Corps signs project partner agreement for Rosewood Park ecosystem restoration project

Published July 26, 2013

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Park District of Highland Park (PDHP) signed the Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) for the Rosewood Park Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration (GLFER) Project, July 25, 2013.

"The Corps is excited to be partnering with the park district on this restoration project to provide the Great Lakes with valuable migratory bird and fish-spawning habitat," said USACE Project Manager Kirston Buczak.

This project is located directly along the shore of Lake Michigan and is about 30 miles north of Chicago. It includes installing near-shore structures for fish habitat and dune formation; removing part of a parking lot and a box culvert to daylight the ravine stream, which will re-establish habitat and connectivity with the lake; and restoring bluff, ravine and dune vegetation communities.

The construction contract is anticipated to be awarded in September. The funding for construction is from multiple sources, including Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funds and non-federal funds from PDHP.

The Chicago District manages an extensive ecosystem restoration program that restores and protects over 2,600 acres of streams, lakes and wetlands and opens up over 58 miles of free-flowing river.

The district is currently working on four projects that will protect and restore an additional 90 acres of habitat. Twenty studies are also underway, which will add further habitat if implemented.

 


Contact
Sarah Gross
312-846-5334
sarah.d.gross@usace.army.mil

Release no. 072613-001