Re-hydration of Historic Meanders on Raccoon Creek

Raccoon Creek is a watershed of approximately 59 square miles northwest of the City of Rockford in Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois. The lower two mile reach of Raccoon Creek at its confluence with the Pecatonica River lies entirely within the floodway of the Pecatonica River. The Pecatonica River is tributary to the Rock River with the confluence of Raccoon Creek at the Pecatonica River approximately 1.5 miles upstream of the Rock River USGS gage in Rockford, Illinois. Raccoon Creek is subjected to significant backwater influence from both the Pecatonica and Rock Rivers. During the 1970's local farmers excavated a channel south of the original meanders, presumably as an effort to alleviate some of the more frequent crop inundation due to the significant meandering of the lower reach of Raccoon Creek. Although the channel was excavated, the historic meanders were left almost intact in their original condition. Subsequent to the excavation work, significant downcutting was experienced along the excavated channel and flow ceased in the historic meanders. In the late 1990's approximately 700 acres of property, north of and adjacent to the lower two mile reach of Raccoon Creek, was donated and has become the Carl & Myrna Nygren Wetland Preserve, managed by the Natural Land Institute. The Natural Land Institute has begun a program of wetland and prairie restoration over the entire property. This paper presents the portion of restoration associated with the improvements proposed to re-hydrate the historic meander corridor. Also discussed are design challenges associated with restoration of almost two miles of historic stream corridor on Raccoon Creek.