Hadley Valley Preserve

The Power of PartnershipsPartnerships have been an integral component in the successful expansion, improvement

and restoration of the Forest Preserves of Will County. From time to time, these partnerships include multiple groups or agencies and result in regionally significant projects aiding in the fulfillment of these organizations’ goals and missions as well. Hadley Valley Preserve is an example of one of those projects, and could be considered one of the most successful partnership projects of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Our partners – the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, United States Army Corps of Engineers, City of Chicago, Openlands, City of Joliet and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources – joined together at Hadley Valley Preserve to protect over 726 acres, to restore more than 500 acres of wetlands, prairies and savannas and to develop three public access sites and 4.8 miles of multi-use trail along Spring Creek. This work has a far-reaching effect on our community and environment by increasing water permeability and infiltration, restoring natural hydrology, mitigating negative effects to our streams and wetlands, restoring habitat for a wide variety of species of flora and fauna, expanding biodiversity and bringing people and nature together.

In 2010, several of our partners joined forces once again in an effort to develop an interpretive program for Hadley Valley Preserve to help educate our visitors on the importance of our environment, how every person impacts it and how we are working to restore and recreate the things we thought were lost. This effort resulted in the development of eight wayside exhibits, each focusing on a specific aspect of the restoration project and linked to an iconic image for easy recollection of its significance. This booklet highlights the interpretive program in the following pages. We hope that you take time to regularly visit this forest preserve or any of your local natural areas and trails.

The Forest Preserve District would especially like to acknowledge the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, US Army Corps of Engineers, City of Chicago and Openlands, which made the interpretive program possible.

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Partnerships and Public Support

To restore and preserve the native landscape at Hadley Valley, the Forest Preserve received wetlands mitigation funding from the Illinois Tollway (I-355 Extension project) and Openlands/US Army Corps of Engineers (O’Hare Modernization project).

Additional funding for trail and access improvements came from the City of Joliet, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and local developers.

The resulting restoration and improvement project is an example of multiple government agencies working towards a regional environmental vision, combining resources for the restoration of our historic landscapes.

Wetlands Mitigation Spurs RestorationThe Forest Preserve District, the

Illinois Tollway, and Openlands/US Army Corps of Engineers identified a key partnership opportunity, utilizing Forest Preserve land as well as Tollway and Airport wetland mitigation funds to restore and enhance a valuable resource.

In addition to mitigating impacts of the I-355 extension and the O’Hare Airport modernization program, the intent of this cooperative wetland restoration effort was to design and construct access and trail facilities that would be appreciated by the public and maintained by a dedicated land management agency.

Restoration in the Making

Much of this site was purchased through successful Forest Preserve bond referenda in 1999 and 2005.

Plans for Hadley Valley Preserve soon began to take shape. The Forest Preserve broke ground on public access and trail improvements in 2008.

With the support of public and private partnerships, Hadley Valley Preserve provides unlimited opportunities for nature exploration, outdoor recreation and relaxation.

Spring Creek mitigation included restoring the meanders that existed prior to agricultural channelizing, using an aerial photograph from 1939 as reference.

By removing drainage tiles, stabilizing the stream bank, and planting thousands of native wetland plants, the project helped restore the original water processes in Hadley Valley Preserve.

By the Numbers – 3,012 Plant Trays

148,000 wetland plants were installed from 3,012 plant trays. If stacked one on top of the other, the plant trays would equal the height of a 75-story tall building.

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Restoring One of the Midwest’s Rarest Landscapes

The shady groves you see nearby are savannas – open landscapes featuring widely spaced trees and a diverse mix of shrubs, grasses and wildflowers. Savanna trees have broad crowns, an indication that they grew in places with space to spread out. Some old savanna oaks are as wide as they are tall.

Once common in the Midwest, savannas are now rare. Over time, people removed trees and shrubs to make more room for farming and living. Non-native plants, like buckthorn, grew quickly and out-competed native plants. But with restoration and removal of non-natives, a savanna can flourish.

Savanna NativesFeaturing open areas peppered with

widely-spaced oak trees, savannas offer a mix of sun and shade, allowing a variety of plants and animals to thrive. Here, plants common to both prairies and forests find room to grow.

The rich diversity of plants attracts birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Birds especially make use of the savanna’s rich resources. Red-headed woodpeckers nest in the open canopies, and if you look closely, you might see eastern bluebirds or a red-tailed hawk.

Restoring SavannaAs part of the Illinois Tollway

I-355 mitigation, a major restoration of savanna habitat began in 2008. Replacing this habitat required extensive planting of thousands of trees and shrubs. Additionally, the Forest Preserve must continually remove non-native plants through cutting, removing root systems, and herbicide treatments.

Savannas, like prairies, require periodic fires for healthy growth. Trees and plants in savannas are fire resistant. Without fire, savannas can be overgrown with non-native invasive species. Controlled fires are an important part of the Forest Preserve’s management plan.

Common on savannas, bur oak trees have thick, corky bark to shield them from fire.

Eventually, the savanna at Hadley Valley will look like the mature oak savannas in Messenger Woods, another Forest Preserve site nearby.

By the Numbers – 12,000 Trees

Thanks to the support of the Illinois Tollway mitigation project, the Forest Preserve District planted nearly 12,000 trees and shrubs in Hadley Valley Preserve.

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A Billowing Sea of Grass and Wildflowers

A century ago, prairies blanketed the Midwest. Featuring few trees, rich soil and towering plants, prairies are characterized by a rich and diverse plant life – up to several hundred different types of native grasses and wildflowers.

The first settlers named Illinois the “Prairie State” for its seemingly endless prairies. But in a span of less than 50 years, crop and pasture land replaced

the vast, fertile prairies. Today, prairie restoration is bringing biodiversity back to Hadley Valley Preserve.

The Role of FireRestoring a prairie takes many

years. The process starts by restoring natural water processes, removing non-native species, planting native prairie grasses and wildflowers, and using a powerful ecological force – fire. Naturally occurring wildfires shaped our landscape long ago and allowed prairies, woods, and wetlands to flourish. Native plants and animals are adapted to life with periodic fires – and healthy native habitats depend on this force.

Without periodic fires, non-native plants and trees invade natural areas. Today, the Forest Preserve District uses controlled burns to limit the growth of these species and revive native plant communities. Fire is our most efficient tool for managing Will County’s natural resources.

Buried TreasurePrairie plants have deep and fibrous

root systems. Up to 70% of the plant may be underground, with roots extending nearly 20 feet. Because they draw moisture and nutrients from deep in the ground, prairie plants thrive in hot summers and droughts – and withstand fire.

Underground, billions of interlocking rootlets form a fibrous network. There, armies of tiny soil creatures live and feed, churning the soil and making it rich and fertile.

By the Numbers – 7 Tons

To restore the prairie at Hadley Valley, the Forest Preserve District planted over 7 tons of prairie and wetland seeds. That’s about equal to the weight of two minivans!

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A Changing LandOver 200 years ago, the Illinois

landscape was a mosaic of vast prairies, oak woodlands and abundant wetlands. As settlers moved into the Chicago region, they transformed wild lands into places to live, work and travel.

In the 1830s, settlers began to plow the prairies to grow corn, grains and soybeans, and to support livestock. They cut down forests to expand agriculture. To farm wetlands, farmers straightened Spring Creek and buried miles of drainage tiles to dry wet soil. Within a

century of settlement, native habitats had all but disappeared. But then, times changed.

Restoring the LandBy comparing recent maps and

land surveys with historic ones, the Forest Preserve identified areas of Hadley Valley that needed to undergo restoration.

Restoring a landscape doesn’t mean making the land exactly like it was years ago. Instead, restoration re-establishes the natural conditions that help native habitats to flourish. By restoring native plant species, water flow patterns and natural processes to the land, the Forest Preserve District can encourage more diverse and productive habitats to thrive.

By the Numbers – 22,000 Feet

The Hadley Valley restoration project removed or disabled more than 22,000 linear feet of clay drainage tiles used to drain soil for farming. That’s more than four miles!

Looking Back to the FutureIn the mid-1990s, the Forest

Preserve identified Hadley Valley in its preservation plans. The surrounding area was quickly developing. Through voter referenda, the Forest Preserve

District sought support of Will County residents to purchase the land. Forest Preserve biologists then developed a plan to return Hadley Valley to a healthy, natural landscape.

In 2007, the Forest Preserve began restoring more than 180 acres of native habitats to Hadley Valley, supported by Illinois Tollway I-355 mitigation funding. Now, native plants thrive in restored prairie, savanna and wetland habitats. These habitats support animal life and provide a beautiful resource for the public to enjoy.

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Restored Wetlands Working for You

Restoring Natural Creek Bends

Wetlands were once considered unproductive land. For nearly a century, wetlands in Hadley Valley Preserve were drained and farmed. Like many streams in the agricultural Midwest, portions of Spring Creek were straightened and channelized.

An Oasis for WildlifeWetlands are among the world’s

richest ecosystems. They support tiny organisms that live in the water, forming the basis of a healthy food chain. Wetlands in northeastern Illinois are home to about 1,500 plant species, 23 amphibian species and 125 bird species.

Many fish, mammals, insects and reptiles, as well as nearby woodland and prairie animals, find shelter, protection and nourishment in wetlands. Half of all North American bird species depend on wetlands to survive.

Until recently, wetlands were often viewed as wastelands – valuable only if they were drained or filled. But now we know that wetlands benefit people and the natural world in remarkable

ways. Wetlands are nature’s filtering system. Their plants capture pollution and trap sediment, cleansing the water. Wetlands collect, store and absorb rainwater, thereby reducing flooding and recharging groundwater.

Nearly 90 percent of the wetlands in Illinois have been lost to development. But wetlands, like those at Hadley Valley Preserve, can be restored. Conserving and restoring wetlands offers extensive benefits to animals, plants and people. As the Forest Preserve protects and restores wetlands, the public has the opportunity to explore and enjoy them.

By the Numbers – Restoration

As part of the largest restoration project in Will County’s history, heavy machines rolled in to reshape and stabilize 6,700 linear feet of stream bank.

Restoring Spring Creek to its original meandering course required moving over 64,000 cubic yards of earth. That much soil could fill nearly 4,200 dump trucks!

Supported by wetlands mitigation funding through the Illinois Tollway and Openlands, workers planted nearly 150,000 native wetland plants.

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Hard-Working HabitatsWetland plants help protect and

improve water quality by trapping sediments and by absorbing or breaking down excess nutrients and other pollutants. Wetlands also serve as land where flood waters can collect, preventing destructive and expensive flooding of homes and businesses.

Restoring and enhancing Spring Creek’s wetlands was a major part of the Hadley Valley project. Between bends in the creek, the Forest Preserve planted areas with emergent vegetation. Emergent plants are rooted underwater with some mature plant growth above the surface – very valuable for waterfowl and other animals.

Sedges Have EdgesSedge meadows can be seen at Hadley Valley. A sedge meadow is an area of low,

flat ground flooded with a few inches of water and studded with thick, spongy expanses of hummocks – networks of undecayed roots. Sedge meadows typically flourish where soils remain wet most of the time. Low oxygen levels in the saturated soils prevent the decay of dead plants. The undecayed plants form thick areas of hummocks.

Hummocks provide places for other plants to grow above the wet soil. Fire, which prevents larger, woody plants from growing, is important to the survival of sedge meadows and other native plant communities.

Meanders, Riffles, and Pools

Before restoration, most of the length of Spring Creek had been channelized – deepened and straightened – to drain land for agricultural purposes. A system of drain tiles further drained the land. Few wetlands survived – and those that did were dominated by reed canary grass, box elder and other invasive species.

To restore the water system and wetlands, engineers and biologists re-graded Spring Creek, reconstructing a meandering channel complete with pools and riffles – shallow rocky areas with faster current. To remove reed canary grass, machines scraped infested soils from the stream bank and then seeded and planted extensive native plants. The result? A healthy stream lined with thriving wetlands.

By the Numbers – 90 Percent

Wetlands clean water by filtering nutrients and pollutants. In a healthy wetland, plant roots can absorb and process as much as 90 percent of dissolved nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

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Corridors and ConnectionsLike roadways or rail lines that connect towns and cities, streams like Spring

Creek connect parcels of land. Greenways provide crucial opportunities for water and animals to flow between different protected habitats and adjacent preserves.

In our modern landscape, natural habitats are often fragmented into small chunks. Smaller parcels of protected land support less biodiversity than larger ones. Surrounded by development, plants and animals are unable to move freely from one preserve to another. But protected greenways and stream corridors like Spring Creek help connect these parcels into a system upon which wildlife can depend.

Making ConnectionsTogether with other agencies, the

Forest Preserve is able to connect fragmented habitats and form long corridors of protected land, such as Spring Creek Greenway. These corridors increase opportunities for native animals and plants to thrive, and provide an important resource for Will County residents to connect with nature.

Currently, the Spring Creek Greenway extends more than 11 miles through Will County, connecting four forest preserves. Such a large continuous corridor of preserved land is unusual in a fast-developing area like Will County.

By the Numbers – 15,221 Species

The bigger a preserve is, the more different types of creatures will visit or make their homes there. Animals that may be found in the Spring Creek Greenway include:

• 15 species of fish• 54 species of aquatic

invertebrates• 15,000 species of insects• 8 species of amphibians• 6 species of reptiles• 15 species of mammals• 123 species of birds

Dynamic and CrucialConstantly moving and changing,

streams are important to the water cycle because they help groundwater to recharge. Alongside stream banks, wetlands and other vegetation reduce erosion and help to contain flooding.

Lined with plants and rich in food sources, streams attract many animals. Here, fish, birds, mammals and insects

find a place to travel, to eat and to gain protection. They depend on the connected, continuous system the stream corridor provides. Keeping our streams healthy makes a direct impact on the lives of animals that live there.

From its prairie and wetlands, to its forests, savannas and thriving stream corridor, Hadley Valley Preserve features an amazing variety of habitats in over one square mile of land.

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Hadley Valley Preserve’s Habitat DiversityFrom its prairies and wetlands

to its forests, savannas and thriving stream corridor, Hadley Valley Preserve features an amazing variety of habitats.

As you walk down the trail, the habitat changes from wetland to savanna to prairie. Although these

natural habitats blend together, they are characterized by different amounts of water and sunlight and, as a result, different plants grow and thrive in each zone. The rich diversity of plants attracts a variety of birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Biodiversity on the RiseRestoring native plant species

increases the variety of plants, animals and other living things in a particular area by providing more kinds of food and shelter.

Upon visiting Hadley Valley Preserve, enjoy the diversity of native plants and look closely to find animals that make their homes in these natural landscapes. The diversity of animal and plant life here is a mark of the restoration’s success.

Preservation & Restoration

Keeping the diversity of the Illinois landscape requires careful planning, management and maintenance. Where existing native habitats are still growing, preservation efforts protect them and help them to thrive. In places where native habitats have been disturbed, damaged or destroyed, restoration involves researching what the site was like in the past and striving to return it to its former condition prior to development or use for agriculture.

With the support of its partners and local residents, the Forest Preserve strives to preserve, protect, and restore Will County’s native habitats and provide greenways – corridors of continuous native landscapes.

At Hadley Valley Preserve, restoration efforts are continuing. Gradually, neighboring agricultural land will become additional areas of preserved prairie.

By the Numbers – 658 Acres

Hadley Valley Preserve stretches across 658 acres of diverse habitats. That’s the size of nearly 600 football fields!

Wayside Icons

Partnerships

Restoration

Transitions

Savanna

Greenways

Wetlands

Prairie

Biodiversity

Heron

Arrowhead

Burr Oak

Hawk

Corn

Coneflower

Compass Plant

Dragonfly

Hadley Valley Partners