RES is restoring 785 acres of former agricultural land to wetland, prairie, savanna, fen, riparian, and aquatic habitat at Dutch Gap Forest Preserve in Antioch, Illinois, under a five-year contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, in partnership with Lake County Forest Preserves.

The project restores site hydrology by disabling more than 64,000 linear feet of legacy drain tile, reshaping stream and floodplain areas, and installing natural stone riffles and cobble features to improve aquatic habitat and stream function across the Lake County watershed.

RES is establishing native plant communities through seed installation across hundreds of acres and the planting of more than 190,000 native plugs, trees, and shrubs spanning wetland, prairie, savanna, fen, riparian, and channel habitats. Invasive species control, selective clearing, maintenance, monitoring, and adaptive management continue throughout the contract term to support long-term establishment across all habitat types.

When complete, the project will improve habitat for migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife while strengthening one of Lake County’s most significant preserve landscapes.