1 64 752
- 5. Propose a green infrastructure network that connects 8 1 39 221 priority open spaces. 9 1 5 29 10 1 2 15 11 - 0 0 As a starting point, prioritization criteria used in other 12 - 0 0 watershed planning processes were considered for the 13 - 0 0 Dead River/Bull Creek watershed. W atershed stakeholders 14 - 0 0 reviewed, modi f ed, and agreed on the following criteria that they viewed as appropriate for this watershed. Table 3.11 shows the relationship between the 14 criteria used to prioritize green infrastructure and the watershed issues 5. Parcels with highly erodible soils. (Areas of highly erodible identif ed by stakeholders. A brief rationale for including soils are less stable and have the potential to produce these criteria is included in parentheses. proportionately large sediment loads when disturbed.
In this watershed, many of these areas are steep bluf f
- 1. Parcels that intersect with the 100-year f oodplain. ravines that may be unsuitable for development.)
(These areas at risk of f ooding are part of the natural drainage system for storing and conveying f oodwaters. 6. Parcels in a Subwatershed Management Unit (SMU)
They function as stream buf fers protecting water quality where less than 10% of the SMU is existing wetland.
and channel stability, and also provide riparian habitat.) (Previous studies have found that stream systems are more impaired when the percentage of wetland in the
- 2. Parcels within 0.5-miles of the headwaters (the upper watershed is below 10%. Where formerly wetlands reaches of the watershed; the source and upstream provided benef ts, open and partially open parcels may waters of a stream). (Headwater streams are often more be used to replace those wetland benef ts.)
sensitive to disturbance from urban and agricultural activities than reaches with larger drainage areas. They 7. Parcels within 0.5-mile radius of a Lake County Stormwater help absorb rainwater and protect the stream from the Management Commission Flood ProblemArea Inventory impacts of heavy stormwater runof f and its associated site. (Potential locations for best management practices pollutants. Headwater areas often provide a broad range to address the f ooding problem.)
of habitat as they progress from upland, to wetland, to 8. Parcels that are within 100 feet of a watercourse.
stream.) (A good riparian corridor to buf fer the waterway can
- 3. Parcels that intersect with a wetland. (W etlands provide mitigate some of the water quality , f ooding and stream habitat and help clean, f lter, and retain stormwater.) stability impacts associated with impervious cover in the watershed in addition to providing habitat.)
- 4. Parcels that are adjacent to or include at least 2.5 acres of hydric soils. (These areas, which were once wetland 9. Parcels intersecting with a subbasin identif ed as a non-before being drained, are identi f ed as potential wetland point source pollution hotspot. (Potential locations for restoration sites and thus have the potential to provide best management practices to mitigate (reduce or f lter) similar benef ts as wetlands.) heavy pollutant loads.)
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 62
1 3
15 74 4
Lewis Ave.
48 27 29th St. th S tr ee tT ri b u ta ry Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve 33rd St.
ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK North Bran ch Bull Cre ek Wadsworth Rd. 59 Bull Creek 69 64 Green Bay Rd.
57 63 Beach Rd.
South BranchBu ll C ree iver k
Wi Dead R lso nA Sheridan Rd.
ve 43 nue Tr ib .
LAKE MICHIGAN North Ave.
73 Yorkhouse Rd.
Glen Flora Trib.
35 McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
40 Sunset Ave.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 14 Feet 76 13 Greenwood Ave.
Legend Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve State Park Public 140 Green Infrastructure Parcel 140Priority (Criteria Met) (out of 14 possible) Glen Flora Ave.
w ay Burtick St.
Open Parcels 11 E x p re s s Category 1 (7-10) Category 2 (3-6) Category 3 (0-2)
Partially Open Parcels Category 1 (7-10) Category 2 (3-6) Category 3 (0-2) 10 This map is provided for general locational information 75 Amstuz only. Map features have been derived from various sources, each of which has its own scale and accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division FIGURE 3.22 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PARCEL PRIORITIZATION 63 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis
- 10. Parcels intersecting with or adjacent to a permitted point 3.13 NATURAL DRAINAGE SYSTEM source discharge location. (These locations may present opportunities to install best management practices to This section describes the conditions and characteristics of help control the pollution these points are permitted to the natural drainage system of the Dead River watershed.
discharge.) Results of the hydrology and hydraulic modeling and
- 11. Parcels adjacent to or including forest preserves, land f oodplain mapping study completed in 2007 are found in trust holdings (for conservation), and privately and Section 3.15 Flooding.
publicly preserved open space. (Opportunities to expand existing protected open space areas and creating larger 3.13.1 GENERAL WATERSHED DRAINAGE hubs that help absorb stormwater.)
The Dead River watershed contains approximately 12.6
- 12. Parcels adjacent to or including Illinois Natural Areas total stream miles and 1719 acres of wetlands, which is Inventory and Illinois Nature Preserve sites (high quality approximately 17 percent of the toal watershed area. Most natural communities that qualify for formal protection of these wetlands are within the coastal plain and Illinois by the State of Illinois), high quality natural areas, high Beach State Park.The Dead River Watershed contains three quality or high function wetlands, or sites known to harbor main tributaries: an unnamed tributary to the north, the Dead or support state or federal threatened and endangered River / Bull Creek system, and the Glen Flora Tributary and species. (Opportunities to expand existing open space its unnamed tributary. The Dead River is located entirely in areas and creating larger hubs, and opportunities to Illinois Beach State Park and discharges to Lake Michigan.
provide greater buffers for sensitive natural areas.) Bull Creek f ow splits north and south after entering
- 13. Parcels that connect existing open space areas. Illinois Beach State Park. The north f ow path is a virtually (Opportunities to expand and protect the greenway indistinguishable channel, while the south f ows through links that connect natural resource hubs and serve as a series of constructed ponds before entering the Dead corridors creating links.) River. Upstream of Illinois Beach State Park, Bull Creek is composed of three tributaries: the South Branch, the North
- 14. Parcels that contain a depressional area. (Potential runof f Branch, and the 27th Street tributary , which are shown in storage area that could be used for regional detention or Figure 3.23 and described below. Approximately 5.3 stream water quality management.) miles are within Zion's jurisdiction, 8.3 within Beach Park, 7.3 miles in W aukegan, 5.8 miles within unincorporated The results of the Green Infrastructure prioritization Lake County. These f gures are approximate.
process are summarized in Table 3.13 and Figure 3.22.
The prioritization allowed watershed stakeholders and Historically, the Dead River and Glen FloraTributary followed planners to develop a Green Infrastructure Plan, which is somewhat different f ow paths than they do today. As shown based on the prioritization of parcels as well as the best in Figure 3.24, the Little Dead River , which included part of judgement of the watershed planning team. In summary , the downstream end of the Glen FloraTributary, used to f ow while some opportunities to expand and connect the hubs into Lake Michigan (1907). Over the years, this channel has and links of the watershed's Green Infrastructure system been gradually f lled and no longer exists.
remain, many of the stream channels, which would form logical connections between hubs, are no longer an option According to local knowledge, there are some interesting for preservation. In fact, few options remain for creating an characteristics with regard to hydrology in and around Illinois integrated Green Infrastructure system. Nonetheless, action Beach State Park.
recommendations for implementing the Green Infrastructure Plan, and the location of the prioritized parcels, have been
- a small drainage channel positioned between the Dead incorporated into the Action Plan in Chapter 5. River and the Johns Manville lagoons exhibits some uncertainties with regard to direction of f ow. Anecdotal evidence suggests that during rain events the channel, which normally f ows in a southerly direction, may reversef ow due to the minor gradient, and back up to the north, possibly T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 64
FIGURE 3.23 WATER RESOURCES 65 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis carrying asbestos-laden material from Johns Manville into Illinois Beach State Park.
- The downstream segment of the Glen Flora Tributary, formerly known as the Little Dead River , used to discharge south of Midwest Generation into a ditch. Current alignment of the Glen Flora Trib is under the rail tracks, north into ponds and then east through ponds, into a pipe which then discharges east to the Lake.
- Dead River is intermittently hydrologically connected to Lake Michigan and at other times this connection is obstructed by a sand bar dam created by littoral drift, which is broken during high river f ows. This situation complicates the hydrologic picture as well as the habitat connection between Dead River / Bull Creek and Lake Michigan.
The Dead River watershed is one of the few remaining Illinois tributaries that drain to Lake Michigan. The importance of its hydrologic connection to the lake, whether intermittent or constant, is important not only for implications of spawning and feeding habitat for Lake Michigan f sh species, but also for its contribution to water quality impairments in the coastal wetlands and the lake itself. Former and current land uses along the lakefront, such as Johns Manville and Outboard Marine Corporation, are likely greater contributors to water quality impairment in Lake Michigan itself.
In general, f uctuations in groundwater levels correspond to precipitation, evapotranspiration, in f ltration, and Lake Michigan water level changes. Lake Michigan levels, which were at near-record lows in 1999 and 2000, directly impact groundwater levels in the park coastal wetlands, which were historically fed by groundwater discharge. Today, the wetlands receive a much different f ow regime, with increased discharge volume and degraded quality of surface runof f from the upstream watershed area. As a further consideration, groundwater pumpage near the Lake Michigan shore and inland areas could interfere with natural groundwater f ow and discharge into Lake Michigan.
© City of Waukegan This watershed assessment does not examine Lake Michigan water quality impairment, but it does review Lake Michigan beach closure data. The number of closures in a year for W aukegan South and North beaches is strongly correlated with the ranking of number of closures by year FIGURE 3.24 LITTLE DEAD RIVER (year with most, second most, etc.) being the same for both The Little Dead River, shown in these graphics, has beaches. Thus, these closures may very well have been gradually been f lled in over the years.
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 66
1 3
15 74 4
Lewis Ave.
48 27 29th St. th S tr ee tT ri b u ta ry Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve 33rd St.
ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK North Bran ch Bull Cre ek Wadsworth Rd. 59 Bull Creek 69 64 Green Bay Rd.
57 63 Beach Rd.
South BranchBu ll C ree iver k
Wi Dead R lso nA Sheridan Rd.
en v 43 ue Tr ib .
LAKE MICHIGAN North Ave.
73 Yorkhouse Rd.
Glen Flora Trib.
35 McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
40 Sunset Ave.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 14 Feet 76 13 Greenwood Ave.
Legend Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve 140 Subwatershed Management Unit State Park 140 Glen Flora Ave.
Subbasin 1 Subwatershed Management Unit ID w ay Burtick St.
11 E x p re s s This map is provided for general locational information 10 only. Map features have been derived from various sources, each of which has its own scale and accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate. 75 Amstuz Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division FIGURE 3.25 SUBWATERSHED MANAGEMENT UNITS 67 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis related to storm events or wave action.
Streamf ow Streams in this area exhibit a rapid rise and fall of water Table 3.14 Subwatershed Management Units level, f ow and velocity (termed f ashiness) as a result of Subwatershed
- of Subbasins Acres rain events. In 2006, Bull Creek exhibited a median f ow of Management Unit 6.65 ft3/second and a maximum f ow of 124.73 ft3/second, 1 24 3236 and median velocity of 0.58 ft/second and maximum of 3.16 ft/second. In 2007, Bull Creek exhibited a median f ow of 2 3 773 11.29 ft3/second and a maximum f ow of 688.08 ft3/second, 3a 10 1251 and median velocity of 0.70 ft/second and maximum of 4.06 ft/second. The higher median and maximum f ows in 3b 8 1246 2007 were the results of greater frequency and volume of 3c 11 1573 precipitation that year.
4 3 295 3.13.2 DELINEA TING SUBWATERSHED 5 14 1414 MANAGEMENT UNITS 6 4 612 The Dead River watershed has been subdivided into 77 subbasins and eight Subwatershed Management Units (SMU) based on major stream tributaries, as shown in Table 3.14 and Figure 3.25. This organizational structure 3.13.3 DEAD RIVER / BULL CREEK STREAM allows the planning ef fort to examine the watershed at INVENTORY a variety of scales. For instance, the non-point source pollution loading assessment, discussed in Section 3.14.4, Bull Creek, the Glen Flora Tributary, and the unnamed uses the 77 subbasins to model pollutant loading and locate tributaries were comprehensively inventoried by Lake County hotspots. SMUs are groups of subbasins that all drain to a SMC in 2001 and rapidly assessed by Conservation Design single point, the most downstream point in the SMU.These Forum staff over two days in 2006. During the SMC ef fort, eight SMU's form the management units within which the the stream system was divided into 28 reaches (a segment action recommendations are organized, which simpli f es of a river or stream) with reach lengths varying between the management structure of the plan. 1770 and 4000 feet (see Figure 3.23). Each reach was characterized using standard Lake County SMC methodology SMU 1 includes the watershed area east of Sheridan Road, that is ref ected in the stream data forms that are included in including Illinois Beach State Park. SMU 1 also includes a Appendix P. Since the coastal plain was not inventoried, all portion of the watershed west of Sheridan Road near York stream reach information refers only to areas upstream of House Road. Illinois Beach State Park. Measurements, photos, locations, and qualitative characteristics were recorded. The major SMU 2 includes the unnamed tributary at the northern stream characteristics inventoried included physical channel boundary of the watershed.
condition, discharge points (pipes or open channels that SMU 3 is the Bull Creek drainage system. SMU3 is subdivided discharge f ow to the stream), hydraulic structures (bridges, into SMU 3a, the 27 th Street Tributary, SMU3b, the South culverts, or other structures that contain or convey the Branch of Bull Creek and the Wilson Avenue Tributary, and stream), riparian corridor (strip of land bordering streams, SMU 3c, the North Branch of Bull Creek. lakes, rivers, and other watercourses) characteristics, and aquatic habitat conditions (whether there are characteristics SMU 4 is a watershed area tributary to Glen Flora Tributary.
of the stream that support f sh and other animals living in the SMU 5 is the Glen Flora Tributary. stream). Results of these inventories follow.
SMU 6 is an unnamed drainage area and includes the 3.13.4 GENERAL DESCRIPTION / FLOW industrial area north of Waukegan Harbor.
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 68
© Lake County Stormwater Management Commission A channelized reach of the Glen Flora Tributary within Illinois Beach State Park
© Conservation Design Forum Streambanks in Hermon Park (Zion) with turf grass edges east of 27th Street and Lewis Avenue along a reach upstream of BL28 that was not visited during the 2001 stream inventory. These turf grass edges should be converted to native plants to improve water quality and riparian habitat.
69 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis PATHWAYS totaling approximately 6900 feet of streambank requiring bioengineering solutions such as grade stabilization using Unnamed Tributary (BL28) artif cial riff es, coir f ber rolls and/or mattresses and A-Jacks North of the intersection of Sheridan Road and 33rd Street, structures with vegetated geogrids to stabilize the banks a small, unnamed tributary f ows from underground pipes and ravine walls. The problems generally revolve around under the residential area to the northwest, through Ophir accelerated stream channel downcutting and widening Park and Carmel Park, andf nally discharges to Illinois Beach resulting in undercut banks. Further, the report suggests the State Park. The reach within Ophir Park is fairly channelized creation of new f oodplain on the inside bends of the stream and surrounded by turf grass to the stream banks, which are channel and the softening of slopes on the outside bends of eroding. Within Carmel Park, the stream meanders through the stream channel can benef t the stream. The inside bend fairly dense forest and appears to have fairly healthy channel f oodplain terrace allows the f ow to spill out of the channel substrates, such as sand and gravels, and moderate erosion and reduce the erosive velocity of the water on the outside of the streambanks. bends. Creating gentler slopes on the outside bends allows for long term plant stabilization of the banks.
Dead River / Bull Creek within Illinois Beach State Park Within Illinois Beach State Park, the Dead River and Bull Within this reach, the Lake County Stormwater Management Creek are very low gradient. Dead River meanders through Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Bull Creek the dune and swale morphology of the Park. Although Stakeholders Association collaborated on a streambank the banks are relatively steep in many locations, they are stabilization project. The project used bioengineering not high and are generally stable. The channel bottom is stabilization measures, such arti f cial riff es, f oodplain believed to be sand and, in some locations, mucky with low terraces, coir f ber rolls, rock toe stabilization, vegetated stability substrates. It is likely that this condition is caused by geogrid lifts, and the creation of a riparian buf fer using sediments eroded from upstream portions of the watershed native shrubs, grasses, and wild f owers. However , the settling out or collecting here in the low gradient Illinois project located near the railroad east of Sheridan Road has Beach State Park. The overbank area is generally open with experienced some loss of plantings on the low side of the some trees and shrubs. channel.
Bull Creek (BL07-BL08) In 2004, the North Shore Sanitary District and the United West of Illinois Beach State Park, the stream channels are States Corps of Engineers implemented an emergency generally located within wooded ravine-type valleys, many sanitary line stabilization project in reach BL08, where of which are wide enough to allow the stream to meander . sanitary sewer manholes and sanitary sewers had been Where the stream runs adjacent to the ravine slopes, exposed by channel and bank erosion. This project was erosion of the bluff can be quite severe. This erosion is also viewed by CDF staf f during its inventory (2006) and found causing the failure of some stormwater outfalls. When these to be holding up well. Four additional NSSD projects have break or fail, the discharge point moves closer to the stream been installed in the Dead River / Bull Creek watershed to bank and continues to cause erosion and loss of the ravine stabilize streambanks and help protect sanitary sewers.
slopes, which should be a major concern to those living on Those viewed by CDF staff appeared to be holding up well, the ravine edges. These failures are identif ed in Section XX though one was found to be causing erosion on the opposite of this report. On the positive side, there are a number of bank from where the stabilization measure was installed.
seep areas within this reach with skunk cabbage and marsh marigolds growing along the stream corridor , which are A number of seeps also occurred along reach BL08, with indicators of potentially rare natural communities. one location appearing to support vegetation (skunk cabbage) typical of seeps. Evidence of beaver activity also Natural Areas Ecosystem Management conducted two was apparent on some of the trees in the area. Sump pump studies of channel conditions on this reach Bull Creek / footing / roof drains were seen leading from residential upstream of the Union Paci f c Railroad in XXXX. Their properties, which may be aggravating erosion processes f ndings conclude that erosion was a signi f cant problem where they occur on steep slopes or on lawn areas adjacent along Bull Creek. There were 46 major erosion sites to high, steep slopes. Yard waste dumping was also seen.
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 70
© Lake County Stormwater Management Commission
© Conservation Design Forum Exposed sanitary sewer manhole exposed by eroding streambank Relatively stable streambanks resulting from the Bull Creek and streambed (BL08).
stabilization project. (BL07)
© Conservation Design Forum
© Conservation Design Forum Structural, hard-edge protection for sewer infrastructure (BL08) protects the Soil lifts stabilizing the streamank, Bull Creek restoration project (BL07) sewer but does not provide a natural stream habitat condition.
© Lake County Stormwater Management Commission
© Conservation Design Forum Artif cial riff e installed in the downstream reach of Bull Creek to provide grade stabilization (BL07). Erosion of the streambank opposite the sewer stabilization project (BL08).
71 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis Some stream channel substrates appeared fairly good Conservation Design Forum, reach BL19 approximately quality, with sand and cobbles and stones in more than a 0.5 miles upstream of Sheridan Road exhibited water that few occurrences. appeared black in color , and although the cause could not be determined, it was assumed the black water was coming 27th Street Tributary (BL25-BL27) from the 27th Street Tributary (BL26-BL27) since black The 27th Street Tributary (approximately 1.6 stream miles water was not observed in BL25.
broken into 4 reaches) exhibited varying degrees of eroded banks, debris jams, and instances of rock walls and other South Branch of Bull Creek (BL09-BL18) improvised erosion control measures, turf grass to the edge The South Branch of Bull Creek upstream of the North Branch of the streambank, and fencing along residential lots. Some conf uence (BL09) meanders fairly sharply through a forested reaches have fairly generous natural vegetation buf fers valley, though not too dense in canopy. In fact, this ravine is along the stream edge. At 31st Street the stream f ows for fairly open in character and clean stream substrates were approximately 2700 feet through an underground culvert and observed suggesting limited hillside erosion. At least one emerges west of the McClory Bike Path north of 29th in Hermon side ravine was f lled with yard debris (leaves) and a number Park and its pond. Upstream of this park the stream exhibits of residential runof f discharge drains have been snaked to low f ow and a f at channel with very shallow stream banks.
Just east of Lewis there is a manmade levee, apparently to protect the property at Lewis and 26th from f ooding. Black colored water was seen in this tributary as well, which should be investigated further. Another sanitary sewer stabilization project installed along this tributary appears to be holding up well and is not exhibiting the erosional problems of the downstream project. A stormsewer and manhole near 33rd, which has not been stabilized, appears to be at risk of failure and should be addressed.
© Conservation Design Forum North Branch of Bull Creek (BL19-BL24)
The North Branch of Bull Creek is approximately 3 stream miles broken into 6 reaches. Just upstream of its conf uence with the 27th Street Tributary the stream corridor (BL20) exhibits mown turf grass to the streambank edge. Some Severely impacted stream channel and armoring where reach BL15 crosses Wilson Street near Howard Street.
yard waste dumping and concrete lined or otherwise hard-armored channels were also seen along this reach. Yard waste dumping within the stream channel adds pollutants (such as pesticides and fertilizers) to the water and can smother vegetation along the streambanks that is helping to stabilize the bank soils and prevent erosion.
© Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Upstream of the McClory Bike Trail (BL21), the stream exhibits a fairly shallow wooded channel with a few locations of eroded banks and stormsewer blowouts. However , it is not terribly encroached by residences and there appears to be suff cient room for natural stream meandering to occur .
At Lewis Avenue the North Branch f ows from Thunderhawk Golf Course, which demonstrated overall healthy stream channel and riparian corridor conditions.
Armoring such as this wood retaining wall helps stabilize the streambanks but reduces the quality of the stream habitat for aquatic plants and animals On the day the rapid assessment was conducted by (BL11).
T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 72
© Lake County Stormwater Management Commission
© Conservation Design Forum Severe streambank armoring and channelization improves f ow but has signi f cant detrimental ef fects on channel health and habitat The bare dirt in this photo appears to have been recently deposited on the slope quality (convergence of BL13, BL14, and BL15) of this ravine, and the plastic residential drain installed so that it discharges runoff onto the slope, which causes erosion, rather than into the bottom of the ravine, which is the preferred discharge location for these types of drains (BL12).
© Conservation Design Forum Cement-lined stream channel armoring is often used to stabilize and erodiing channel and improve drainage, but it destroys the natural
© Conservation Design Forum channel and is not supportive of a healthy stream condition. (BL15)
This new home on Hart Road north of the Pineview Cemetery is built very close to the ravine edge (BL12).
© Conservation Design Forum Streambank armoring helps stabilize the streambank but reduces the natural structure and function of the stream (BL26) 73 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis the bottom of the ravine. Stream bank armoring was present no f ow in some locations. There were two large storm vaults in a number of locations, some of wood and others of broken along Wilson Avenue, and it was suggested that a number of concrete, and some silt fence has been installed across the f ow paths converge here.
slope in some locations. A few bare banks were seen. As is fairly typical for this watershed, stormsewer blowouts, Unnamed Tributary to Glen Flora Tributary (BL05-BL06) culvert erosion, and debris jams were found. There is some An unnamed tributary to Glen FloraTributary f ows from near new development occurring very near the stream channel Lyons Woods Forest Preserve into Illinois Beach State Park around Hart Road north of the Pineview Cemetery (BL12), from the north and joins Bull Creek to create the Dead River.
and some dirt f ll on the opposite (east) streambank, both of This tributary f ows out of Ophir Park where it is small and which may be in violation of local regulations that prohibit mildly incised and surrounded by turf grass. Below Sheridan dumping dirt or other f ll material within the f oodplain and Road the stream exhibits fairly good substrate conditions, f oodway. A concrete dam at this location has failed and though oil slicks were detected, likely from a Sheridan Road water f ows around and through it. discharge.
Just upstream of Beach Road (BL13), the reach is fairly Glen Flora Tributary (BL01-BL04) natural in character except for one location where it appears The downstream end of the Glen Flora Tributary that excess concrete from the adjacent land use has been (approximately 3 stream miles broken into 4 reaches),
disposed of along the stream channel.A little further upstream before crossing under the rail tracks and into the Johns is where a number of stormsewers and two streams, the Manville property lagoons, f ows through the steep and South Branch of Bull Creek (BL15) and the Wilson Avenue deep ravines of Bowen Park. Within this park, a number of Tributary (BL14), come together to create the South Branch interesting things were seen, including a long, mud packed of Bull Creek (BL13). At the time of the investigation, this beaver dam that created a large long pool at the bottom of open concrete stormwater channel (BL15) was failing in the valley. Incised gullies drain into Glen FloraTributary from some places and appears to be used for yard waste and leaf the upland areas, some f lled with debris. Moving upstream, burning. Beneath the concrete channel there is a second, the stream f ows along and through some residential deeper CMP culvert, which is partially blocked by sediment properties, where armoring and other improvised erosion and/or debris and partially f lled with water. Upstream of this control projects have been installed. Some yard debris spot, along BL15, the South Branch of Bull Creek reportedly dumping was observed, areas of turf grass to the channel f ows through old railroad tank cars that were installed by a edge, and fences criss-cross the stream channel in a couple developer to create more developable land. of locations. The Sheridan Road outfall is directed at the streambank, which has been attempted to be stabilized with Reach BL15 is day lit again near Manor and continues concrete armoring. Good rock and cobble substrates were through a residential area and a partially collapsed culvert found in some locations.
under the McClory BikeTrail. Below Beach Road, the stream f ows through a channelized, eroding reach surrounded by Upstream of Sheridan Road, the stream f ows for turf grass. The Beach Road culvert is experiencing erosion approximately 3000 feet through the Glen Flora Country behind and around the headwall and f ow is bypassing the Club and three ponds, which are created by dams across culvert altogether and undermining the structure. It appears the stream. The stream and pond edges are armored with that at times there is signi f cant f ow volume in this reach, rip-rap in some locations and planted to the edge with turf presumably runoff from Waukegan Airport, where the stream grass in other locations. While the rip rap may help reduce originates. erosion of the stream and pond edges, rip rap and turf grass do little to improve water quality in the stream or improve Wilson Avenue Tributary (BL14) the stream habitat for aquatic plants and animals. Upstream The Wilson Avenue Tributary, which according to stream of the Glen Flora County Club, the Glen Flora Tributary maps joins Bull Creek just downstream of the tank car culvert, enters a culvert at Poplar and emerges west of the McClory was very diff cult to locate and track. It apparently originates Bike Path where it has been channelized for the rest of somewhere east of Lewis Avenue near Edgewood, f ows in its upstream reaches until it disappears into an unde f ned and out of culverts with a few daylit areas, and shows little or channel near Lewis Avenue.
3.13.5 CHANNEL CONDITIONS T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 74
© Conservation Design Forum
© Conservation Design Forum Yard waste dumping into ravine (BL02) contributes nutrients to the stream and smothers ground vegetation that helps hold the slope Severe streambank erosion causes sedimentation in the stream and loss in place. Yard waste should be composted, applied as mulch, or of property (BL19).
disposed of in yard waste collection facilities.
© Lake County Stormwater Management Commission
© Conservation Design Forum The turf grass and rock stream edges in Glen Flora Country Club should Streambank erosion and bank slumping (BL16) illustrates the effects be converted to native plant edges to help hold the banks in place andf lter of stormwater runoff.
runoff from the golf course, thereby improving water quality (BL03).
© Lake County Stormwater Management Commission © Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Stormwater outfall stabilized with rock rip rap (BL04). Dense vegetation naturally stabilize the streambanks due to the deep root systems that hold soil in place (BL04).
75 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis directed into a straight, con f ned channel, which increases Urban development in the watershed is reducing the amount the energy of the f ow. The increase in energy f ow results of land available for the natural inf ltration of precipitation into in the erosion of the streambed and/or streambanks. As the the ground, where it can be intercepted and absorbed by streambed erodes over time, the channel deepens becoming vegetation or stored in depressional wetlands andf oodplains more entrenched. This process is referred to as downcutting.
of the watershed. With increasing amounts of impervious If the streambed is composed of materials that are more surface and an extensive network of stormsewers that resistant to erosion such as gravel or stone, then thef ow will convey the increased volume of runoff to the stream channel tend to widen the channel by eroding the streambanks, rather faster, a stream channel experiences what is called " f ashy" than deepening it. This process is generally the result of the hydrology. A "f ashy" hydrology means that the water level in channel reshaping itself to accommodate new geometry or the stream rises very quickly during a storm and falls quickly increased f ows until it f nds a new equilibrium.
afterward. Since less water is inf ltrating into the ground and constantly seeping out and creating a steady basef ow within In the Dead River/Bull Creek Watershed, channelization was the stream, low f ows are considerably lower . Likewise, because less water is absorbed by the ground and more water is f owing into the streams, high f ows are considerably higher. High f ows can result in damage to property of Table 3.15 Useful Def nitions watershed residents, erosion, f ooding, and pollution.
Term Def nition Decreased or low f ows degrade aquatic habitat because low f ows have low levels of dissolved oxygen necessary for channelization straightening or ditching of a stream channel aquatic animals and because, in extreme cases, the stream can dry up completely for periods of time. sinuosity degree of stream channel turns and bends A number of factors were inventoried to better describe pool and riff e alternating series of deep pools and shallow rapids the condition of the Dead River/Bull Creek W atershed.
bank erosion the loss of streambanks due to scouring by Channelization, sinuosity , pool/rif f e development, bank water f ow erosion, sediment accumulation and debris loads (de f ned build-up of soil, sand, and gravel in the sediment accumulation at right and explained more fully below) are all measures streambed of the health and condition of a river or stream. ( A pool is debris load natural and man-made debris including a location in an active stream channel usually located on leaves, sticks, logs, lumber, and trash the outside bend of a meander , where the water is deepest and has reduced current velocities. A riff e is a shallow rapid, usually located at the crossover in the meander of an active channel. See Figure 3.26.) Physical measurements such as bank height, channel width, bank slope, and water depth ref ect the shape of the channel and the amount of water that is or can be conveyed by the stream under both high
© A Citizens Streambank Restoration Handbook and low f ow conditions. Streambank vegetation and canopy coverage (the amount of tree shading) affect the stability of streambanks and the quality of habitat.
Channelization Channelization alters the natural f ow of streams and rivers that have a tendency to meander . The natural meander geometry of a stream will dissipate the energy of water as it f ows through bends in the channel, and creates pool/riff e complexes in the streambed that provide habitat for aquatic FIGURE 3.26 PLAN (OVERHEAD) VIEW OF plants and animals. Channelization tends to eliminate pools, NATURAL STREAM MORPHOLOGY riff es and meanders. Instead, a large volume of water is T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 76
1 3
15 74 4
Lewis Ave.
48 27 29th St. th S tr ee tT ri b u ta ry Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve BL27 BL28 BL23 33rd St. BL22 ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK BL25 BL26 BL24 North Bran ch Bull Cre ek BL21 Wadsworth Rd.
BL20 Bull Creek BL1959 69 BL09 64 BL10 BL08 BL07 BL18 BL17 Green Bay Rd.
57 BL12 63 Beach Rd.
BL11 South BranchBu ll C BL15 ree iver BL16 k BL13 Wi Dead R lso nA Sheridan Rd.
ve BL14 43 nue Tr ib .
LAKE MICHIGAN North Ave.
73 Yorkhouse Rd.
Glen Flora Trib.
BL04 35 BL06 McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
BL05 40 BL03 Sunset Ave.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 14 BL01 Feet BL02 76 13 Greenwood Ave.
Legend Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve 140Subwatershed Management Unit State Park 140 Glen Flora Ave.
Channelization BL01 - Stream Reach ID w ay Burtick St.
11 E x p re s s None Low Recovering No Recovery This map is provided for general locational information 10 only. Map features have been derived from various sources, each of which has its own scale and 75 accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Amstuz Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division FIGURE 3.27 CHANNELIZATION 77 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis found in only 3 of 28 reaches (1 1%), with BL04 and BL14 exhibiting channelization with no recovery occurring, and BL01 in recovery, as shown in Figure 3.27. "Recovery from channelization" means that a channel is beginning to regain
© Lake County Stormwater Management Commission natural characteristics such as pools, rif f es and meanders.
Channelization is not considered to be a signif cant problem in this watershed.
Pool/Riff e Development A pool is a location in an active stream channel usually located on the outside bend of a meander , where the water is deepest and has reduced current velocities. A riff e is a shallow rapid, usually located at the crossover in the meander of an active channel. The development of a pool/
Rock riff e installed over exposed sanitary line to protect it.
riff e complex is associated with the natural meandering of stream channels. The pool/riff e sequences benef t f sh and macroinvertebrates by aerating the water during low f ow conditions and providing more diverse bottom conditions. loads of sediment being transported and settling out of Pool/riff e complexes also of fer streambank erosion relief the water column and into the channel, which reduces the by directing stream f ow through the center of the channel capacity of the channel to convey water and makes the and away from the banks. The characteristics of pool/rif f e streambed less habitable for aquatic plants and animals.
development are usually lost when a stream is channelized, though f ashy runof f may also destroy natural pools and Streambank erosion in the Dead River/Bull Creek Watershed riff es. appears to be limited to specif c problem areas, though some degree of erosion was present along most stream reaches and Seventy-one percent of the reaches in the Dead River/Bull bank height in upper reaches was low . The most signif cant Creek Watershed had low or no pools and rif f es, as shown problem areas are those along the bluf fs of the ravine that in Figure 3.28. The North Branch of Bull Creek had the threatened buildings and infrastructure. Other erosion lowest percentage of reaches with moderate to high pool/ problems are found around point discharges and hydraulic riff e development (16%), while 83% of its reaches were structures that are either poorly constructed or maintained, characterized by low or no pool/rif f e development. Bull and along the meandered reaches within ravines. Erosion Creek had a total of six reaches (27%) having moderate problems near point discharges and hydraulic structures are levels of pool/riff e complexes. Pool and riff e installation, as important, but generally not as costly or diff cult to remedy as well as other habitat improvements, should be considered bluff and ravine erosion. In most cases, streambank erosion for most stream reaches in the Dead River watershed, as was not threatening property damage except where the ref ected in the Action Plan in Chapter 5. bank was coincident with the ravine wall. Erosion can also be caused by bank slumping in areas where water seeps A number of man-made rif f es were noted in the inventory . laterally out of the sides of the slope. Some of the channel Two were installed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, and banks have a severe slope ranging from .25/1 to 1/1, which 13 others were installed by the Lake County Stormwater does not allow vegetation to root close to the channel, which Management Commission and its partners. The Corps would provide a more stable streambank. In reaches where of Engineers original plan was to install gabions (rocks the channels f ow through developed areas, the streambank contained within wire baskets) to protect exposed sanitary was sometimes armored with rock, concrete, or wood, and lines, but agreed to install rif f es based on the work that in other locations the bank was stabilized by installing a LCSMC and its partners were doing in this reach. vegetated buffer strip, with deep plant roots to help hold the soil in place.
Streambank Erosion Erosion of the streambed or streambanks results in heavier The streambank erosion map shown in Figure 3.30 re f ects T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 78
1 3
15 74 4
Lewis Ave.
48 27 29th St. th S tr ee tT ri b u ta ry Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve BL27 BL28 33rd St. BL23 BL22 ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK BL25 BL26 BL24 North Bran ch Bull Cre ek BL21 BL20 Bull Creek Wadsworth Rd. BL19 59 64 69 BL09 BL10 BL08 BL07 BL18 BL17 Green Bay Rd.
57 63 BL12 BL11 Beach Rd.
South BranchBu ll C BL15 ree iver BL16 k BL13 Wi Dead R lso nA Sheridan Rd.
en v BL14 43 ue Tr ib .
LAKE MICHIGAN North Ave.
73 Yorkhouse Rd.
Glen Flora Trib.
BL04 35 McAree Rd.
BL06 Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
BL05 40 BL03 Sunset Ave.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 14 BL01 Feet BL02 76 13 Greenwood Ave.
Legend 140 Forest Preserve Watershed Boundary 140 Subwatershed Management Unit State Park Glen Flora Ave. w ay BL01 - Stream Reach ID 11 Burtick St.
Pool/ Riffle Development E x p re s s High Moderate Low None 10 This map is provided for general locational information 75 Amstuz only. Map features have been derived from various sources, each of which has its own scale and accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division FIGURE 3.28 POOL AND RIFFLE DEVELOPMENT 79 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis 1
the prevalence of erosion - the proportion of the reach 3
15 74 length exhibiting signi f cant streambank erosion. Erosion is 4
characterized as follows: 48 Lewis Ave.
27 29th St. th Str e et None: Banks stable; evidence of erosion or bank T rib uta ry Thunderhawk Golf failure absent or minimal; little potential for future Club Forest Preserve 33rd St.
problems; less than 5% of bank affected.
ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK North Branch Bull Creek 59 Wadsworth Rd. 69 64Creek Bull Low: Moderately stable; infrequent, small areas of 57 Green Bay Rd.
63 erosion mostly healed over; 5-33% bank has areas South BranchBu ll C Beach Rd.
of erosion.
re e er k
Wil Dead Riv so n Sheridan Rd.
Av43 e nu e Trib LAKE MICHIGAN North Ave.
73 Moderate: Moderately unstable; 33-66% of bank has Yorkhouse Rd.
areas of erosion; high erosion potential during high 35 Glen Flora Trib.
runoff events.
McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
40 Severe: Unstable; many eroded areas; raw areas Sunset Ave.
frequent along straight sections and bends; obvious bank sloughing; 66-100% of bank with erosional 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 Feet Greenwood 13 Ave.
14 76 Legend scars. Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve State Park 1 Subwatershed Management Unit ID Bluff & Ravine Surface 140 Elevation (ft)
Glen Flora Ave. ay In the Dead River/Bull Creek Watershed, 9 of the 28 reaches 140 575 - 580 640 - 660 720 - 740 800 - 820 Expressw Burtick St.
580 - 600 660 - 680 740 - 760 No Data 11 600 - 620 760 - 780 (32% or 25,300 feet) were characterized as having low or 680 - 700 620 - 640 700 - 720 780 - 800 10 This map is provided for general locational information no streambank erosion problems. However , 10 of the 28 only. Map features have been derived from various Amstuz sources, each of which has its own scale and 75 accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission reaches (36% or 25,300 feet) fall into the moderate range.
September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Nine (32% or 19,300 feet) of the Bull Creek stream reaches Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division United States Geological Survey exhibited high streambank erosion. The most severe cases of erosion occurred in Bull Creek along the main stem and FIGURE 3.29 TOPOGRAPHY the South Branch.This is likely due to the presence of ravine-like banks that are not stabilized by ground level vegetation and the high incidence of stormwater discharge points along these reaches. More stormwater discharge points mean greater discharge of stormwater runoff and more frequency and severity of erosion. In some cases, sediment had accumulated at the bottom of the ravine, creating a lower bank near the stream. But the ravine walls showed high levels of erosion that could be problematic. Other severe cases of erosion were noted on the 27th StreetTributary and North Branch. These areas also had ravine-like banks and high numbers of discharge points and/or debris that indicate a " f ashy" hydrology , which would cause erosion. Figure 3.29 is provided to illustrate the correspondence between the location of ravines and the location of erosion.
Streambank armoring was present in a few areas, some protecting sanitary manholes and other signi f cant infrastructure, and others appear to be do-it-yourself approaches to slow or stop erosion of the channel or stream T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 80
1 3
15 74 4
Lewis Ave.
48 27 29th St. th S tr ee tT ri b u ta ry Thunderhawk Golf Club Forest Preserve BL27 BL28 33rd St.
BL23 BL22 ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK BL25 BL26 BL24 North Bran ch Bull Cre ek BL21 BL20 Bull Creek Wadsworth Rd. BL19 59 64 69 BL09 BL07 BL10 BL08 Green Bay Rd.
BL18 BL17 57 63 BL12 BL11 Beach Rd.
South BranchBu ll C BL15 ree iver BL16 k BL13 Wi Dead R lso nA Sheridan Rd.
en v BL14 43 ue Tr ib .
LAKE MICHIGAN North Ave.
73 Yorkhouse Rd.
Glen Flora Trib.
BL04 35 BL06 McAree Rd.
Lyons Woods Forest Preserve Blanchard Rd.
BL05 40 BL03 Sunset Ave.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 14 BL01 Feet BL02 76 13 Greenwood Ave.
Legend Watershed Boundary Forest Preserve 140 Subwatershed Management Unit State Park 140 Stream Bank Erosion BL01 - Stream Reach ID Glen Flora Ave. w ay Burtick St.
11 None Low Moderate High E x p re s s 10 This map is provided for general locational information only. Map features have been derived from various sources, each of which has its own scale and 75 Amstuz accuracy. The locations of all features are approximate.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission September, 2007 DATA SOURCES:
Lake County Stormwater Management Lake County Department of Information And Technology, GIS & Mapping Division FIGURE 3.30 STREAMBANK EROSION 81 T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N
3 watershed inventory and analysis banks. Armoring included poured concrete, broken concrete is typically large enough where the sediment settles at the slab, rock and brick walls, rip rap, gabion baskets f lled with bottom of the ravine, leaving enough room for the stream rock, cinder blocks strung over rebar, railroad ties, and wood to meander around it. Sediment tends to accumulate on retaining walls. It is unclear what proportion of the armoring the inside of a bend in the stream, where water is f owing projects are stable and how many are failing. However , it slower, and pools tend to develop on the outside of a bend, is important to recognize that armoring, when improperly where water is f owing faster. Sediment can also become designed and installed, can fail and cause problems to lodged or trapped around and inside of culverts and other worsen. hydraulic structures, resulting in obstruction of water f ow where sediment accumulation is very high or takes place As indicated, streambank erosion is a signif cant problem on over a long period of time.
a number of stream reaches, causing loss of property, water quality problems, and sedimentation downstream. Erosion As reported following the 2001 SMC Stream Inventory , the deserves prioritized attention by watershed stakeholders. Dead River/Bull Creek Watershed had a total of 13 out of 28 reaches (46%) with low sediment accumulation. Moderate Stream Bed Erosion or high sediment accumulation was found in eleven reaches As a complicating factor that can hasten stream bank erosion, (39%), with nine of these reaches falling into the moderate stream beds also are being eroded by high stormwater range and two reaches in the high range. Bull Creek had runoff f ows, a process called downcutting. Heavy volumes only one reach (4%) with high accumulation and six reaches of water moving quickly through a stream channel can (27%) with moderate accumulations of sediment, as opposed scour the bottom of the channel and transport the substrate to the Glen Flora and the unnamed tributary to the north, in materials downstream, which also leads to sedimentation which the reaches with moderate accumulations of sediment of downstream reaches (see below). This process deepens made up 50% of the streams. Sedimentation is a moderate the stream channel and thereby exposes more of the stream problem within upper and middle stream reaches, but is bank to the erosive forces of water f ow. Until a very stable likely a more signif cant problem in lower reaches where the rock or clay substrate is exposed, this process deepens and gradient is shallow and sediment settles out. Figure 3.31 widens stream channels, erodes away natural pools and illustrates the location of areas with sedimentation.
riff es, and transports many tons of sediment downstream.
As documented in Bull Creek, sanitary sewer lines that were The Lake County Health Department monitoring of Bull installed 2.5 feet underground were exposed by 12-18 inches Creek, however , indicates that sedimentation, at least at above ground before the stabilization work done by the North Shore Sanitary District and US Army Corps of Engineers in 2003 and 2004. Stream bed erosion is an ongoing problem needing attention in the Dead River watershed.
Sediment Accumulation
© Lake County Stormwater Management Commission The accumulation of sediment in a streambed is directly related to the degree of streambank and stream bed erosion that occurs within a channel and to the stream gradient.
Ordinarily, sediments that are generated in the channel are conveyed through the steeper gradient reaches and deposited in areas where the stream velocity is decreased due to shallower stream gradient or by debris blockages or impoundments. Bull Creek has a low to moderate accumulation of sediment in spite of its moderate to high erosion problems in the watershed because of the ravine Relatively stable reach of Bull Creek (BL07) channel shows gravel and stream banks and steeper gradient. It is likely that sediment sediment that have been transported from upstream by water f ow and is being deposited in the low-gradient reaches of Illinois deposited here where the stream gradient is fairly f at.
Beach State Park. The wide streambed area in these ravines T H E D E A D R I V E R l W AT E R S H E D - B A S E D P L A N 82