The information below is provided to keep you informed about the Forest Preserve District of Will County's ongoing or recently completed land acquisition, restoration and development projects.
Project Type: Restoration
Project Status: In Progress
Project Location: The project is located at Hadley Valley, north of Route 6 and south of Bruce Road between Farrell and Cedar Roads in Joliet, Lockport, New Lenox, and Homer Glen.
Project Description: The Hadley Valley Habitat Restoration project is an ongoing project conducted at multiple locations in Hadley Valley in several phases over the past decade with the assistance of various grants and partnerships.
Habitat restoration between Interstate 355 and Bruce Road was funded by a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and by the District's operating budget. Tree and shrub plantings were funded by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA). The initial restoration was completed in 2012 and 2013. Approximately 150 acres of former agricultural fields are being restored to prairie, wetland and savanna habitats. Prairie mowing, invasive species control and prescribed burn management are ongoing.
Habitat restoration between Gougar Road and Interstate 355 was funded by the O'Hare Modernization Mitigation Account administered by OpenLands in conjunction with the City of Chicago and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The initial restoration activities were completed between 2008 and 2010. Nearly 190 acres of former agricultural fields and approximately 1.5 miles of Spring Creek were restored. Native trees and shrubs were planted in the fall of 2013, funded by ISTHA. Erosion repairs, invasive species control and prescribed burn management are ongoing.
Habitat restoration between Farrell and Gougar Roads was funded by ISTHA as wetland mitigation for the I-355 South Extension and by the District's Capital Improvement Program. Nearly 300 acres of former agricultural fields and approximately 1.2 miles of Spring Creek were restored. Invasive species control, mowing, prescribed haying, enrichment seeding and prescribed burn management are ongoing.
READ THE PROJECT FACT SHEET AND MAP