Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern
Expanded Study Area
Habitat Management Plan
Prepared by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Coastal Management Program
Third Draft Version, November 2013
Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 6
Executive Summary................................................................................................................................... 6
Purpose of the Plan ................................................................................................................................... 6
Review Process........................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Waukegan Harbor ESA Natural History .................................................................................................... 7
Waukegan Harbor ESA Cultural History .................................................................................................... 8
Impairments to Habitat Quality .............................................................................................................. 10
Outcomes ................................................................................................................................................ 12
Management Plan ....................................................................................................................................... 14
Illinois Beach State Park .......................................................................................................................... 14
Waukegan Lakefront North .................................................................................................................... 15
Area of Concern ...................................................................................................................................... 23
Waukegan Lakefront South .................................................................................................................... 24
North Chicago ......................................................................................................................................... 27
Transportation Corridor .......................................................................................................................... 30
Nearshore Habitat................................................................................................................................... 32
The ESA Overall ....................................................................................................................................... 34
Summary and Next Steps ............................................................................................................................ 36
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................ 44
Acronyms
AOC
BSC
BUI
CBG
CDF
CW
DNAPL
ESA
GLRI
ICMP
IDNR
IEPA
LaMP
NOAA
NSSD
OMC
PAH
PCB
ppm
RAP
TCE
USACE
USEPA
USFWS
USGS
WHCAG
WMC
Area of Concern
Bird Studies Canada
Beneficial Use Impairment
Chicago Botanic Garden
Confined Disposal Facility
Chicago Wilderness
Dense Non Aqueous Phase Liquid
Extended Study Area
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Illinois Coastal Management Program
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
North Shore Sanitary District
Outboard Marine Corporation
polyaromatic hydrocarbons
polychlorinated biphenyl
parts per million
Remedial Action Plan
trichloroethylene
United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Geological Survey
Waukegan Harbor Citizens’ Advisory Group
Waukegan Manufactured Gas and Coke Plant
Definitions
Allelopathic: a trait whereby an organism releases compounds that suppress the growth of other
organisms in the immediate area.
Amphibian Indicator Species metric: A measurement developed by Bird Studies Canada to assess the
quality of a wetland via the presence of certain amphibians, primarily frogs.
Area of Concern (AOC): Defined by Annex 2 of the 1987 Protocol to the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement as “geographic areas that fail to meet the general or specific objectives of the
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Agreement where such failure has caused or is likely to cause impairment of beneficial use of the area’s
ability to support aquatic life.” These areas are the “most contaminated” areas of the Great Lakes, and
the goal of the AOC program is to bring these areas to a point at which they are not environmentally
degraded more than other comparable areas of the Great Lakes. When that point has been reached, the
AOC can be removed from the list of AOCs in the Annex, or “delisted.”
Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI) - Beneficial uses are ways that a water body’s resources improve the
quality of life for people and wildlife; i.e., supplying drinking water and providing habitat for fish and
wildlife. If a beneficial use is suppressed or unavailable due to environmental problems, such as
pollution, then that beneficial use is considered impaired. The International Joint Commission provided
a list of 14 possible beneficial use impairments in the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
amendment.
Dense Non Aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) - a liquid that is both denser than water and is immiscible in
or does not dissolve in water. Describes contaminants in groundwater, surface water and sediments;
includes PCBs and TCE.
Delisting Target: Specific goals and objectives established to track restoration progress of beneficial
uses. Once targets have been met, the beneficial use is no longer considered impaired.
Floristic Quality Index: A measurement developed by Drs. Floyd Swink and Jerry Wilhelm to measure
the quality of a natural area via a plant census. An index value over 35 indicates a high-quality natural
area.
Lacustrine: of a lake, often used in reference to sediments.
Macrophyte: aquatic vegetation that is submergent, emergent, or floating.
Monotypic: a population within a habitat where a single species is the only species present, or is the
dominant species, at the expense of biodiversity.
Panne: groundwater-fed wetlands found within depressions between coastal sand dunes.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB): A group of more than 200 organochloride compounds. They were
used in applications such as electrical insulation, hydraulics, coolants, and carbonless paper. Their use
was banned in 1979 because of their persistence in the environment and tendency to magnify up the
food chain. They have been linked to reproductive problems in wildlife, are known carcinogens, and are
suspected of causing developmental problems in human infants.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH): Chemicals commonly associated with hydrocarbons and
combustion byproducts. Some PAH compounds have been identified as carcinogenic and mutagenic.
Shoal: A linear landform in a body of water created by deposition of substrates by waves and currents.
Species Guild: A grouping of plant or animal species that utilize the same environmental resources (i.e.
shorebirds).
Trichloroethylene: a chemical that is used as an industrial degreasing solvent. It is a likely carcinogen
and its current usage is regulated.
Wetland Indicator Species metric: A measurement developed by Bird Studies Canada to assess the
quality of a wetland via the presence of certain wetland-dependent bird species.
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Wetland Nesting Species metric: A measurement developed by Bird Studies Canada to assess the
quality of a wetland via the presence of birds that require wetlands to rear their young.
YBP: Years before present day.
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Introduction
Executive Summary
The goal of this Habitat Management Plan for the Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern (AOC) Expanded
Study Area (ESA) is to guide the efforts of partner organizations in the continued conservation and
restoration of habitats within the ESA. The need for this plan was addressed in the Fish and Wildlife
Habitat Restoration Plan as part of the removal of the “loss of fish and wildlife habitat” Beneficial Use
Impairment (BUI) for the Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern (AOC).
Previously-published Remedial Action Plan (RAP) documents have recognized that the industrial
developments of the harbor have resulted in poor habitat for fish and wildlife. These plans did not
address the coastal dune and wetland systems that have formed in the ESA since Waukegan Harbor was
originally declared an AOC in 1982. These documents also had a very narrow concern of habitat located
within the AOC boundaries. The ESA boundaries were agreed to by partner agencies to address the
concern of citizens to both polluted areas and natural areas with an interconnection to the harbor and
the coastal plain. The same threats to habitat in the AOC extend throughout the ESA: structural
modifications to habitat, terrestrial vegetative invasive species, non-point source pollution, alterations
to beach formation processes, climate change, and human trespass.
This habitat management plan has been prepared by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
(IDNR) as an objective of the Waukegan Harbor AOC Habitat Management Plan (Attachment A), with the
intention to guide and coordinate habitat management efforts throughout the ESA and establish
common benchmarks for all partners to strive for.
This plan gives an overview of the ESA, presenting the natural history and current conditions of different
sections of the ESA. The primary impairments to habitat quality are discussed, both for specific sections
and for the ESA as a whole. Targets for measuring habitat quality are presented. Because of the
fragmentation of the ESA across a number of different landowners, these targets are measured
primarily in terms of acres of land undergoing some type of management or by comparison of existing
wildlife metrics over time.
Timeframes and specific actions for completion of each goal are included in the plan. The next steps,
which include plan review, approval, and implementation, are also outlined.
Purpose of the Plan
This plan breaks the ESA down to seven distinct subunits based on geography and land use. Major
activities that have affected habitat within those units are discussed, as well as future plans and
potential actions that can improve habitat quality within that unit and, by association, within the ESA. A
final section will discuss overarching actions that can be implemented throughout the ESA.
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The plan is designed to be part of an adaptive and collaborative process. It will avoid excessive detail
and specific steps that must be undertaken to manage, enhance, and expand quality habitat within the
ESA. Such a plan would prove impractical to implement, with over 1,500 individual property owners
within the boundaries of the ESA. Instead, general suggestions for action will be summarized for each
subunit and, where practical, for large landowners within those subunits.
Waukegan Harbor ESA Natural History
The land within ESA boundaries falls into two geologic divisions: the Wheaton Morainal and the Zion
Beach Ridge Plain. Wheaton Morainal country in the Coastal Zone is composed mainly of till deposited
along the contour of receding glaciers. The till formed shorelines of the proglacial precursors to Lake
Michigan. The most recently-formed moraine reaches its highest point in Highland Park, Illinois, from
which it takes its name. The Highland Park Moraine extends from northern Cook County in Illinois to
southern Kenosha County in Wisconsin. Green Bay Road is built atop the crest of this moraine. Over
time, Lake Michigan has eroded the eastern slope of the moraine, creating a bluff along the shore.
Sheridan Road runs along the edge of this bluff. During the Lake Chippewa proglacial phase of Lake
Michigan (8,500-4,500 YBP), the mean elevation of the lake rapidly dropped to 230 feet. The rapid drop
of the lake caused slow-moving streams to carve deep ravines into the moraine as they navigated a
steep descent to the lake.
The Zion Beach Ridge Plain is a coastal feature formed by the retreat of the Wisconsin Glacier, the final
glaciation event in the most recent ice age. The Root River was a major glacial meltwater stream at the
base of this glacier that entered proglacial Lake Chicago at present-day Racine, Wisconsin. Between
13,500 and 10,000 YPB the river washed till into Lake Michigan where it created a delta at the mouth of
the river. As glaciers retreated further north, opening up the lake, Lake Chicago evolved into Lake
Algonquin about 9,500 YPB. Weather from the north created sufficient wave energy to begin moving
the till of the delta southwards. Wave and wind energy ground the till into cobble, gravel, and, most
predominantly, sand. Pressed between the bluff and the lake, the sand began to pile up and stretch out
along the shoreline. The process was halted during the Lake Chippewa phase, during which the coastal
plain was landlocked and succeeded into upland ecosystems. The southward migration of sand resumed
when the transition into Lake Michigan began about 4,500 YBP. As sand moved south, it formed a series
of dune ridges and swales, with each ridge and swale demarking a former beach and foredune. The
terrestrial portion of the coastal plain moved across the present-day Illinois-Wisconsin border
approximately 3,700 YBP.
The dune and swale topography of the coastal plain created a system of upland ecosystems on the
ridges and wetland ecosystems in the swales. Many of the ecosystems on top of the dune ridges were
dry prairie and woodland systems, owing to the rapid drainage of the soil facilitated by the high sand
content. Swales, due to proximity to the Lake Michigan water table, had poor drainage. Surface runoff
collected in the swales and formed coastal wetlands. In most cases, the ravine streams emptied into
swales and formed emergent marshes. In a few instances, the streams continued to cut a path through
the dunes to the lake, forming sandbar-mouth rivers. On the bluff, the geologic conditions allowed
woodland/savanna ecosystems to develop and dominate the landscape. Vegetation from these
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ecosystems moved down off the bluff and established themselves on the oldest soils of the coastal
plain, along the western edge and to the far north.
In the nearshore areas, the waves created a smooth, gently sloped sandy bottom extending nearly a
mile away from shore. The original lakebed is composed of lacustrine deposits, mainly gravel, silt, and
clay, atop a bedrock foundation. As sand pushed south along the lake, it settled atop the lake bed,
gradually building up over time. As sand accumulated, it settled into a gradual downward slope, much
in the same way that the slope of an eroded bluff stabilizes over time. As waves hit the edge of the
plain, they begin to break and eventually form a sandbar with a trough immediately behind it. This
formation is most prominent on the leading (southern) edge of the coastal plain.
By the time of European settlement of the area, circa 1830, the top of the bluff was dominated by oakhickory savanna ecosystems, and the ravines were dominated by ash-maple riparian woodland systems.
The Zion Beach Ridge Plain extended along the coast from an area south of the Pike River in Wisconsin
to an area north of the mouth of the Waukegan River. The dunes hosted various upland prairie
ecosystems, while the swales hosted various wetland ecosystems.
Four major stream systems emptied into the plain: Dead Dog Creek in present-day Winthrop Harbor;
Kellogg Creek in present-day Zion, Bull Creek in present-day Beach Park; and Glen Flora Creek in presentday Waukegan. The latter two fed distinct sandbar mouth “rivers” in the southern portion of the plain:
The Dead River, fed primarily by Bull Creek, and the Little Dead River, fed primarily by Glen Flora Creek.
These rivers were actually deep water marshes normally separated from Lake Michigan by a narrow
sandbar across their mouths. The volume of water in these marshes was sufficient enough that when
the sandbars would breach, they behaved like rivers with a steady current draining water into the lake.
The two rivers were connected by Dead Lake, a long open water marsh occupying a wide swale. Flow
through the system would change depending on the status of the sandbar mouths.
Research into the natural history of the area did not begin until the 1890s. Surveying of the flora and
fauna of the coastal plain and bluffs peaked between 1900 and 1930. The research revealed that the
geology of the area resulted in over 20 distinct ecosystem types being concentrated in the narrow band
of the modern Coastal Zone divide, 3.5 miles across at its widest point. The area was found to have the
highest biodiversity of any distinct localized region of Illinois. The pannes of the plain were found to
have a particularly high level of biodiversity. Reliance on the hydrology of the Lake Michigan water table
instead of on groundwater table resulted in pannes being populated by plants from a wide variety of
ecosystems, which in turn increased the biodiversity of fauna utilizing the vegetation as food and
habitat. Research into the geology of the area revealed the nature of the Zion Beach Ridge Plain as a
migratory coastal plain, one of only a few such coastal features on a body of fresh water in the Western
Hemisphere.
Waukegan Harbor ESA Cultural History
The City of Waukegan is one of the earliest settlements in Lake County, established in the 1830s. The
location along the Waukegan River, which offered a 4-mile portage to the Des Plaines River and the
Mississippi waterway, helped Waukegan to develop as a commercial center. With no natural harbors in
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the area, a makeshift port consisting of piers was constructed near the mouth of the river. The arrival of
the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in the 1850s, which was routed along the base of the bluff to
run near the port, increased shipping traffic.
In the industrial boom period of the late 19th Century, authorization was given for the construction of a
sheltered harbor facility to handle increased shipping traffic. The site selected for the harbor was the
southern end of the Zion Beach Ridge Plain, near the mouth of the Little Dead River. The Little Dead
River was obliterated by the early 1900s. Over the course of the next few decades, an industrial park
developed around harbor facilities, further eradicating fragments of natural communities of the coastal
plain. Principle industries included the Johnson/Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC), a manufacturer
of personal watercraft engines; the Waukegan Manufactured Coke and Gas Company, a manufacturer of
hydrocarbon products; the North Shore Sanitary District (NSSD), a government wastewater treatment
agency; Midwest Generation (formerly Commonwealth Edison), an electric utility operating a coalpowered steam turbine electrical generation plant, and Johns Manville (JM), a building supplies
manufacturer.
Sand began to accumulate along the hard structures almost immediately after their construction. Sea
Horse Drive, a manmade roadway, was built to provide overland access to the east side of the harbor
and originally ran along the shoreline. As sand built up a new dune complex formed east of the
roadway, adding 160 acres of sand dunes since the harbor’s completion.
A number of plans for subdivision of the land north of the harbor complex were drawn up but never
carried out. Small sand mining and ice house operations were built but were short-lived. A campground
was developed in the 1930s. Amid concerns voiced by activists to preserve the remaining dunes, the
state of Illinois acquired this land, which is now Illinois Beach State Park.
South of the harbor, the shoreline effectively begins at the base of the bluff. Industrial developments in
the southern portion of Waukegan focused on light industry adjacent to the railroads. In North Chicago,
the shoreline was occupied by heavy industry. The Waukegan Works of U.S. Steel manufactured steel
wire products at a foundry along the northern shore of the city, and Abbott Laboratories constructed
their corporate headquarters and a major manufacturing facility adjacent to the U.S. Steel foundry.
West of the railroad lines, on the top of the bluff along Sheridan Road, some parcels of land were
cleared and served as agricultural land or estates for a short while. Eventually, some of the properties
were developed as subdivisions. Other parcels found alternate use. Hull House, a Chicago-based
charity, operated a rural retreat on the site of present-day Bowen Park. Land at the southern end of
Waukegan was developed as cemeteries.
In 1975, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were discovered in the sediments of Waukegan Harbor.
Between harbor sediments and soils on the OMC property, an estimated 1,000,000 pounds of PCBs
were released into the environment between 1942 and 1971. Additional pollutants, including
trichloroethylene (TCE), an industrial cleaning solvent, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH),
byproducts of hydrocarbon processing, were found on harbor properties. Cleanup of these pollutants
began in the 1990s, and continues up through the present time.
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In 1982, a portion of the JM manufacturing facility was found to be contaminated with asbestos. A 150acre section of the site was used for disposal of off-specification products and wastewater, both of
which contained friable and non-friable asbestos. Dust from friable asbestos materials was carried offsite to surrounding areas. Cleanup of the site began in the late 1980s and is ongoing. Johns Manville
ceased operations on the site in 1997, and manufacturing buildings were demolished by 2002.
Other properties in the ESA that were declared Superfund sites include two natural gas processing
facilities owned by North Shore Gas. These sites are awaiting remediation. The Diamond Scrap Yard, a
junkyard located west of the harbor, has been remediated.
Today, most of the manufacturing activities within the ESA have ceased. The U.S. Steel Waukegan
Works ceased operations in the 1970s. OMC wound down operations in the 1990s following
bankruptcy, reorganization, and sale to Bombardier Recreational Products. Johns Manville ceased
operations in the late 1990s. Abbott Laboratories spun off its pharmaceutical research division into
Abbvie, which occupies the original Abbott corporate campus but at a reduced capacity compared to its
1960s peak. Most commercial activity within the ESA is centered on two marinas: Larsen Marine and
the Waukegan Yacht Club. Two building products manufacturers have operations at Waukegan Harbor.
Several smaller industries maintain operations, mainly along the EJ&J right of way.
A proposal for redevelopment of lands within the ESA was put forth by the City of Waukegan in 2006.
The Waukegan Vision plan proposes a combination of developed residential, commercial, recreational,
and open space for the span of lakefront contained within Waukegan city limits. Elements of this plan
have not been implemented, mainly due to a lack of financial resources and continued efforts at
remediation of the various Superfund sites within ESA boundaries.
Impairments to Habitat Quality
Structural Modifications to Habitat
Of the 3,430 acres within the ESA Boundaries, 1,215 acres are fully developed and offer low to no
habitat quality. The structures on these industrial, commercial, and residential lands, while not
permanent per se, offer little opportunity for alteration. Another 650 acres are vacant lands formerly
occupied by industrial (and some residential) development. In their present state, these areas provide
low habitat quality. While the habitat value of these lands may be low, management practices can be
incorporated to realize improvements to habitat quality of the remaining high-quality natural areas.
Existing structures that post the greatest impairment to habitat quality include paved surfaces that
prevent infiltration of water into the ground and alter the flow of water in wetlands; embankments and
fences that serve as barriers to animal dispersal and hydrological flows; power transmission lines that
pose an electrocution risk to birds, especially birds of prey. Potential structures that can impact habitat
quality include tall shoreline buildings that pose collision risks to migratory birds and developments that
create light pollution that poses a risk to migratory birds and nocturnal insects.
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Land Management Practices
The way in which land owners manage their grounds, from the individual homeowner to the largest
property holders, impact the quality of habitat in the ESA. This includes simple tasks such as landscaping
up to complexities like storm water management. With over 1,500 landowners within the ESA, there is
a lack of consistency on land management practices. Over time, this lack of consistency can have a
negative impact on habitat quality. The impacts manifest as an increase in the number of invasive
species present, and a decrease in the overall biodiversity of a habitat.
Invasive Species
Many exotic plant species found in northern Illinois have established populations in the ESA. Typically,
exotic species arrive via the transportation/utility corridors. The plants either disperse along the
corridors or are carried in on vehicles and equipment that use the corridors. The management, or lack
thereof, on these properties allows exotic plants to establish populations. From there, the plants can
disperse into higher quality natural areas where they displace native species and degrade habitat
quality.
There are over 200 exotic plant species within the ESA. Only a handful of these species are
opportunistic enough to become invasive. Typically, a combination of adaptation to disturbed/poor
soils and a lack of predators/pathogens give these plants a competitive advantage that allows them to
eventually form monotypic populations. These are the species that require intensive management
(Appendix B). In wetlands, Phragmites australis (common reed), Frangula alnus (glossy buckthorn), and
Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass) are the most devastating species. On prairies and other open
spaces, Centaurea stoebe (spotted knapweed), Dipsacus laciniatus (cutleaf teasel), Securigera varia
(crown vetch), and Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweetclover) pose the biggest risk. Woody invasive
species that threaten both woodland and prairie include Lonicera (the bush honeysuckles), Rhamnus
cathartica (buckthorn), and Frangula alnus (glossy buckthorn).
Human Incursion
The effects of incursion are variable according to localized circumstances, and can be grouped into
major categories. Localized erosion results when people traverse ground and trample vegetation that
otherwise stabilizes slopes. This is most prevalent on the sand dunes that border Lake Michigan, but can
also affect the slopes of ravines and the lake bluff. Incursion from low-quality areas to high-quality
areas can inadvertently move invasive species from one location to another. Incursion can disrupt
breeding behavior of birds as well as other animal species. This can occur directly, such as stepping on a
bird nest. It can also occur passively when activity drives nesting species away.
Stakeholder Participation
As mentioned previously, there are over 1,500 individual landowners within the ESA. Of these, 3 dozen
could be considered major stakeholders, based on the number of acres or the number of properties
owned. While some of these parties work collaboratively to manage across property lines, not all
stakeholders have established coordination with one another. This lack of communication leads to land
management practices that are often at odds with goals of fellow property owners. The lack of
coordination can exacerbate the effects of other impairments, such as invasive species.
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Disruption of Sand Movement
The Zion Beach-Ridge Plain is a migratory sand formation that has been moving south along the Lake
Michigan shoreline for the last 4,000 years. Hard structures along the coast have disrupted this process,
causing excessive erosion in some places and excessive accumulation in other places. These disruptions
have had positive and negative impacts on the ESA. The 160+ acres of sand dunes that have formed
partially owe their existence to the structures of Waukegan Harbor. The beaches south of the harbor
have become sand-starved, lessening their quality as well as increasing the erosion risk to the lake bluff.
Disruption of sand movement also damages local economic activity, particularly access to Waukegan
Harbor.
Climate Change
It is predicted that climate change will lead to an increase in storm events and warmer temperatures.
An increase in storm events poses the greatest risk to habitat. While the natural areas of Illinois Beach
can accommodate large storm events, the developed areas of the Waukegan Harbor complex cannot.
Severe flooding often occurs in the ESA, especially around the harbor where the terrain is flat and there
are no wetlands or permeable surfaces to allow water to pool and infiltrate. This flooding can disrupt
natural processes and transport pollutants into natural areas and Lake Michigan, as well as have a
severe economic impact on the industry and commerce that relies on harbor facilities.
Outcomes
This plan can lead to outcomes that can be measured to determine the improvement of habitat quality
at the harbor over time. These qualitative measures are compatible with both the Lake Michigan
Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) and the Lake Michigan Biodiversity Conservation Strategy.
Quantitative measures can be determined with input from stakeholders and government entities:
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Wetlands Preservation: the total acres of wetlands within the ESA will remain stable or increase
over time. The average condition of all wetlands will reflect a “good” condition or better.
Wetland macrophyte index reflects “good” condition or better, measured using the Croft and
Chow-Frasier Wetland Macrophyte Index.
Migratory Bird Habitat: the total acres of land that provide suitable habitat for migratory birds
and shorebird stopover will remain stable or increases over time. The quality of habitat can be
measured using guidelines established by National Audubon Society.
Acres of land in active habitat management: the total acres of land being managed for habitat
will remain stable or increase over time.
Protection of natural areas: conservation easements, nature preserve designations, or other
land protection methods can be explored for natural areas outside the boundaries of IBSP. The
number of protected/designated sites will remain stable or increase.
Nearshore Habitat: shore armoring/hard structures remain stable or decrease; sediment
loading from ESA outflows decreases.
Green infrastructure projects: use of sustainable practices, especially those pertaining to storm
water management, will increase over time as measured by the number of projects
implemented.
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Biodiversity: measures of plant, reptile, amphibian, and bird biodiversity will remain stable or
improve over time as the management plan is implemented.
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Management Plan
The management plan will approach the ESA by divisions into distinct management units (MU) (Figure
1). These units are determined by geography, natural features, land ownership, cultural uses of the
land, and management potential. The seven MUs are:
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Illinois Beach State Park
Waukegan Lakefront North
Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern
Waukegan Lakefront South
North Chicago
Transportation Corridor
Nearshore Habitat
Each management unit will in turn be broken down further according to major landowners within the
unit. Recommended outcomes for each unit and its major landowners are summarized in Appendix C.
Illinois Beach State Park
The portion of Illinois Beach State Park (IBSP) (Figure 1) that lies within ESA boundaries is all land within
park boundaries that is south of the Dead River. Except for a small 3.4 acre portion of land owned by
the Union Pacific Railroad (UP), all land is owned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
SITE HISTORY
With the exception of some light industryin the early 20th Century, the portion of land that is now the
South Unit of IBSP has seen limited cultural use. Early industry included ice harvesting from Lake
Michigan and sand quarrying north of the Dead River. Both operations had ceased by 1910. A
Waukegan area nurseryman planted a 100-acre pine tree plantation south of the Dead River around the
same time.
The Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society, an early environmental organization, worked with the state
of Illinois to acquire and protect the land that is now the South Unit of IBSP. Acquisitions begin in the
1940s. Since that time, the state has continued to acquire land and expand park boundaries. In 1964,
the area of the park south of the main drive was declared a state nature preserve. By law, all resources
within a nature preserve are protected, and aside from maintenance of existing infrastructure, no
changes have been made to the preserve since 1964.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
The portion of IBSP within ESA boundaries contains at least 16 distinct natural community types within
its 878 acres. Using Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI) designations, these natural communities
include: beach, foredune, dry sand prairie, dry-mesic sand prairie, mesic sand prairie, wet-mesic sand
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prairie, wet sand prairie, dry-mesic sand savanna, mesic sand savanna, mesic flatwoods, thicket, sedge
meadow, marsh, panne, low-gradient creek, and plantation.
Most of the habitat is considered high quality, and it is the last stretch of undisturbed and undeveloped
coastline in the state of Illinois. Natural Community types range from open marsh and low gradient
streams to dry sand prairies, and from beach to open woods. Other than mowed firebreaks along the
western and southern edges of the property, the ComEd utility corridor, and two old roadbeds that have
now been revegetated, there are no cultural improvements to the land. Relics of the tree plantation
remain, but it is otherwise not maintained. Over 500 native plant species, 1.5 dozen reptile species,
nearly 1 dozen amphibians, over 2 dozen mammals, and nearly 200 migratory bird species are known to
utilize the various habitats.
MANAGEMENT POTENTIAL
The portion of IBSP within ESA boundaries is part of the Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, a state dedicated
nature preserve. This land is managed by the IDNR Nature Preserve Commission (NPC) and the Division
of Natural Heritage (Heritage), which is responsible for the development of management plans for the
preserve and execution of said plans.
Because IDNR actively manages this land, the ESA management plan will not include any management
recommendations for the property. The major management concerns focus on removal of invasive
species and monitoring of state listed threatened and endangered species. Continued communications
between neighboring landowners and interested parties, such as Johns Manville, ComEd, and the
Waukegan CAG, shall be maintained to ensure work done on adjoining properties does not have a
negative impact on the quality of the natural areas within the preserve.
Waukegan Lakefront North
This portion of the ESA is bounded by Illinois Beach State Park to the north, Sheridan Road to the west,
and a parallel line through North Ditch to the south (Figure 2). This area is typified by high-quality
natural areas, low-quality vacant lands, and industrial occupants. The 160 acres of sand dunes
(Waukegan Dunes) formed by recent accretion of sand along the Lake Michigan Shoreline are the
highest quality natural areas outside of IBSP. The dunes are distributed among several landowners.
Glen Flora Creek, a minor tributary that drains approximately 2.1 square miles, empties into this section
of the ESA. This creek once drained into the Little Dead River. As the river was filled in for development,
water from the creek now collects in ponds in wetlands at the base of the bluff.
Major landowners in this section are the Waukegan Park District (Bowen Park), Johns Manville, Midwest
Generation, and North Shore Sanitary District. Because of the number of large land parcels in the
Waukegan Lakefront North unit, each will be discussed as a subunit. A portion of the Amstutz
Expressway runs through this unit and is discussed separately in the Transportation Corridor section.
Johns Manville
SITE HISTORY
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The Johns Manville (JM) property is a 340-acre parcel of land immediately south of IBSP. It is the site of
a former Johns Manville manufacturing facility, which was built in the 1920s on coastal wetlands that
constituted the northern portion of the Little Dead River. Building materials were the primary output of
the plant, which was operational until 1998.
Portions of the property totaling 150 acres are classified as a Superfund site by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA). Asbestos containing material (ACM) that was a byproduct of the
manufacturing process was disposed of on-site, primarily in dump sites and settling ponds in the eastern
portion of the property. As of 2013, a majority of these areas have been cleaned and capped by JM.
Several smaller dump sites on the property, as well as an old industrial canal, are in the process of being
cleaned and capped. It is expected these processes will be completed by 2018.
In addition to on-site contamination, several areas of off-site ACM contamination immediately adjacent
to the property were identified in the early 2000s. The contamination is in the form of material that
washed or drifted off the Johns Manville Property. The contaminated sites to the west and south of the
property have been cleaned. Contamination found north of the property in IBSP has not been cleaned
due to the sensitive ecological condition of the site. It is presently monitored by the State of Illinois.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
A majority of the property would be classified under the INAI habitat classification as “culturalsuccessional/abandoned field”. Other portions would be classified as “pond and lake/artificial
impoundment”, “cultural/developed”, “primary/lakeshore/beach-foredune”, and “wetland/marsh/tall
shrub”.
As of 2013, access to the site is restricted. The old industrial complex is completely fenced off on all
sides, and entry to the site is only allowed by permit. All former industrial buildings have been
demolished, though foundations remain. Roadbeds are still present.
Much of the capped area has reverted to disassociated emergent grasslands with a combination of
native and exotic plant species, several of which are considered invasive. Grassland birds such as
sparrows, meadowlarks, bobolinks, and wrens are known to use the site for nesting and foraging.
On the eastern edge of the property, sand accumulation has created approximately 25 acres of beach
and foredune habitat. The isolated nature of this habitat has encouraged use by shorebirds. Piping
plover, a federally endangered species, nested in the area in 2009, and individual birds are seen during
spring and fall migrations.
The northwest corner of the property has been used for sand mining, and is presently occupied by a 35acre pond. The pond is surrounded by emergent wetland habitat. The pond is hydrologically linked by
culverts to Illinois Beach and to wetlands west of the Union Pacific railroad. Also along the north edge of
the property is an old industrial canal. The canal is known to contain ACM in its sediment, and is
scheduled to be capped as part of Superfund cleanup operations. A number of wetland-dependent
species of birds, reptiles, and amphibians are known to utilize these artificial wetlands.
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Because of the presence of ACM on the site and capping operations, the eastern sections of the
property have limited redevelopment potential. The western portion of the site, which housed the
manufacturing buildings, is not contaminated and can be redeveloped.
MANGEMENT POTENTIAL
The JM property has potential to serve as a buffer to IBSP. Restricted access to JM property has helped
to minimize non-authorized activities within the Nature Preserve. Continuing to maintain these
restrictions, including fencing, security gates, and signage warning about the Superfund status would
allow for management of the nature preserve as an “off limits” area.
Because of restrictions on management of the Superfund caps, the property can continue to be
managed to the benefit of grassland-dependent species. Research on many of these species has shown
them to be more dependent on total acreage compared to habitat structure. Grassland habitat has
been on the decline in Illinois, as former pasture and lands placed in the Grassland Reserve Program are
converted to cash crops. Management of this property as a grassland would add nearly 300 acres of this
scarce habitat to the sand prairies of the adjoining IBSP.
Former use of the site as an industrial facility created conditions for exotic plant species to establish
populations. Several of these species, including sweet clover, spotted knapweed, and crown vetch, have
already dispersed into IBSP. Control of these invasive species consumes a measurable amount of
management resources. Improved management of the property would reduce the seed source for
these invasive species, and allow for more efficient resource use within IBSP. Currently, IDNR has a solid
working relationship with JM and cooperates in controlling the highest risk invasive species.
If the parcel were in public ownership, the property could be maintained as a permanent buffer to IBSP
and as a preserve for grassland-dependent species. Approximately 250 acres of grassland and 50 acres
of wetland habitat would be protected. Shorebird habitat would be protected with the addition of 0.5
miles of coastline, ideally situated in a low-intrusion area. The property could be integrated into a sand
management plan that utilizes existing infrastructure to conduct a sand trapping usable by terrestrial
equipment without disturbance to high-quality natural areas.
Midwest Generation
SITE HISTORY
The Midwest Generation property is a 275-acre parcel of land situated at 401 E. Greenwood Ave. in
Waukegan. One of the first sites developed in the Waukegan Harbor industrial zone, construction on a
coal-fired power plant began on this property in the 1910s. Like other sites in this section of the
Waukegan Harbor industrial zone, the power plant was built on wetlands occupied by the Little Dead
River. Ultimately, two coal-burning electrical generators were built.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
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A majority of the property would be classified under the INAI system as “Cultural/Developed”. The
easternmost 68 acres would be classified as “Primary/Beach” and “Primary/Beach/Foredune”, with a
small portion of this area classified as “Wetland/Marsh”. These habitats are on recently formed sand
dunes. The dunal habitats are considered high quality.
The developed portion of the site contains a water intake/outlet that opens directly on Lake Michigan.
Near the Lake Michigan shore, a large pile of sand, dredged from the intake, sits near the shoreline. This
sand has not been moved off-site due to ACM pollution. South of the plant is a large coal pile, as well as
several settling ponds.
The rest of the property is dominated by transportation and electrical transmission infrastructure.
A nesting site for peregrine falcons has been constructed atop the power plant. Falcons have been using
this nesting site for approximately 10 years.
As of 2013, Midwest Generation is in bankruptcy due to decreasing electricity prices combined with
higher costs of operating coal-fired power plants. It is expected that Midwest Generation will eventually
close the power plant, though no official decision has yet been made.
MANGEMENT POTENTIAL
Similar to the Johns Manville property, the greatest management potential for this site is as a buffer to
the IBSP nature preserve. Restricted access to the property has helped to minimize non-authorized
activities within the Nature Preserve. Continuing to maintain these restrictions, including fencing and,
security gates, would allow for management of the nature preserve as an “off limits” area. The dunal
habitat is utilized by a variety of shorebirds. The greatest management challenge is control of invasive
species. Mechanical and chemical control of the highest risk species is ongoing under the auspices of
the CAG.
Management of the rest of the parcel depends on the ultimate fate of the power generation facility.
Habitat potential of the property is poor while the facility is in operation and limited to management of
the beach and dune habitats. Should Midwest Generation choose to decommission the facility, its
habitat potential is similar to that of the Johns Manville property to the north. Long-term goals would
include managing the land as habitat for grassland-dependent species. Soil and groundwater testing
would need to be done to determine if any site remediation is necessary prior to restoration work.
Settling ponds on the site would also need to be tested. Those areas have potential as restoration of
wetlands habitat. It is not known if there any soils on the site hold contaminants. Testing done by the
USEPA at two other Midwest Generation power plants that were decommissioned in 2012, the Fisk and
Crawford stations in Chicago, has so far found pollution levels related to the plant to be within
acceptable public health ranges.
If the plant is decommissioned, this parcel would be of acquisition interest to the IDNR to both protect
the high-quality dune and coastal habitat and enhance available grassland habitat in the region.
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Currently, Midwest Generation has a co-operative agreement with the CAG to manage the habitat of the
dune portion of the property. This management entails invasive species control and monitoring of the
flora and fauna on the property. This work will improve the current habitat condition of the dunes.
North Shore Sanitary District
SITE HISTORY
North Shore Sanitary District (NSSD) has operated a wastewater treatment facility at 325 E. Dehringer
Rd. in Waukegan since the 1930s. The plant handles wastewater for a majority of northeastern Lake
County. As the population of Lake County continued to grow, the plant received significant upgrades in
the 1970s.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
A majority of the NSSD property would be classified under the INAI system as “Cultural/Developed”.
The easternmost portion of the site would be classified as “Primary/Beach” and
“Primary/Beach/Foredune”, with a small portion of this area classified as “Wetland/Marsh”. These
habitats are on recently formed sand dunes. The dunal habitats are considered high quality.
North Ditch, a man-made drain, is situated immediately south of the property. This ditch handles
rainwater runoff from adjacent properties. During extreme storm events, the NSSD plant discharges
overflow into North Ditch. Water from the plant then enters the marsh and systems. An average of two
releases occurs per season.
As with the previous two properties, NSSD has acreage along the lakefront of beach and foredune.
These dunes are considered high quality. The NSSD dunes have more wetlands area than properties to
the north, due mainly to the tendency of water to move south in the Zion Beach Ridge Plain. The beach
and the foredunes are considered high quality habitat. The wetlands are mid-quality habitat. Large
colonies of invasive common reed populate the wetlands.
MANGEMENT POTENTIAL
Due to ongoing use of the property, habitat management for the NSSD property is limited to the beach
and foredune areas. Access to the beach areas from NSSD property is restricted, and the only way to
reach the dunes and lakeshores is via public access points to the south. Along with North Ditch, this has
limited intrusion on the dunes. Continuing to maintain these restrictions, including fencing and,
security gates, would help protect the dunes and enable continued management as habitat, especially
for shorebirds and waders. Invasive species control, primarily of common reed, is the greatest ongoing
management challenge. NSSD is one of the stakeholder groups that does not have a strong partnership
with the CAG regarding management of the dune lands for habitat. In the short term, this has slowed
the process of managing existing populations of invasive species. In the long term, this situation can
result in unmanaged populations serving as a seed source that constantly disperses into adjacent
managed areas.
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ComEd
SITE HISTORY
ComEd (a subsidiary of Exelon Corp.) originally built the coal-fired power plant now owned by Midwest
Generation. During utility deregulation in the 1990s, the company split off its power generation
operations from power transmission operations. ComEd owns land within the ESA boundaries that is
used for power transmission line corridors and related electrical grid infrastructure.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
ComEd property to the east of the UP railroad consists of a large land parcel immediately west of the
Midwest Generation property. Long overgrown with disassociated woody species, the property was
cleared in 2012. Plans call for an electrical substation to be built on the property. There is also a small
electrical ROW parallel to the UP railroad. Most of the land is degraded wetlands that serve as a holding
basin for surface run-off.
The utility corridor west of the railroad tracks runs north-south from the northern boundary of the ESA,
south to Greenwood Avenue in Waukegan, then east-west to Sheridan Road. The north-south segment
runs through heavily degraded wetland fragments populated with invasive cattail, reed canary grass,
and common reed. Though vegetation surveys have revealed high plant diversity, most of this diversity
is concentrated in very small (1/4 acre or less) habitat fragments that are remnants of the former coastal
plain communities. Bird and amphibian surveys have revealed a moderate diversity of species utilizing
this habitat. The wetlands are hydrologocally connected to Illinois Beach via a series of culverts under
the Union Pacific railroad. The east-west segment, parallel to Greenwood Avenue, runs up the bluff, and
is mainly unconsolidated grasslands populated by Eurasian grasses. This segment is frequently mowed.
MANGEMENT POTENTIAL
Management potential for the ComEd properties is dependent on cooperation between ComEd and
other stakeholder groups in the ESA. Invasive species on the property are unmanaged unless they
impair the functions of electrical equipment or access to said equipment. The number of acres owned
by ComEd that contain wetland are significant enough that stronger ties between ComEd and the CAG
can result in improved habitat quality for wetland dependent species. A large portion of the ComEd
ROW west of the UP railroad catches the discharge from Glen Flora Creek. The resulting impoundment
already provides crucial wetland habitat. The impoundment is also a source of a number of invasive
species, mainly common reed and reed canary grass. Better co-operation between ComEd and the CAG
could bring this site under habitat management. Because of hydrological connections to IBSP, the IDNR
should also be involved in partnerships to help ComEd manage the property as a buffer to the park, in
addition to managing it as a utility corridor.
Wholesale restoration of this site would be expensive. Water quality of the discharge from Glen Flora
Creek is unknown. It may contain high levels of phosphorous due to the creek originating in a golf
course and residential neighborhood. While plant surveys show a high biological diversity of species on
the site, in reality invasive species such as hybrid cattail, reed canary grass, and common reed make up
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the majority of plant life and habitat quality is low. Using prescribed burning to maintain integrity of the
grasslands would require careful planning, due to the possibility of ash creating short circuits in the
overhead power transmission lines.
Management of the land east of the UP railroad is limited to reducing the impact of invasive species.
The electrical infrastructure will make the land unsuitable for habitat. Because of the risk to wildlife
posed by the substation equipment, measures should be taken to minimize potential losses, especially
those that would impact threatened and endangered species.
Bowen Park
SITE HISTORY
Bowen Park is located at 39 Jack Benny Drive (Greenwood Avenue and Sheridan Road) in Waukegan.
The 74-acre park began in the 1840s as the country estate of John C. Haines, a prominent citizen of
Chicago. In 1911, the estate was purchased by Louise DeKoven Bowen, a Chicago socialite and activist
involved with Hull House, a Chicago charity that serviced the immigrant communities of the Near West
Side. The estate was re-christened as Bowen Country Club, a retreat for the children that Hull House
serviced. In 1963, the city of Waukegan purchased Bowen Country Club and re-developed it as Bowen
Park.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
Bowen Park currently occupies 74 acres on the edge of the lake shore bluff. Most of the park is
classified as “Cultural/Developed” and is used as a recreational park. The eastern portion of the park
contains a portion of the Glen Flora Ravine. The ravine is the channel for Glen Flora Creek, a small
tributary that drains 2.1 miles of land in the city of Waukegan. Though largely undermanaged for most
of the previous century, the ravine contains high quality habitat remnants and is considered one of the
highest quality ravines on the Highland Park Moraine. Portions of the bluff edging the ravine contain
remnants of the oak savanna community that once dominated the bluff. Ecosystem types in this natural
area of the park include Forest/Upland/Mesic, Forest/Floodplain, Savanna/Typical/Mesic, Wetland/Seep
and Spring/Typical Seep, Stream/Creek/Middle Gradient, and Wetland/Marsh.
MANAGEMENT POTENTIAL
Currently, management of the park’s natural areas is being conducted by the Waukegan Harbor CAG in
partnership with the Waukegan Park District. This work is funded by a grant from the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Obligations under this grant include removal of invasive species from the
wooded bluff and ravine, removal of woody species and debris from the understory, re-vegetation of
degraded habitats, and development of prescribed burn plans. The CAG is also assisting the Waukegan
Park District with development of long-term management plans for the park.
Ongoing management priorities include invasive species monitoring and control, rare plant monitoring,
ongoing faunal surveys, and development of a prescribed burn management plan.
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Other Properties
Follows is a list of other properties within the Waukegan Lakefront North Unit whose size or current
uses restrict their potential for habitat management.
North Shore Gas
North Shore Gas, a subsidiary of Integrys Business Support, owns a 16-acre parcel of land at 849 N.
Pershing Rd. in Waukegan. This land is the former site of a manufactured gas plant, a facility that
extracted natural gas from coal, hydrocarbons, and other fossil fuel sources. The site is listed as a
Region 5 Superfund site by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Waste
products of the extraction process include tars, sludges, and acids. Many of these wastes were disposed
of on-site in a “tar pit” on the property. Other wastes were accidentally released during site demolition
in the 1960s. On-site contaminants include aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, and
heavy metals.
The “tar pit” was excavated and cleaned in the 1992, but further soil contamination was documented on
the site outside of the “tar pit” boundaries. Integrys entered an agreement with the USEPA in 2007 to
prioritize the cleanup of its former manufactured gas sites. Assessment of the site began in 2012 and is
ongoing.
Long-term potential of the site is unknown at this time.
Ganster Ravine
The Ganster Ravine is a small natural ravine located 0.5 miles north of Glen Flora ravine. The ravine
drains approximately 0.5 square miles of land. Most of the Ganster Ravine watershed is east of Sheridan
Road. A small portion extends west of Sheridan to a retirement community and Lyons Woods Forest
Preserve, owned by the Lake County Forest Preserve District (LCFPD). No formal surveys of the current
condition of the ravine have been conducted due to the private ownership. Informal observations
describe the ravine as being a bit overgrown, but otherwise not impacted by the heavy erosion of other
coastal ravines. Most of the land the ravine is located on is within two parcels of land that are currently
in escrow for unpaid taxes. The two parcels total 38 acres. The LCFPD currently holds tax leins on both
properties with the long-term plan of purchasing and protecting/restoring the ravine as part of Lyons
Forest Preserve.
Lake County
Lake County owns 10.1 acres of land adjacent to the ComEd ROW south of Greenwood Avenue.
Presently the land contains wetland and disassociated woodland habitat in a degraded condition. There
is potential for management of the property, especially for improvement of the wetlands. Its separation
from other adjoining natural areas limits its long-term potential. Maintaining the parcel for wetland and
woodland-dependent birds is the best course of action at the present time. The wetland would be
useful as part of a larger stormwater management system.
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Area of Concern
The Area of Concern (AOC) is bounded Sea Horse Drive to the north, the Union Pacific Railroad to the
west, and the Waukegan Yacht Club to the south (Figure 3). This area is typified by operating and former
industrial properties, operating commercial properties, and public space. The AOC is the location of the
Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) Superfund site. The site is currently undergoing remediation.
Much like the northern portion of the ESA, land ownership in the AOC is characterized by large parcels
under single ownership. The City of Waukegan is the largest landowner within the AOC, owning most of
the land to the north and east of the harbor. Other important landowners include Larsen Marine, a
privately owned marina on the north end of the harbor. The Waukegan Port Authority owns land at the
southern end of the harbor, much of which is occupied by the Waukegan Yacht Club. Bombardier
Recreational Products, St. Mary’s Cement, and National Gypsum own smaller parcels around the harbor
and are actively engaged in operations.
Most of the AOC is occupied by industrial, commercial, and transportation infrastructure and has limited
potential as habitat. The portion of the AOC east of Sea Horse Drive is home to high-quality, recently
emergent sand dunes. The dunes are part of the same dune complex that extends through the northern
portion of the ESA into IBSP. There is also a public swimming beach located near the entrance to the
harbor.
A habitat management plan for the AOC has already been developed by the IDNR. This document
focuses on the Waukegan Dunes, which extend north along the lakeshore into the Waukegan Lakefront
North portion of the ESA. The same recommendations for dune management contained in that
document are proposed in this document.
While the harbor itself is considered to be of marginal habitat potential, IDNR should work with Larsen
Marine and the Waukegan Port Authority to bring their marinas into specifications with the Illinois Clean
Marina program. Improvement of water conditions in the harbor would result from their participation
in the program. Both marinas could investigate alternative technologies that create artificial fish habitat
within the harbor.
Management of the public beach should focus on managing storm water run-off to improve beach
health and reduce the rate of erosion and transport of non-point source pollution into Lake Michigan.
Currently, IDNR is working on a beach health assessment report that will include recommendations for
betting managing the swimming beach area. The naturalized section of dunes to the north of the public
swimming beach should focus on improvement of public access to minimize the impact on the natural
areas while improving the ability of public to utilize the beach for recreational purposes. The presence
of the sand dunes makes Waukegan’s public beach unique among Illinois’ Lake Michigan communities.
Long-term management of the dunes and beach should focus on making the beach a destination point.
Actions that improve public access and outreach, such as sanctioned footpaths and interpretive signage,
can help reduce the negative impacts of human trespass.
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Waukegan Lakefront South
The Waukegan Lakefront South management area is bordered by a line parallel to Sea Horse Drive to
the north, the Union Pacific Railroad/Lake Michigan to the east, the Waukegan/North Chicago boundary
to the south, and Sheridan Road to the west (Figure 4). The mouth of the Waukegan River enters into
Lake Michigan one quarter mile south of Waukegan Harbor.
SITE HISTORY
Historically, the portion of the Zion Beach Ridge Plain that is above the Lake Michigan water line ended
about one quarter mile north of the Waukegan River Mouth. The bluff line east of Sheridan Road was
effectively the shoreline of the lake. The bluff contained a combination of oak savanna and woodland
habitats, with a narrow beach at its base. The Waukegan River, a small stream that drains
approximately 12 square miles, empties into the lake via a steep ravine cut into the bluff. The river is
characterized by a rapid flow rate as it descends down the ravine. The stream is shallow throughout its
run down the ravine, limiting lake fish access to the final 0.1 miles of stream length.
Before the development of Waukegan Harbor, industry sprouted up along the Union Pacific railroad
beginning in the 1870s. Waukegan was the northern terminus of the Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern (EJ&J)
Railroad, and had a switching and maintenance yard south of Waukegan Harbor and along the lake
shore.
West of the railroad, residential neighborhoods sprang up in proximity to the factories that were being
built along the lakefront. Because of its location on high ground on the outskirts of Waukegan, two
cemeteries were consecrated in the 1870s: Oakwood Cemetery and St. Mary’s Cemetery.
A portion of the Amstutz Expressway runs through this unit. See the section on the Transportation
Corridor for more information.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
The lakeshore of the Waukegan Lakefront South unit is devoid of the beach and sand dunes prevalent in
the northern portion of the ESA. Waukegan Harbor acts as a sand trap, collecting most of the nearshore sand against and within harbor structures. The shoreline south of the harbor is considered sandstarved. Exposure of the clay and gravel bluffs to undercutting erosion by the lake has resulted in the
placement of rip-rap armoring along most lengths of the shore.
The lower length of the Waukegan River is highly channelized as it flows underneath the Union Pacific
and EJ&J railroad right of ways and the Amstuz Expressway. The river mouth is on property owned by
Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings and the EJ&J. This length of stream, while channelized, has a bank
populated by a disassociated wooldland. The banks contain some rip-rap armoring; exposed sections
exhibit light erosion.
The northern half of this management unit is characterized by transportation infrastructure and light
industry. Union Pacific has a switching yard in this area. Metra’s passenger rail service operates a
commuter train station along with related infrastructure. Waukegan is the primary service terminus of
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Metra’s Union Pacific North service, and the switching yard is used for commuter train parking. Most of
the southern half of this management unit, the former location of the EJ&J switching yard, is now
vacant. No legacy pollution issues are associated with the land. The residential areas are found west of
the transportation corridors. Properties to the north are still occupied by middle-class homes situated
on the bluff. Properties to the south are mostly vacant, with some working-class residences remaining.
The city of Waukegan, along with several land development concerns, owns a large portion of the
former residential properties. Both of the cemeteries are still operational.
MANGEMENT POTENTIAL
The city of Waukegan has had a plan in place for re-development of this area since 2006. The Waukegan
Vision Plan calls for a combination of lakefront neighborhood and open space. This development plan
begins south of the Union Pacific switching yard and extends to the southern city limits of Waukegan.
Approximately 80% of the land within the redevelopment zone is owned either by the City of Waukegan,
EJ&J, or private development interests.
While the land is ideally situated for oak savanna or woodland restoration, the re-development plan
makes the overall habitat potential of this zone low to moderate. A number of projects and initiatives
can be undertaken in conjunction with the re-development plan that can enhance the habitat potential
and reduce the negative impacts of development on surrounding natural areas. This includes:
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Re-vegetation using native plants, specifically native trees and shrubs to enhance bird habitat.
Using some of the park-open space called for in the redevelopment plan as “naturalized” park,
incorporating native plants and interpretive signage.
Incorporating storm water capture techniques to reduce surface run-off, including use of rain
gardens in residential design and bio-swales to capture roadside and sidewalk run-off.
Day-lighting, engineering, and re-vegetation of the bluff to reduce bluff erosion.
A sand management plan that reduces shoreline armoring and reintroduces a “naturalized”
beach.
Development of a tree replacement plan with the cemeteries that encourages replacement of
dead or diseased ornamental trees with trees native to coastal bluff ecosystems.
A goal of several lake-wide management plans is to have least 50% of each stream directly connected to
their receiving body of water. Such an objective is not practical with the Waukegan River. As a stream
that flows down a steep ravine into Lake Michigan, it is not practical stream habitat for all lake fish. Fish
that can jump between pools can make their way upstream. While the Waukegan River typically flows
throughout the year, only the final 0.1 miles of stream offer an unimpeded connection. Despite this
geography, several actions should be taken to realize improvements of the river segment within the ESA:
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Assessment of conditions along the banks of the lowest leg of the Waukegan River with an
emphasis on reducing shoreline erosion.
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Assessment of conditions on the mouth of the Waukegan River with an emphasis on restoration
to improve fish access to the river.
Determine if any alterations can be made to existing structures in the descent portion of the
streambed that will maintain energy dispersion and erosion prevention, while improving the
ability of fish to move upstream.
Implementation of any of these initiatives would require open dialog between development interests
and ESA stakeholders such as the CAG during the planning phase.
Strategies with specific landowners of note include:
North Shore Gas
North Shore Gas, a subsidiary of Integrys Business Support, owns land totaling 3 acres at 2 N. Pershing
Road. This was a site of a former manufactured gas plant, smaller but similar in function to the North
Shore Gas facility located in the Waukegan Lakefront North zone. While free of the “tar pit” disposal
area of the northern site, the parcel is known to have soil contamination and is listed as a Region 5
Superfund site by the USEPA.
Integrys entered an agreement with the USEPA in 2007 to prioritize the cleanup of its former
manufactured gas sites. Assessment of the site began in 2012 and is ongoing.
Long-term potential of the site is unknown at this time.
Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings
Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings (Akzo Nobel) is a manufacturer of paints for use in high performance
applications. The company owns land north of the mouth of the Waukegan River. The facility houses
corporate offices and some manufacturing operations. A portion of the property consists of vacant land
that formerly housed industrial buildings. Along the lakeshore is an area of land maintained as green
space; it is mainly disassociated trees and turf grasses. Akzo Noble has a cooperative working
relationship with the CAG, and they are currently working together to conduct floristic and wildlife
quality assessments of their property. Future cooperation will be helpful for doing assessment and
habitat management work of the banks of the Waukegan River. Proximity to the river increases the
opportunity for non-point source pollution from impervious surfaces to enter the river and Lake
Michigan. Akzo Noble could implement green infrastructure practices to reduce the impact on the river,
with a focus on storm water management.
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad
CN owns the former EJ&J, a local railroad that runs along the lakeshore. The EJ&J was formed via
mergers of smaller railroads that serviced the industrial towns around Chicago. It was eventually
purchased by U.S. Steel to provide freight efficiencies to its plants in Waukegan, Chicago, and Gary,
Indiana. The line formerly had a switching and maintenance yard in Waukegan, immediately north of
the Waukegan Works. With the demise of industry in the area this switching yard was demolished in
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the 1980s. U.S. Steel sold the line to Canadian National Railway, which divested some of the trackage
and absorbed the rest into its operations, including trackage around Waukegan Harbor. The line still
provides local connections for industries located along the lake shore. Currently, the line runs from its
terminus at the Midwest Generation power plant south along the lake shore, turning west at the south
end of the AbbVie property and out of the ESA.
Most of the river bank along this property is stabilized with rip-rap stone. The lowest portion of the
river bank is in similar condition to the Akzo Nobel property.
Oakwood Cemetery & St. Mary’s Cemetery
Oakwood Cemetery is owned and managed by the City of Waukegan. St. Mary’s is owned and managed
by the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. Together, they comprise 27 acres. Both of these cemeteries
were consecrated in the 1870s and have mature tree canopies consisting of ornamental and native
trees. Despite having manicured grounds, their location near the lakeshore makes them a potential
stopover and nesting site for migratory birds, especially those with a preference to a savanna/open
woodland canopy. To date, no surveys of flora and fauna have been done on the cemeteries.
Contacts should be established with both cemetery owners. Under such a partnership, a tree
replacement plan can be developed that would replace dead/damaged/diseased trees with species that
are endemic to the wooded bluffs of the region.
City of Waukegan
The city of Waukegan owns a parcel of land immediately south of the North Shore Gas property at
Pershing and Dehringer; this parcel was once part of the manufactured gas facility. No known
contamination exists on this site. The city currently uses the property for composting and burning of
yard waste. Barring change in use of the parcel, it has no habitat management potential.
A.L Hansen Manufacturing Co.
The A.L. Hansen Manufacturing Co. has its headquarters of operation and some manufacturing facilities
at 701 Pershing Road in Waukegan. The company makes industrial strength hardware. Barring change
in use of the site, it has no habitat management potential. The company should be encouraged to
implement green infrastructure management practices where feasible, especially in the area of storm
water management.
North Chicago
The North Chicago management area is bordered by the North Chicago city limits to the north (10th
Street), Lake Michigan to the west, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to the south, and Sheridan Road/Route
137 to the west (Figure 5). The total area of the unit is 429 acres.
SITE HISTORY
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North Chicago developed after Waukegan was well-established as a city. Moving south, away from the
mouth of the Waukegan River, the shoreline bluff gradually rises in elevation. In North Chicago, the
bluff is about 80 feet above Lake Michigan. There are no tributaries or ravines along this stretch of
shoreline. The underwater portion of the Zion Beach Ridge Plain ends in North Chicago, but the narrow
strip of beach that characterizes the shore south of Waukegan Harbor is still the norm.
The savanna on top of the bluffs was originally cleared for agriculture. When “South Waukegan” built a
train depot along the Union Pacific line, industry began to locate to the area. The first industrial
occupant was the Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Company in 1892. Their wire and cable foundry
later became part of U.S. Steel, and was known as the Waukegan Works. For the first half of the 20th
Century, the Waukegan Works was the largest employer in the North Chicago/Waukegan metroplex. By
the late 1970s, the foundry was closed.
The second major occupant in the North Chicago unit is AbbVie, formerly part of Abbott Laboratories.
Founded in Chicago in the 19th Century, the company moved its headquarters to North Chicago in the
1920s, eventually building a 160-acre research, manufacturing, and administration complex east of
Sheridan Road.
The Great Lakes Naval Training Station is the third major occupant. The station was built in the early
20th century and serves as the U.S. Navy’s only “boot camp” training facility for incoming recruits. Most
of the station is located outside ESA boundaries. The northernmost section of land owned by the station
was eventually deeded to the Foss Park District, and Foss Park was developed in the mid-20th Century.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
The portion of the ESA in North Chicago is a combination of vacant industrial and active industrial land.
The former Waukegan Works is now vacant lakefront land owned by AbbVie, a research company split
off from Abbot Laboratories in 2013. It has a low level of maintenance and is a combination of
disassociated grassland and shrubs. The remainder of land owned by AbbVie is occupied by an active
corporate campus. Of the 233 acres owned by AbbVie, 160 of them are currently in use, and the
remaining 73 are vacant. The lakefront land is armored with rip-rap, similar to the Waukegan lakeshore
south of the harbor.
Great Lakes Naval Station is still in operation. About 83 acres of the base are located within the ESA.
Foss Park, a 45-acre public park, is situated in-between naval station properties. It is managed
principally as a recreational park with lawn, shade trees, athletic fields, and public art installations.
Small projects to stabilize the bluff slope and naturalize the bluff face have been undertaken in recent
years. The shoreline of Foss Park has not been armored. There is little sand accumulation due to jetties
and water discharges to the north that sweeps sand past the beach area.
The remaining area of the North Chicago unit is occupied by small/light industry and public works.
MANAGEMENT POTENTIAL
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Strategies to manage the North Chicago portion of the ESA are similar to those for the Waukegan
Lakefront South Unit. The land is ideally situated for oak savanna or woodland restoration. The
potential to move this land from having low habitat potential to moderate habitat potential revolves
around the long-term plans of AbbVie. Their property would be suitable to re-develop either as open
land or as lakeside residential/limited commercial space. The greatest immediate potential for this unit
centers on Foss Park, where some projects to reduce the potential for bluff erosion have already been
engaged. Strategies for the North Chicago unit as a whole include:
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Re-vegetation using native plants, specifically native trees and shrubs to enhance bird habitat.
Redevelopment of some of the near shore land as “naturalized” park to reduce bluff erosion,
incorporating native plants and interpretation signage.
Incorporating storm water capture techniques to reduce surface run-off, including use of rain
gardens in residential design and bio-swales to capture roadside and sidewalk run-off.
Day-lighting, engineering, and re-vegetation of the bluff to reduce bluff erosion.
A sand management plan that reduces shoreline armoring and reintroduces a “naturalized”
beach.
Development of a tree replacement plan with Foss Park that encourages replacement of dead or
diseased ornamental trees with trees native to coastal bluff ecosystems.
Strategies with specific landowners of note include:
AbbVie
Habitat management activities with AbbVie are dependent on the long-term plans for the AbbVie
property. To date, few efforts have been made to engage AbbVie in discussions about their long-term
role in the ESA. The first step is to establish a relationship with the company to provide support and
technical advice to their planning process. It is likely that AbbVie will not be expanding operations at
these facilities. If that is the case, and there is no further anticipated use for the former Waukegan
Works portion of the property, the space is ideally situated for restoration to a savanna habitat. The
location on the coastline places the land in a prime space to serve as stopover habitat for migratory
birds. With the property being vacant and no lingering issues of pollution traceable to the Waukegan
Works period, the land may also be suitable for redevelopment. The green infrastructure practices
discussed for Waukegan Lakefront South are applicable to this land.
Foss Park
Foss Park has not been actively managing its lands as habitat. Most work done recently at the park has
been centered on preventing erosion of the bluff. The bluff along this section of shoreline faces erosion
pressure from two sources: surface run-off cascading down the bluff towards Lake Michigan, and
undercutting of the bluff by Lake Michigan. The shoreline immediately north of the park is armored
with rip-rap stone barriers. This helps to concentrate energy towards the shoreline at Foss Park, causing
erosion of the beach and the bluff. While most sections of naturalized shore within the ESA have added
acreage over the past 50-100 years, the shoreline of Foss Park has remained relatively unchanged.
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A relationship between Foss Park District and stakeholder groups is the first step to integrating Foss Park
into the overall management of the ESA. Habitat management solutions can help alleviate some of the
sustainability issues that challenge the park by implementing better storm water management practices.
This can include naturalization of a “buffer zone” along the edge of the bluff to reduce run-off cascading.
The base of the bluff can also be stabilized by bringing in sand and constructing barrier dunes that can
both provide coastal habitat and help dissipate the wave energy that threatens to undercut the bluffs.
Great Lakes Naval Training Station
The naval station is owned and operated by the federal government and as such is outside of any local
jurisdictions. The naval station currently has a strong working relationship with IDNR Heritage and NPC
stemming from restoration efforts of Pettibone Creek and management of a nesting colony of common
terns. Habitat restoration and management on Abbott properties and Foss Park would benefit from
integration with efforts presently underway at the naval station.
This will be especially beneficial for long-term management of the shoreline. The harbor at the naval
station has a seawall structure similar to that of Waukegan Harbor. Though Waukegan Harbor traps
much of the littoral downdrift from the northern portion of the coastal plain, any sand that makes its
way past Waukegan Harbor will next encounter the harbor at the naval station. Since 1990,
approximately 250 feet/10 acres of sand have accumulated north of this structure. It is conceivable that
a new dune complex, similar to the one north of Waukegan Harbor, will continue to form and eventually
extend as far north as Foss Park.
Transportation Corridor
The Transportation Corridor consists of two major landowners: Union Pacific Railroad and Illinois
Department of Transportation (IDOT). The Union Pacific line, built in the mid-1800s as part of the
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, runs along the toe of the bluff through most of the ESA. It is part of a
rail line extending from downtown Chicago to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and provides interstate freight and
inter-urban commuter connections to local industries. Near the Waukegan/North Chicago boundary,
the rail line moves to the top of the bluff and runs through the Abbott Laboratories property.
The IDOT property includes the Amstutz Expressway, a portion of Illinois trunk route 137. Designed as
part of a larger expressway running from Lake Bluff to Zion, the Amstutz was built in the early 1970s to
relieve traffic on Sheridan Road and provide better access to the industries along the lake front.
Problems with land acquisition and the collapse of the industrial economy of Waukegan and North
Chicago limited the highway to a 2.5 mile stretch from Greenwood Avenue to South Avenue. Today the
segment is a little-used throughway, hosting fewer than 1,000 vehicles per hour.
Combined, the landowners in the transportation corridor own 240 acres of land.
MANAGEMENT POTENTIAL
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The transportation corridor serves as a wildlife corridor through the ESA. Built through the wetlands of
the coastal plain, all three routes are surrounded by natural and man-made wetlands. Most of these
wetlands are drainage ditches to channel surface run-off away from the right-of-ways. It is known that
some species of reptiles and amphibians use portions of these ditches and wetlands as migration
corridors and habitat. Wetland birds more dependent on habitat structure than habitat size use the
wetlands as foraging and nesting habitat.
While the full extent of water movement through the Transportation Corridor is poorly understood,
most of the water does not drain directly into Lake Michigan. Water is contained by ditches and swales,
where it dissipates via seepage into the water table or by evaporation. The exception to this is north of
Greenwood Avenue, where runoff from Glen Flora Creek flows westward towards the JM property.
Storm water is known to flow west to east into the Lake during extreme storm events. Surface flow to
the lake under normal circumstances is unknown.
The transportation corridor also serves as a dispersal corridor for invasive plant species, particularly
terrestrial invasive species. Common reed, narrow-leaf cattail, and purple loosestrife are three species
that have established themselves in the ESA first in the wetlands along the transportation corridors and
then in higher quality natural areas, particularly in IBSP. Seed can be transported into IBSP by
hydrological connections or by wind. The seed of upland invasive plant species such as spotted
knapweed have been brought along as stowaways on rail cars and trucks, and become established on
roadsides and railroad ballast.
To date, the landowners in the Transportation Corridor have had little involvement in cooperative
management with other entities active in the ESA. All have proprietary methodologies for controlling
invasive vegetation and surface run-off within their infrastructure. While there is little potential to
restore the open land in their right-of-ways, all three can be involved in an integrated approach to
managing invasive vegetative species on their holdings. As their corridors will continue to serve as the
primary migration route for invasive species within the ESA, establishing a working relationship with all
three that involves consultation on invasive species control should be a key management goal.
Management of the species mentioned in the previous paragraph is most important.
Of particular interest in the Transportation Corridor is a parcel of land owned by IDOT at the intersection
of Greenwood Avenue and the Amstutz Expressway. Originally intended as part of the expressway rightof-way, the land was never used as part of the project due to issues in acquiring land further to the
north. The parcel totals 23 acres, and is the site of a former City of Waukegan trash dump/landfill. The
parcel today is mainly disassociated woodland and grassland, populated mainly by exotic plant species.
Portions of the property contain small remnants (0.25 acres or less) of pre-settlement habitat. The
parcel provides a limited hydrological connection for Glen Flora Creek to drain across the Union Pacific
right-of-way into Illinois Beach State Park. The site has been surveyed for potential pollutants by both
the USEPA and the IEPA. Neither agency has found evidence of legacy pollution related to the trash
dump. It is speculated that the trash dump may serve as a reptile hibernacula, and may also serve as a
nesting site for turtles.
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Nearshore Habitat
The official designation of the ESA boundary indicates that the eastern edge of the ESA is composed of
the nearshore habitat of Lake Michigan (Figure 6). Without a clear geologic definition, nearshore as
pertains to this management plan is defined as the area of the ESA that extends 1 mile into Lake
Michigan. This extends to the approximate edge of the Zion Beach Ridge Plain.
SITE HISTORY
The lake bottom of southwestern Lake Michigan is primarily bedrock overlayed with lacustrine sediment
that was deposited during the early history of proglacial Lake Michigan. The sand that makes up the
Zion Beach Ridge Plain has been deposited on top of the lacustrine sediments mainly during the Lake
Nippising and Lake Michigan phases of the lake, starting about 4,500 YPB. Most of this material is from
the glacial till that was originally deposited in the Root River delta. North-to-south wave action has
gradually moved this material away from its source and fanned it out along the shoreline, atop the
original lake bed.
In the same way that the lake molds the sand dunes, it also molds the substrate of the nearshore
habitat. Over time, the northern portion of the coastal plain experiences net increases in lake depth as
wave energy moves the substrate to the south. The southern portion of the coastal plain, which the ESA
lies in, experiences a net decrease in lake depth, as sand and till is deposited along the shoreline.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
Bathymetric surveys show that the Zion Beach Ridge Plain typically extends 3000-5000 feet east from
the Lake Michigan shoreline. Near the shore, cobble is the most abundant material, quickly giving way
to sand further out into the lake. The typical profile of the lake bed, heading east from the beach, is:
shoreline, trough, shoal, drop-off, and finally old lake bed. Most of the nearshore habitat north of
Waukegan Harbor resembles a natural shoreline. The shoreline area is composed of cobble mixed with
sand. On rare occasions, spits will form south of the Dead River, directing the river’s outflow into a
shallow (6-12 inches) linear pool parallel to the shoreline. These formations are temporary and typically
form in the spring or summer when large waves from the north are rare or absent. Approximately 1,000
feet from shore, a shoal in the form of an underwater sandbar extends the length of the plain. This
shoal is usually 3-4 feet below the water’s surface. Water depth between the shore and the shoal
seldom exceeds 10 feet, with the deepest portion being a trough that forms behind the shoal. Beyond
the sandbar, the water depth gradually decreases. The sand becomes mixed with silt and clay towards
the edge of the plain. At the edge of the plain, the water depth is between 20-30 feet deep.
South of Waukegan Harbor, modifications to the shoreline have an impact on the nearshore habitat.
The building of bulkhead shorelines creates a rapid drop-off of several feet in front of the bulkhead,
preventing formation of shallows. Similar effects are seen on the downstream side of jetties that are
surrounded by rip-rap. The opposite effect is seen to the upstream side of jetties, where material
quickly accumulates and forms new beach habitat with a broad shallow area.
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Water flows into the lake from three main sources: The Dead River, North and South Ditch, and the
Waukegan River. The Dead River is not considered to be an impaired stream, and it is not considered a
source of pollutants into the lake. Ponds upstream in the river catch most sedimentation that enters the
river from Bull Creek, which lies outside the ESA boundaries. North and South Ditch intermittently flow
into Lake Michigan; their water usually accumulates in coastal marshes. All of the water that enters
these ditches is surface run-off from ESA properties. The water quality of these two ditches is unknown.
These marshes are recent geological phenomenon, and have not yet formed the layer of impermeable
organic muck that is found in the Dead River. Though the hydrology of these ditches and marshes has
not been researched, it is likely that some of their water enters the Lake Michigan water table via
infiltration instead of surface outflow. Waukegan River is considered an impaired stream due to
elevated levels of industrial chemicals and pesticides in river sediments and excessive bank erosion
caused by flash storm events and degradation of upstream wetlands. The discharge rate of these
pollutants into Lake Michigan is unknown, but because of the rapid flow rate of the stream it is
considered likely that some amount of the residual pollution is washed into the lake with sediments.
Based on Lake Michigan currents, pollutant discharge into Lake Michigan would have the greatest
impact on habitat south of the river mouth.
MANAGEMENT POTENTIAL
Within the nearshore portion of the ESA there are three types of habitat that can support fish spawning:
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The ephemeral spits;
The shoreline shallows composed of glacial till, between 0-50 cm in depth;
The trough immediately behind the sandbar that runs the length of the Zion Beach Ridge Plain,
between 1-2m in depth.
All habitat types are shaped primarily by natural geologic processes of Lake Michigan. The spits and the
accompanying shallows occasionally form south of the Dead River, mainly in the spring when rain and
snow melt increases the water flow to the lake. When conditions allow, the shallows can be as much as
18 inches in depth. Sunfish may use these shoals for spawning. Shoal formation is most common
around the mouth of the Dead River. The formation of the spits is a completely natural process and not
in need of management intervention.
The shallows along the shore line are composed mainly of glacial till, creating a rocky substrate.
Proximity to the shore results in waves from Lake Michigan flowing over the till. The wave action and
substrate creates conditions similar to those found in fast-flowing streams. Fish that utilize these
stream habitats for spawning will also utilize the lakebed. The most common example of such a species
is the white sucker.
The shoreline shallows are altered when rip-rap is used to create a bulkhead shoreline. While the riprap typically results in a loss of shoreline shallows habitat, it provides cover for fish species, especially
sunfish such as the rock bass.
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The lake bottom between the shore and the shoal offers some protection from wave energy. These
waters average 3-7 feet deep, and the substrate is a mix of sand, gravel, and glacial till. Several species
of sunfish may use this habitat for spawning. Fingerlings of rock bass are known from Waukegan Harbor
and it is assumed that the fish may be spawning in offshore habitat similar to that found between the
shoal and the shore.
The natural processes of Lake Michigan will maintain the geology of these habitats in places where there
are no major alterations or structures in the nearshore habitat. Of primary management concern is
water quality of runoff from the three inflows into Lake Michigan. The Lake Michigan Biodiversity
Conservation Strategy identifies urban pollution and development as two high risk factors to lake health.
Both of these factors are at play within the ESA. The Dead River is known not to be a source of
contaminants to the Lake. Not enough research exists to know the water quality of North and South
Ditch. Chemical and sediment pollution sources are known from upper lengths of the Waukegan River,
outside the ESA boundaries. The degree to which these pollutants are entering Lake Michigan is
unknown. Development has already resulted in impacts that have altered the character of nearshore
habitat, especially along the beach and shoreline. Stormwater runoff likely has a detrimental impact on
nearshore aquatic life. Ill-planned future development can worsen these conditions.
Strategies for the Nearshore Habitat include:
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Water quality studies of North and South Ditch.
Review of existing water quality data for the lower 0.6 miles of the Waukegan River that lie
within the ESA boundaries.
Research into pollution levels of the upper and lower Waukegan River to determine the quantity
of pollution entering Lake Michigan from the river.
Establish a monitoring plan for fish living and reproducing in the nearshore area of the ESA.
Working with the City of Waukegan and Lake County Stormwater Management District to
implement bank restoration on the upper portions of Waukegan River to reduce sediment
loading from erosion.
Implement best management practices and green infrastructure recommended in the
Waukegan River Watershed Plan that will improve run-off quality within the ESA. Manufactured
infiltration system, pocket wetlands, catch basin inserts, infiltration trenches, and waterpermeable pavement are practices that can be used in the ESA.
The ESA Overall
Invasive species, specifically terrestrial invasive species, pose a major threat to the habitat areas of the
ESA. Between IBSP, the dune complex in Waukegan Lakefront North, and Bowen Park there are over
1,000 acres of high quality habitat. The dispersal of invasive species from adjacent properties has been
an ongoing management concern at IBSP. As the dunes and Bowen Park come under increased
management, invasive species control will become a priority on these sites as well. The CAG has already
brought a number of landowners in the ESA together to work on integrated management of invasive
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species. Landowners that are key to controlling invasive species, mainly utility and transportation
concerns, have not yet joined in this process. Invasive species control will not be truly effective until all
stakeholder groups can be brought together and agree to a plan for targeting species, be party to MOUs
that allow CAG contract personnel to respond quickly to invasive species finds, and have all parties agree
to control protocols for target species. Bringing together stakeholder groups also increases the
exchange of information, allowing a more rapid response to changes, proposed or otherwise, that occur
within the ESA.
Presently, there are about 600 acres of vacant open land that are suitable for redevelopment. These
areas provide some habitat benefit which has not been quantified to date. They also are a major source
of invasive species that can invade higher quality areas. Redevelopment of these properties using best
management practices would enhance the quality of surrounding habitat, despite the reduction in open
space acreage.
Storm water management is already an issue within the ESA, especially within the AOC. Flooding is
commonplace during large storm events. This flooding is due to a lack of wetlands and/or artificial
impoundments to capture stormwater, and also a lack of adequate stormwater drainage infrastructure.
Flooding has effects beyond habitat management, where it can disrupt breeding cycles of flora and
fauna, spread pollutants and invasive species, and geologically alter the landscape. Cultural effects of
flooding include lost revenues for businesses that depend on the harbor, beach closures due to
pollution, and damage to property. A long-term solution to stormwater management is to bring the
owners of developed properties together with the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission
to find solutions to managing stormwater. The CAG, IDNR, and other stakeholders can reach out to
individual homeowners to consult and provide assistance on small-scare stormwater management
projects that can slow the rate of stormwater movement off the bluff areas. A long-term solution would
be to increase the quantity and/or quality of wetlands, especially those in the Waukegan Lakefront
North area, to better contain and handle stormwater.
Human incursion is a concern for areas of the ESA north of the Waukegan River. The portion of IBSP
within the ESA is officially off-limits to human access, though occasional incursions occur. These
incursions are usually from people trespassing across other properties, or from boaters who moor
offshore to access the beaches. In the dune areas of Waukegan Lakefront North and the AOC, the
incursion is from people seeking to access the lakeshore. Trampling of habitat and the import of
materials that are left behind as debris are the result. Sometimes this debris serves to block surface
water flow, altering habitat. Unsanctioned foot trails spread invasive species. The volume of foot traffic
disrupts the habitat of wildlife. Improving public access points at public beach areas and improved
interpretive signage and demonstrations can reduce these incidents. Re-vegetation of unsanctioned
access points can also help reduce incidents of trespass.
Individual homeowners make up the largest percentage of property owners in the ESA. Most private
homes are situated between Sheridan Road and the edge of the bluff, and north of Grand Avenue in
Waukegan. Developing a handbook outlining how homeowners can use best management practices to
improve property infrastructure can benefit the surrounding habitat and the ESA as a whole. These best
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practices include rain gardens and bioswales to increase groundwater infiltration, rain barrels and
cisterns to contain rainwater run-off from structures, incorporating native plants in landscaping to
enhance biodiversity and reduce occurrences of invasive species, and use of alternative paving
structures to reduce non-point source pollution and improve groundwater infiltration.
Summary and Next Steps
The Waukegan Harbor ESA offers a rare interface of natural habitat and cultural development, existing
side by side on a unique coastal feature. The land has been subject to extremes of use, from
conservation to complete transformation. Despite these uses, often contrary to one another, the ESA
has continued to serve as viable habitat for flora and fauna that has disappeared from most parts of
northeastern Illinois.
Management of the ESA should focus on preserving and enhancing the native habitat that is still found
in the northern portions. As the CAG continues to work with partner organizations to incorporate
natural areas management into their practices, coordination between the CAG and IDNR should
continue to insure compatible management goals that benefit the habitat inside and outside the IBSP
nature preserve. Efforts by the CAG to monitor the flora and fauna of land in the ESA should continue.
This data serves to measure progress of efforts and identify areas with management potential.
The CAG has a history of building collaborative relationships between major landowners/stakeholders in
the ESA, often when these landowners have goals that are seemingly at odds with habitat conservation
and restoration. As the AOC moves closer to delisting, the CAG should continue to place emphasis on
this role, especially to bring more landowners and stakeholders into the discussion of how to manage
the ESA in the long term, especially those large landowners who have only been involved in the CAG on
a peripheral basis.
IDNR, through the Coastal Management Program, is in a position to provide technical support and
facilitate the process of involving stakeholders in properly management strategies that improve the
quality of surrounding natural areas. This support can be especially helpful in the promotion of green
infrastructure that can help reduce nonpoint source pollution and improve storm water management.
Technical support can also benefit homeowners interested in managing their properties in ways that
enhance property values.
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Figure 1: Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern Expanded Study Area Management Unit Divisions
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Figure 2. Waukegan Harbor ESA – Waukegan Lakefront North management unit.
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Figure 3: Waukegan Harbor ESA – Area of Concern unit.
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Waukegan Harbor AOC-ESA management plan draft
Figure 4: Waukegan Harbor ESA – Waukegan Lakefront South management unit
Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern Habitat Management Plan 42
Waukegan Harbor AOC-ESA management plan draft
Figure 5: Waukegan Harbor ESA – North Chicago management unit
Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern Habitat Management Plan 43
Waukegan Harbor AOC-ESA management plan draft
Bibliography
“Assessment of the Lake Michigan Monitoring Inventory. “ Great Lakes Commission, August 2000.
Anton, T.G. 2011. A herpetofaunal inventory of three Waukegan sites, Lake County, Illinois, 2011.
Report prepared for the Waukegan Harbor Citizen’s Advisory Group.
Bird Studies Canada. 1997. “Marsh bird and amphibian communities in the Waukegan Harbor AOC,
1995-1996.”
Chrzastowski, M. L., 2001, Geology of the Zion beach-ridge plain, a Holocene, migratory coastalsedimentary system: Guidebook, SEPM/Society for Sedimentary Geology, Great Lakes Section Annual
Field Conference, September 14-16, 2001, Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, IL, 60 p.
Chrzastowski, M. J. and W. Frankie. 2000. Guide to the geology of Illinois Beach State Park and the Zion
beach-ridge plain, Lake County, Illinois: Illinois State Geological Survey Field Trip Guidebooks 2000C and
2000D, Champaign, IL, 69 p.
Chrzastowski, M.J., T.A. Thompson, and C.B. Trask. 1994. Coastal Geomorphology and Littoral Cell
Divisions Along the Illinois-Indiana Coast of Lake Michigan. Journal of Great Lakes Research, Vol. 20: pp.
27-43.
Croft, M.V., and P. Chow Fraser. 2007. Use and Development of the Wetland Macrophyte Index to
Detect Water Quality Impairment in Fish Habitat of Great Lakes Coastal Marshes. Journal of Great Lakes
Research Vol. 33, pp. 172–197.
Delisting Targets for the Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern: Final Report. Report prepared for the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, 30 October 2008.
Foster, D.S., and D.W. Folger. 1994. The Geologic Framework of Southern Lake Michigan. Journal of
Great Lakes Research Vol. 20, pp. 44-60.
The Illinois Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan and Strategy. Report prepared by the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, July 2005.
Lake County Maps Online, Tax Assessment Map Gallery. Lake County Division of GIS/Mapping.
Retrieved 12 August 2013: http://maps.lakecountyil.gov/mapsonline/
Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan 2008. Prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 2008.
Milde, Margo, 2001. Floristic Inventory of Waukegan Beach. Report prepared for the Waukegan Harbor
Citizen’s Advisory Group.
Pearsall, D., P. Carton de Grammont, C. cavalieri, P. Doran, L. Elbing, D. Ewert, K. Hall, M. Herbert, M.
Khoury, S. Mysorekar, S. Neville, J. Paskus, and A. Sasson. 2012. Michigami: Great Water. Strategies to
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Conservie the Biodiversity of Lake Michigan. Technical Report. A joint publication of The Nature
Conservancy and Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 309 pp.
“Physiographic Divisions of Illinois.” 2009. Illinois State Geological Survey. Retrieved 2 July 2013:
http://www.isgs.illinois.edu/maps-data-pub/publications/physio.shtml
Superfund Alternative Approach Agreements Site: North Shore Gas (NSG) North Plant. Retrieved 19
August 2013: http://www.epa.gov/region5/superfund/npl/sas_sites/ILD984807990.html
Superfund Alternative Approach Agreements Site: North Shore Gas (NSG) South Plant. Retrieved 19
August 2013: http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/npl/sas_sites/ILD984809228.html
“Third Five-Year Review Report for Johns-Manville Site, Waukegan, Lake County Illinois.” Report
prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5, May 2008.
Gates, F.C., 1912 “The Vegetation of the Beach Area in Northeastern Illinois and Southeastern
Wisconsin.” The Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History Bulletin, Vol. 9: pp.255-370.
Walk, J.W., M.P. Ward, T.J. Benson, J.L. Deppe, S.A. Lischka, S.D. Bailey, and J.D. Brawn, 2010. Illinois
Birds: a century of change. Illinois Natural History Survey Special Publication 31.
“Waukegan Harbor Remedial Action Plant Stage III Report.” Report prepared for the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency, July 1999.
“Waukegan Vision.” Report prepared by The City of Waukegan and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP,
2006.
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Appendix C: Activity Timelines
Waukegan ESA
Overarching Activities
Activity
Identify/Rank Invasive Species Threats
Develop ESA-wide Invasive Species Protocols
Examine Hydrology in the ESA
Improve Sanctioned Public Access
Improve Interpretive Signage in beach areas
Develop Outreach/Green Infrastructure Materials for Homeowners
Herpetofauna Monitoring
Bird Monitoring
Plant Monitoring
Fish Monitoring (inland)
Lead Org.
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Waukegan Harbor AOC-ESA management plan draft
Waukegan Harbor ESA - Waukegan Lakefront North
Activity
JOHN MANSVILLE
Maintain Dialog About Property Use
Continue Flora/Fauna Monitoring
Technical Support for Re-vegetation
Coordinate Invasive Species Control
MIDWEST GENERATION
Maintain Dialog About Property Use
Continue Flora/Fauna Monitoring
Coordinate Invasive Species Control
NORTH SHORE SANITARY DISTRICT
Get an MOU for Habitat Work on Sand Dunes
Explore IDNR Acquisition Possibility
Continue Flora/Fauna Monitoring
Coordinate Invasive Species Control
COMED
Get an MOU for Invasive Species Control outside of ROW
Consult re. Protection of High Quality Habitat Fragments
Technical Support for Re-vegetation
Pursue Funding for Invasive Species/Habitat Restoration Project
BOWEN PARK
Continue Invasive Species Control
Re-vegetation of Restoration Areas
Continue Flora/Fauna Monitoring
Implement Prescribed Burn Plan
Develop Long-term Management Plan for Natural Areas
NORTH SHORE GAS
Maintain Dialog About Superfund Cleanup Status
Lead Org.
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Waukegan Harbor AOC-ESA management plan draft
Waukegan Harbor ESA - Waukegan Lakefront South
Activity
CITY OF WAUKEGAN/CANADIAN NATIONAL/OTHER DEVELOPERS
Maintain Dialog About Waukegan Vision Plan
Consult re. Green Infrastructure for Properties South of Harbor
Assess Need for Avian Monitoring in Vacant Lands
Technical Support for Re-vegetation
Coordinate Invasive Species Control
AZKO NOBEL/CANADIAN NATIONAL
Get an MOU for Habitat Work along Waukegan River
Assess Invasive Species Threats Along River
Assess Condition of Waukegan River Mouth
Consult re. Green Infrastructure Practices
Coordinate Invasive Species Control
A.L. HANSEN/OTHER MANUFACTUERS
Consult re. Green Infrastructure Practices
OAKWOOD/ST. MARY'S CEMETERY
Avian Monitoring
Develop Tree/Shrub Replacement Plan for Habitat Value
Enhancement
NORTH SHORE GAS
Maintain Dialog About Superfund Cleanup Status
Lead Org.
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Waukegan Harbor AOC-ESA management plan draft
Waukegan Harbor ESA - North Chicago
Activity
ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Maintain Dialog About Property Use
Consult re. Green Infrastructure
Assess Current Habitat State of Vacant Properties
FOSS PARK
Get an MOU for Habitat Work
Assess Current Habitat conditions of Open Areas
Assess Current Bluff Erosion Conditions
Provide Support in Pursuit of Restoration Grants
Coordinate Invasive Species Control
U.S. NAVY
Maintain Dialog re. Sand Accumulation
Lead Org.
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Waukegan ESA - Transportation Corridor
Activity
Establish MOU with Union Pacific
Establish MOU with Canadian National
Establish MOU with Illinois Dept. of Transportation
Coordinate Control of Invasive Species Across Property Boundaries
Continue Flora and Fauna Monitoring
Investigate Property Transfer of Unused IDOT Property to IDNR
Investigate Purchase of Union Pacific Parcel w/in IBSP Boundaries
Lead Org.
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Waukegan Harbor AOC-ESA management plan draft
Waukegan ESA – Nearshore Habitat
Activity
Water Quality Studies of North Ditch and South Ditch
Data Review of Waukegan River Water Quality
Water Quality Studies of Waukegan River - Lower Leg
Nearshore Habitat Fish Monitoring
Bank Restoration - Upper Branches Waukegan River
Lead Org.
INHS
LCSMD
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Waukegan Harbor AOC-ESA management plan draft
Appendix B: List of Critical Invasive Species
Taxonomic Name
Common Name
Type
Alliaria petiolata
Garlic Mustard
Flower
Berberis thunbergii
Celastrus orbiculatus
Japanese Barberry
Oriental Bittersweet
Shrub
Shrub
Centaurea stoebe micranthos
Cirsium arvense
Spotted Knapweed
Canada Thistle
Flower
Flower
Dipsacus laciniatus
Flower
Elaeagnus sp.
Cutleaf Teasel
Autum
Olive/Russian Olive
Taxonomic Name
Common Name
Type
Invasive threats
Prolific seed producer. Spreads seeds rapidly via dehiscense.
Alleopathic. Will invade undisturbed habitat.
Provides poor habitat structure. Shades out other species,
esp. seedlings. Berries less nutritious than native species.
Weakens/kills native trees, prolific seed producer.
Poor food source. Alleopathic. Will invade undisturbed
habitat.
Extensive root system suppresses competition.
Prolific seed producer. Alters habitat structure. Will invade
undisturbed habitat.
Habitat* Risk**
F
C
F
F
H
H
P
P
C
C
P
C
Tree
Poor nest habitat. Poor food source.
F, p
H
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Will invaide
Euphorbia cyparissias
Cypress Spurge
Flower undistubred habitat. Prolific seed producer.
P, f
H
Shades out other species. Alters soil chemistry. Poor nesting
Frangula alnus
Glossy Buckthorn
Shrub
habitat. Will invade undisturbed habitat.
W, p, f
C
Hesperis matronalis
Dame's Rocket
Flower Prolific seed producer. Potentially alleopathic.
W, P
H
Poor food source. Forms monocultures. Alters dune
Leymus arenarius
Lyme Grass
Grass
structures.
B
H
Eurasian Bush
Poor nest habitat. Poor food source. Shades out other
Lonicera sp.
Honeysuckles
Shrub
species. Will invade undisturbed habitat.
W, P
C
Spreads rapidly via rhizome. Forms monocultures. Prolifiic
seed producer. Poor food source. Will invade undisturbed
Lythrum salicaria
Purple Loosestrife
Flower habitat. Biocontrol introduced to area in 2000.
W
H
Prolific seed producer. Alters habitat structure. Will invade
Melilotus officinalis
Sweet Clover
Flower undisturbed habitat.
P
C
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Will invaide
Eurasian Water
undistubred habitat. Prolific seed producer. Alters habitat
Myriophyllum spicatum
Milfoil
Flower structure.
A
H
* B = beach; F = forest/woodland; P = prairie/fields; W = wetlands. Capital letters indicate primary habitat, lower case indicates secondary habitat.
** C = critical risk; H = high risk; M = medium risk; L = low risk
Invasive threats
Habitat* Risk**
Waukegan Harbor AOC-ESA management plan draft
Prolific seed producer. Extensize root system suppress
competition. Forms monocultures. Poor habitat structure.
Poor food source. Fire hazard. Will invade undisturbed
Phalaris arundinacea
Reed Canary Grass
Grass
habitat
W, p, f
C
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Forms
monocultures. Poor habitat structure. Poor food source.
Polygonum cuspidatum
Japanese Knotweed Flower Will invade undisturbed habitat.
P, w, f
C
Shades out other species, reduces fuel loads for fires,
Populus alba
White Poplar
Tree
extensive root hoards resources.
F, p, w
H
Will invaide undistubred habitat. Reduces fuel loads for fire.
Populus deltoides
Eastern Cottonwood Tree
Shades out other species.
W, P
H
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Will invaide
undistubred habitat. Reduces fuel loads for fire. Shades out
Populus tremuloides
Quaking Aspen
Tree
other species.
W, p, f
H
Shades out other species. Alters soil chemistry. Poor nesting
Rhamnus cathartica
Common Buckthorn Tree
habitat. Will invade undisturbed habitat.
W, P
C
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Will invaide
undistubred habitat. Reduces fuel loads for fire. Shades out
Salix interior
Sandbar Willow
Shrub
other species.
W, p
H
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Will invaide
undistubred habitat. Prolific seed producer. Shades out
Securigera varia
Crown Vetch
Flower other species.
P, w
C
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Will invaide
Typha *glauca (angustifolia x
undistubred habitat. Prolific seed producer. Alters habitat
latifolia)
Hybrid Cattail
Flower structure.
W
C
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Will invaide
undistubred habitat. Prolific seed producer. Alters habitat
Typha angustifolia
Narrow-leaf Cattail
Flower structure.
W
C
* B = beach; F = forest/woodland; P = prairie/fields; W = wetlands. Capital letters indicate primary habitat, lower case indicates secondary habitat.
** C = critical risk; H = high risk; M = medium risk; L = low risk