Managing Water Levels in Ecosystem Restoration Areas

The Calumet Area, formerly the center of the industrial boom in the mid 1800's, is now home to a large diversity of plants and animal life that includes endangered species, over 200 species of birds, and one of the most ecologically significant complexes of wetlands in the Midwest. Development and industrializations contributed to pollution and degradation of the area. The City of Chicago and various stakeholders are developing ecosystem restoration plans for the Calumet watershed that preserve, improve, and create habitat, especially on areas with endangered threatened species such as the black-crowned night heron and yellow-headed blackbird. These birds nest in the wetlands of Hegewisch Marsh and Indian Ridge Marsh where high water levels flood their nests and low water levels put them at risk of predators. The ecological restoration of Hegewisch Marsh and Indian Ridge Marsh includes interconnecting and restoring wetlands, managing water levels with control structures, improving or enhancing current habitat, removing debris, and shoring restoration. Managing water levels in the Calumet Area at Hegewisch Marsh and Indian Ridge Marsh is of great priority to meet the goals of the ecosystem restoration of the area.