Spawning Fish in Ravine 7L
Video taken by Matt Jennings, Trout Unlimited
* Right-click on the video to pause or replay
Location: Highland Park, Illinois
Client: Park District of Highland Park
Project Characteristics
Funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, this project consists of reconnecting fish spawning habitat within this ravine for Lake Michigan native fish species (white sucker, long nose dace and various species of the trout/salmon family)
To date, 400 feet of stream channel has been restored to satisfy fish habitat requirements, including:
Installation of four velocity/sediment control structures that are suitable for fish passage yet hold the grade to maintain sheltering pools upstream.
The structures are constructed of fish-friendly river boulders and designed to be self-cleansing and to oxygenate the water for better fish survival
Restoration of the stream channel with a narrowed profile for improved flow and use of native cobble to eliminate scouring of the stream bed and protect fish from injury on sharp edges
Native stone was also used to create two spawning shoals in the stream channel
Creation of three primary pools for sediment reduction and fish sheltering needs
Construction of three rock overhang structures for shelter and shade within the pool structures
One major fish passage barrier was removed at the outfall of the ravine with Lake Michigan by cutting and capping steel sheet piling that blocked the entry
A 200-foot passageway between the lake and ravine was improved by cutting a channel in a concrete pad, placing river boulders, native cobble and shelf overhangs, and creating a large resting pool to provide cover for spawning fish
Four hundred linear feet of streambank was stabilized using large quartzite boulders that were placed strategically to avoid adversely impacting natural fish shelters such tree roots in undercuts
The project also involved the stabilization of 500 feet of degraded and incised ravine on private property
V3 evaluated an additional 1500 feet of ravine for potential fish ladders, sediment traps, vegetative stabilization and gravel shoals for channel width modification
Final permits were received by the Client from the US Army Corps of Engineers on Feb. 8, 2011 and construction on the GLRI-funded portion of the project began Feb. 17.
