Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern
Expanded Study Area
Habitat Management Recommendations
Prepared by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Coastal Management Program
Sixth Draft Version, April 2014
Send comments to john.legge@illinois.gov
Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 7
Executive Summary................................................................................................................................... 7
Purpose of the Document ......................................................................................................................... 7
Waukegan Harbor EAOC Natural History.................................................................................................. 8
Waukegan Harbor EAOC Cultural History ................................................................................................. 9
Impairments to Habitat Quality .............................................................................................................. 11
Structural Modifications to Habitat .................................................................................................... 11
Land Management Practices............................................................................................................... 12
Invasive Species .................................................................................................................................. 12
Human Incursion ................................................................................................................................. 12
Stakeholder Participation ................................................................................................................... 12
Disruption of Sand Transport .............................................................................................................. 13
Climate Change ................................................................................................................................... 13
Outcomes ................................................................................................................................................ 13
Management Recommendations ............................................................................................................... 15
Illinois Beach State Park .......................................................................................................................... 15
Waukegan Lakefront North .................................................................................................................... 16
Johns Manville..................................................................................................................................... 16
Midwest Generation ........................................................................................................................... 18
North Shore Sanitary District .............................................................................................................. 19
ComEd ................................................................................................................................................. 20
Bowen Park ......................................................................................................................................... 21
Other Properties ................................................................................................................................. 22
Area of Concern ...................................................................................................................................... 23
Waukegan Lakefront South .................................................................................................................... 24
North Chicago ......................................................................................................................................... 28
Transportation Corridor .......................................................................................................................... 31
Nearshore Habitat................................................................................................................................... 33
The EAOC Overall .................................................................................................................................... 35
Summary and Next Steps ............................................................................................................................ 36
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................ 43
Appendix A: List of Critical Invasive Species .............................................................................................. 45
Appendix B: Summary of Goals & Outcomes............................................................................................. 47
Appendix C: Activity Summary .................................................................................................................. 50
3
Acronyms
AOC
BSC
BUI
CBG
CDF
CW
DNAPL
EAOC
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 Area of Concern, also the Waukegan Harbor Expanded 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
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
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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 Recommendations for the Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern
(AOC) Expanded Study Area (EAOC) is provide guidance on possible conservation and restoration efforts
of partner organizations within the EAOC. The need for these recommendations 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 EAOC 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 EAOC 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 EAOC:
structural modifications to habitat, terrestrial vegetative invasive species, non-point source pollution,
alterations to beach formation processes, climate change, and human trespass.
These habitat management recommendations have 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 EAOC and
establish common benchmarks for all partners to strive for.
This document gives an overview of the EAOC, presenting the natural history and current conditions of
different sections of the EAOC. The primary impairments to habitat quality are discussed, both for
specific sections and for the EAOC as a whole. Targets for measuring habitat quality are presented.
Because of the fragmentation of the EAOC 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.
Suggested timeframes and specific actions for completion of each goal are included in the
recommendations. The next steps, which include review, approval, and implementation, are also
outlined.
Purpose of the Document
These recommendations partition the EAOC into 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
EAOC. A final section will discuss overarching actions that can be implemented throughout the EAOC.
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The recommendations are designed to be part of an adaptive and collaborative process. It avoids
excessive detail and specific steps that must be undertaken to manage, enhance, and expand quality
habitat within the EAOC. Such a plan would prove impractical to implement, with over 1,500 individual
property owners within the boundaries of the EAOC. Instead, general suggestions for action will be
summarized for each subunit and, where practical, for large landowners within those subunits.
Waukegan Harbor EAOC Natural History
The land within EAOC boundaries falls into two geologic divisions: the Wheaton Morainal and the Zion
Beach Ridge Plain. Wheaton Morainal lands in the Coastal Zone are 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 tailing (northern) 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 in earnest 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 groundwater 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 EAOC 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 1930s. 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. Over the years numerous other industries were also located here including steel mills
and wire mills.
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 over 100 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 the land which today is Illinois Beach State Park starting in the late 1940s.
South of the harbor, the shoreline effectively begins at the base of the bluff. Industrial developments in
the southern portion of Waukegan focused on both light and heavy industries adjacent to the railroads,
including tanneries and manufacture of wire, steel and coke. 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 south of 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 famous Chicago
settlement house with numerous charitable programs, operated a rural retreat on the site of presentday 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 were found on
harbor properties including arsenic and antimony from the coking operations; and trichloroethylene
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(TCE), an industrial cleaning solvent, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), byproducts of hydrocarbon
processing. Cleanup of these pollutants began in the 1990s, and continues up through the present time.
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 contaminated properties in the EAOC that are being voluntarily cleaned up 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 EAOC 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 EAOC is centered on two marinas: Larsen Marine and
the Waukegan Port District. Two building products manufacturers have operations at Waukegan
Harbor. Several smaller industries maintain operations, mainly along the Canadian National right of
way.
A proposal for redevelopment of lands within the EAOC 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 EAOC boundaries. Private property owners are doing
some development on their own.
Impairments to Habitat Quality
Structural Modifications to Habitat
Of the 3,430 acres within the EAOC 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. However, management practices can be incorporated on these lands that will
benefit native wildlife and contribute to the overall condition of 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
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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.
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 EAOC. This includes simple tasks such as
landscaping up to complexities like storm water management. With over 1,500 landowners within the
EAOC, consistent management practices amongst all properties is unlikely. Over time, this lack of
consistency can have a negative impact on habitat quality. An example of this negative impact is a new
invasive species in the EAOC via an inadvertent introduction.
Invasive Species
Many exotic plant species found in northern Illinois have established populations in the EAOC. 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 EAOC. 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 A). 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 EAOC. Of these, three
dozen could be considered major stakeholders, based on the number of acres or the number of
properties owned. Levels of participation of stakeholders vary and cover a wide scale, from highly
involved to uninvolved.
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Disruption of Sand Transport
The Zion Beach-Ridge Plain is a migratory sand formation that has transported sand south along the
Lake Michigan shoreline for more than 4,000 years. 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 EAOC. The 160+ acres of sand dunes that
have formed partially owe their existence to the structures of Waukegan Harbor. The beaches south of
the Waukegan Recreation 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.
While sand transport is a concern for habitat within the EAOC, the issue is a broader one that affects the
entire Lake Michigan coast and is beyond the scope of this document.
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 are less
equipped to deal with such storms. Severe flooding often occurs in the EAOC, especially near the harbor
where the flat terrain and lack of wetland/storm water management structures causes water to pool
and run off directly into the harbor. This flooding can transport pollutants into natural areas and Lake
Michigan and impact commercial activities centered around the harbor.
Outcomes
This document 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:





Wetlands Preservation: the total acres of wetlands within the EAOC 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 developed by The Nature Conservancy (Ewert et al. 2012).
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 EAOC outflows decreases.
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

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.
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 Recommendations
The management recommendations will approach the EAOC 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:







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 B.
All activities identified in the following sections are summarized in Appendix C.
Illinois Beach State Park
The portion of Illinois Beach State Park (IBSP) (Figure 1) that lies within EAOC 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 and managed by the Illinois Department of
Natural Resources (IDNR).
SITE HISTORY
With the exception of some light industry in 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.
Acquisition of land that became IBSP 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 EAOC boundaries contains at least 16 distinct natural community types within
its 878 acres. Most of the habitat is considered high quality, and it is the last stretch of undeveloped
coast in the state of Illinois. Natural communities 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 are now revegetated, there are no cultural improvements to the land. Relics of the tree plantation remain, but it is
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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
IDNR maintains a management plan for the park and actively manages this area for its natural features.
As of March 2014 an updated management plan for the Illinois Beach Nature Preserve is awaiting
approval by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. This document will not include any management
recommendations for the property. Continued communications between neighboring stakeholders,
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 management of IBSP.
Waukegan Lakefront North
This portion of the EAOC 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 EAOC. 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
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, 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 in on-site dumps 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.
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In addition to on-site contamination, areas of off-site ACM contamination adjacent to the property were
identified in the early 2000s. The contamination is in the form of material that washed or drifted off the
JM property. Contamination to the west and south of the property have been cleaned. Contamination
in IBSP has not been cleaned due to the sensitive ecological condition of the site and is monitored by the
State of Illinois.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
A majority of the property would be classified under the Illinois Natural Area Inventory (INAI) habitat
classification as “cultural-successional/abandoned field”. Remaining portions with more natural cover
would be classified as “pond and lake/artificial impoundment”, “primary/lakeshore/beach-foredune”,
and “wetland/marsh/tall shrub”. Areas with more infrastructure would be classified as
“cultural/developed”.
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
Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, and Northern Harrier 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 altered wetlands.
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.
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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 trap and remove sand to be used elsewhere,
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
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.
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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 limited 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.
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 large portion 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
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“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.
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. The wetlands are mid-quality habitat, with the primary management concern being large
colonies of invasive common reed and cattail.
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 aid habitat management, especially for shorebirds and
waders. Invasive species control, primarily of common reed, is the greatest ongoing management
challenge.
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 EAOC boundaries that is
used for power transmission line corridors and related electrical grid infrastructure. There are two main
sections of ComEd land, a large parcel east of the Union Pacific railroad and a linear corridor west of the
railroad.
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
EAOC, south to Greenwood Avenue in Waukegan, then east-west to Sheridan Road. This area is referred
to by several names, most predominantly the “B-2 Wetlands” in the Waukegan Harbor CAG’s
management plans. The north-south segment runs through wetlands of varying quality. Large sections
of the wetland are dominated by invasive cattail, reed canary grass, and common reed. However
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vegetation surveys have revealed high plant diversity and a number of Plants of Concern, though much
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 hydrologically 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. The hydrology of this area could benefit from further investigation, like that of
much of the Waukegan Lakefront North section.
MANGEMENT POTENTIAL
Management potential for the ComEd properties is dependent on cooperation between ComEd and
other stakeholder groups in the EAOC. 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, invasive species such as hybrid cattail, reed canary grass, and common reed make up the
majority of plant life. 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
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serviced. In 1963, the Waukegan Park District 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 northern and eastern sections
of the park contain a portion of the Glen Flora Ravine, which has been identified among Illinois coastal
ravines as the second highest in ecological quality. 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 doing extensive
restoration of the Frog Pond section of the park and its outfall into the ravine, and 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.
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. A potential Superfund site,
it is being voluntarily addressed by Integrys. 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
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prioritize the cleanup of its former manufactured gas sites. Assessment of the site began in 2012 and is
ongoing.
Following clean up the site may have potential for some types of habitat in conjunction with other
nearby properties, such as maintenance of native grasses for grass-nesting birds.
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.
Area of Concern
The Area of Concern (AOC) is bounded by the north ditch to the north, the Canadian National Railroad to
the west, and Government Pier 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 EAOC, 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 District owns land at the
southern end of the harbor. Bombardier Recreational Products, St. Mary’s Cement, and National
Gypsum occupy smaller parcels around the harbor and are actively engaged in operations.
Most of the AOC is occupied by industrial, commercial, and transportation infrastructure, which
constrains habitat potential in some parts of the area. 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
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that extends through the northern portion of the EAOC 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 EAOC. 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 is working with Waukegan
Port District to meet the specifications with the Illinois Clean Marina program. Larsen Marine has also
enquired about the program. Improvement of water conditions in the harbor would result from their
participation. 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.
The wetlands in the AOC provide potential nursery habitat for several species such as northern pike,
banded killifish (which are known to be abundant in the wetlands already), shiners, and Cyprinids. The
lake herring, currently extirpated but the subject of restoration plans, would also benefit from a healthy,
well-managed wetland.
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
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characterized by a rapid flow rate as it descends down the ravine. The stream is shallow throughout its
run down the ravine, although lake fish passage exists up to Jackson Ave.1
Before the development of Waukegan Harbor, industry sprouted up along the Union Pacific railroad
beginning at least in the 1860s. Waukegan was the northern terminus of the Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern
(EJ&E) 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 EAOC. Government Pier acts as a sand trap, causing most of the near-shore
sand to be collected against and within harbor structures. The shoreline south of the harbor is
considered sand-starved. 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&E railroad right of ways and the Amstuz Expressway. The river mouth is on property owned by
Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings and Canadian National. This length of stream, while channelized, has a
bank populated by a disassociated woodland. 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. It is sometimes referred to as the “Diamond Crescent” for the old Diamond Scrapyard, one of
the industries once occupying the area. Currently Union Pacific has a switching yard here, and Metra’s
passenger rail service operates a commuter train station along with related infrastructure. Waukegan is
the primary service terminus of 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&E switching yard, is now vacant. While never listed as a Superfund site, the area could potentially
have qualified. Remediation has been addressed here in a piecemeal fashion. The residential areas are
found west of the transportation corridors. Properties to the north are still occupied by housing
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.
1
Currently working to verify the connectivity of the Waukegan River to Lake Michigan due to contradictory data.
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MANGEMENT POTENTIAL
The City of Waukegan has a plan in place for re-development of this area with the latest version dating
from 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, Canadian National, or private development interests.
A number of projects and initiatives can be undertaken in conjunction with the re-development plan
that can enhance habitat potential and reduce the negative impacts of development on surrounding
natural areas. This includes:






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. The Waukegan River flows down a ravine with a steep gradient before
entering the lake. This gradient finishes in a 15-foot drop underneath the EJ&E ROW south of Water
Street, near the Akzo Nobel facility. Only the final 0.1 miles of stream offer unimpeded connection to
Lake Michigan. North of the 15-foot drop, the stream is mostly channelized through pipes and culverts2.
Assessment of stream conditions has been done by the Lake County Stormwater Management District
as part of the Waukegan River Watershed Plan. Actions proposed by this plan are compatible with
those identified by this plan. Sedimentation (due to erosion) and legacy pollutants as primary impacts
on aquatic life in the river. Actions that will have a positive impact include erosion prevention, improved
stormwater retention and infiltration, testing of the river to better identify location of pollutants, and
sediment remediation.
The USACE, under the Great Lakes Fisheries & Ecosystem Restoration Program (GLFER) has developed a
plan to improve the coastal habitat at the mouth of the Waukegan. This plan focuses on restoring
coastal wetlands around the mouth of the river and improving habitat in the surf zone. Suggested
actions include improving conditions of the streambed and creation of a coastal wetland at the river
mouth. Actions proposed by both of these plans will improve the quality of water and habitat at the
2
Currently working to verify the connectivity of the Waukegan River to Lake Michigan due to contradictory data.
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shore/lake interfact and benefit species such as suckers, Cyprinids (minnows), rainbow trout, and brown
trout.
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 and a smaller area
immediately south of the river mouth. The facility houses corporate offices and some research and
development 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. There is also an opportunity to work with Akzo on managing the lakefront and river
mouth to improve the quality of the habitat there. The Army Corps of Engineers is a potential partner at
this site, and they have developed an initial design for restoration under the Great Lakes Fishery &
Ecosystem Restoration program (GLFER, also referred to as Section 506).
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad
CN owns the former EJ&E, a local railroad that runs along the lakeshore. The EJ&E 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 servicing industries in the “Diamond Crescent” area. With the demise of industry
in the area this switching yard was demolished in 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,
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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 EAOC.
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, which
could be beneficial.
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 on
Pershing Road; this parcel was once part of the manufactured gas facility. No known contamination
exists on this site, although it is possible that a small plume may exist beneath it. The city currently uses
the property for composting and burning of yard waste. Current use of the property limits its habitat
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. Under current
land use habitat management potential is limited. Based on stormwater flow, the company should be
encouraged to implement green infrastructure management practices where feasible, which could also
create some small habitat areas including for amphibians.
North Chicago
The North Chicago management area is bordered by the North Chicago city limits to the north (10th
Street), Lake Michigan to the east, 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 as high as 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 rail 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 EAOC boundaries in the Pettibone Creek watershed. The northernmost
section of land owned by the station was eventually deeded to the Foss Park District to serve the
residents of North Chicago, and Foss Park was developed along Lake Michigan in the mid-20th Century.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
The portion of the EAOC in North Chicago is a combination of vacant and active industrial land. The
former Waukegan Works is now 73 acres of vacant lakefront land owned by AbbVie. It has a low level of
maintenance and is a combination of disassociated grassland and shrubs. The remaining 160 acres
owned by AbbVie are occupied by an active corporate campus. The lakefront land is armored with riprap, similar to the Waukegan lakeshore south of the harbor.
Great Lakes Naval Station is in active operation. About 83 acres of the base are located within the EAOC.
Foss Park, a 45-acre public park, is situated in-between naval station properties. It is managed
principally as a recreational park. 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. Sand
accumulation is low due to jetties and water discharges to the north that sweeps sand past the beach
area, and rip currents are prevalent here.
The remaining area of the North Chicago unit is occupied by small/light industry and public works.
MANAGEMENT POTENTIAL
Strategies to manage the North Chicago portion of the EAOC are similar to those for the Waukegan
Lakefront South Unit described in the previous section. The land is ideally situated for oak savanna or
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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 redevelop 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:






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. Should AbbVie have no plans to expand operations, the former Waukegan Works portion of
the property is ideally situated for habitat restoration or for redevelopment. Restoration can recreate
the savanna/open woodland conditions that existed prior to development, and the coastal location
places the land in a good location to serve as stopover habitat for migratory birds. The green
infrastructure practices discussed for Waukegan Lakefront South are applicable to this land should it be
redeveloped.
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 EAOC have
added acreage over the past 50-100 years, the shoreline of Foss Park has remained relatively
unchanged.
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
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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 was built in the mid-1800s as part of the
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. The track runs from downtown Chicago to Milwaukee. Tracks run
along the top of the bluff in North Chicago, then move down to run along the toe of the bluff in
Waukegan. The UP line provides interstate freight and inter-urban commuter connections.
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 decline of the industrial economy of Waukegan and North
Chicago limited the highway to a 2.5 mile stretch from Greenwood Avenue to South Avenue.
Combined, the landowners in the transportation corridor own 240 acres of land.
MANAGEMENT POTENTIAL
The transportation corridor serves as a wildlife corridor through the EAOC. Built through the wetlands
of the coastal plain, all three routes are still surrounded by 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.
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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 towards the JM property and then to the
Lake. Further south, storm water is known to flow west to east into the Lake during extreme storm
events, but surface flow to the lake under normal circumstances is unknown. As noted elsewhere, it
would be worthwhile to better understand the hydrology of the area and how the transportation
corridor has impacted flow patterns.
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 EAOC 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 not been extensively involved in
collaborative ecological management with other entities active in the EAOC. Both have proprietary
methodologies for controlling invasive vegetation and surface run-off within their infrastructure. While
there is limited potential to restore the open land in their right-of-ways, they both 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 EAOC, establishing a
working relationship with them 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 wedge-shaped parcel of land owned by IDOT at
the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and the Amstutz Expressway which includes part of the “B-2
wetlands”, discussed earlier in the section on the ComEd property. Originally intended as part of the
expressway right-of-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 a combination of woodland, grassland and adjacent wetlands,
with significant populations of exotic plant species. Portions of the property contain small remnants
(0.25 acres or less) of higher-quality plant communities, and botanical surveys have identified a number
of Plants of Concern. 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. Restoration activity at this area could
benefit rare species and community remnants and support management of the nearby Illinois Beach
Nature Preserve.
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Nearshore Habitat
The official designation of the EAOC boundary indicates that the eastern edge of the EAOC is composed
of the nearshore habitat of Lake Michigan (Figure 6). Without a clear geologic definition, nearshore as
pertains to this management document is defined as coastal waters extending from the shoreline into
Lake Michigan to a depth of 10 meters, which is approximately 0.8 – 1.3 miles (1.3 – 2.1 km) offshore in
this area. This extends to the approximate edge of the Zion Beach Ridge Plain. Managing areas beyond
the shore-lake interface involves complexities that are beyond the limits of this plan.
SITE HISTORY
The lake bottom of southwestern Lake Michigan is primarily bedrock overlaid with lacustrine deposits
from the early history of proglacial Lake Michigan. Rocks ranging in size from gravel to boulders make
up most of the nearshore substrate. 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 YBP. Most of this sand is ground down from the glacial till that was
originally deposited in the Root River delta. North-to-south wave action has transported this sand south
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
EAOC lies in, experiences a net decrease in lake depth, as sand is deposited along the shoreline.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
Bathymetric surveys show that the Zion Beach Ridge Plain typically extends linearly underwater 30005000 feet east from the Lake Michigan shoreline. The sediments are almost entirely sand, with a thin
layer of pebble along much of the shoreline with very few surficial rock outcroppings. The underwater
section of the coastal plain within the EAOC is generally devoid of features and is instead a smooth flat
plain of 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. The depth
of the water gradually increases moving away from the shore until the edge of the coastal plain is
reached, about 1 mile off the shore. 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,
impacting the 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.
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 or a source of pollutants
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6
into the lake. 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 EAOC
properties. The water quality and pH of these two ditches is unknown. These marshes are recent
geological phenomena, 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
The nearshore habitat covered by this plan is a simple system with low natural productivity. Diversity of
prey species for fish tends to be higher in nearshore habitat of complex structure, such as reefs. The
shifting sands found close to shore in the EAOC create unstable, ephemeral features that negatively
impact fish populations. Invertebrate populations, important forage for fish, are low. Complex habitats
also provide cover for shelter and spawning that are lacking in open sandy areas that are constantly
changing. These factors limit the nearshore area in the EAOC in regards to fish habitat.
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 may provide cover for fish species such as
rock bass where the rip-rap extends below the water line.
The greatest impact this management document can have on nearshore habitat is managing the quality
of run-off and other water discharges into the lake, which may require initial water-quality surveys in
some of the water bodies. The Lake Michigan Biodiversity Conservation Strategy identifies urban
pollution and development as two high risk factors to lake health. The Dead River is known to not 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 EAOC boundaries. The degree to which these pollutants are entering Lake Michigan is
unknown although sediment from the river mouth is considered significant. 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:


Water quality studies of North and South Ditch.
Research into pollution levels of the upper and lower Waukegan River to determine the quantity
of pollution entering Lake Michigan from the river including sediment volume from the river
mouth.
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6


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 EAOC.
Manufactured infiltration systems, pocket wetlands, catch basin inserts, infiltration trenches,
and water-permeable pavement are practices that can be used in the EAOC.
Another area of impact to nearshore fisheries is harbor dredging. Typically, when Waukegan Harbor is
dredged, the sand and sediments are taken to an off-shore area and dumped. These fine sediments
adversely affect fish habitat by both degrading invertebrate life and reducing the complexity of reef and
rock structures. An area of rocky substrate lies offshore of Waukegan within the 10 m contour defining
nearshore and could be potential spawning habitat for a number of species. Dredging plans for the
harbor should take this habitat into account when locating suitable areas to dispose of harbor dredge.
The EAOC Overall
Invasive species, specifically terrestrial invasive species, pose a major threat to the habitat areas of the
EAOC. 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 EAOC together to work on integrated management of invasive
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 EAOC. Aquatic invasive plants should also be investigated in Waukegan Marina.
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 a major issue within the EAOC, 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
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6
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 EAOC north of the Waukegan River. The portion of IBSP
within the EAOC 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 EAOC. 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 EAOC as a whole. These
best 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 EAOC 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 EAOC
has continued to serve as viable habitat for flora and fauna that has disappeared from most parts of
northeastern Illinois.
Management of the EAOC 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 EAOC 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 EAOC, often when these landowners have goals that are seemingly at odds with habitat
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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 EAOC 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
Note: Maps being redesigned for greater clarity.
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Figure 2. Waukegan Harbor EAOC – Waukegan Lakefront North management unit.
Note: Maps being redesigned for greater clarity.
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6
Figure 3: Waukegan Harbor EAOC – Area of Concern unit.
Note: Maps being redesigned for greater clarity.
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6
Figure 4: Waukegan Harbor EAOC – Waukegan Lakefront South management unit
Note: Maps being redesigned for greater clarity.
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6
Figure 5: Waukegan Harbor EAOC – North Chicago management unit
Note: Maps being redesigned for greater clarity.
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6
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.
Creque, S.M., K.M. Stainbrook, D.C. Glover, S.J. Czesny, J.M. Dettmers. 2010. Mapping bottom
substrate in Illinois waters of Lake Michigan: Linking substrate and biology. Journal of Great Lakes
Research, Vol. 30: pp. 780-789.
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.
Ewert, D.N., P.J. Doran, K.R. Hall, A. Froehlich, J. Cannon, J.B. Cole, and K.E. France. 2012. On a wing and
a (GIS) layer: Prioritizing migratory bird stopover habitat along Great Lakes shorelines. Final report to the
Upper Midwest/Great Lakes Landscape Conservation Cooperative. 86 pp.
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.
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6
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
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
Rutherford, E., E. Marshall, D. Clapp, W. Horns, T. Gorenflo, T. Trudeau. 2004. Lake Michigan
Environmental Objectives. Great Lakes Fisheries Commission.
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 River, Illinois; Section 516(e) WRDA 1996 Great Lakes Tributary Modeling Scoping Report.”
U.S Army Corps of Engineers, November 2008.
“Waukegan Vision.” Report prepared by The City of Waukegan and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP,
2006.
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6
Appendix A: List of Critical Invasive Species
Taxonomic Name
Common Name
Type
Alliaria petiolata
Garlic Mustard
Flower
Berberis thunbergii
Celastrus orbiculatus
Centaurea stoebe micranthos
Cirsium arvense
Japanese Barberry
Oriental Bittersweet
Spotted Knapweed
Canada Thistle
Shrub
Shrub
Flower
Flower
Dipsacus laciniatus
Cutleaf Teasel
Autumn
Olive/Russian Olive
Flower
Elaeagnus sp.
Invasive threats
Prolific seed producer. Spreads seeds rapidly via dehiscence.
Allelopathic. 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. Allelopathic. Invades undisturbed habitat.
Extensive root system suppresses competition.
Prolific seed producer. Alters habitat structure. Will invade
undisturbed habitat.
Habitat* Risk**
F
C
F
F
P
P
H
H
C
C
P
C
Tree
Poor nest habitat. Poor food source.
F, p
H
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Will invade
Euphorbia cyparissias
Cypress Spurge
Flower undisturbed 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 allelopathic.
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. Prolific
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
Eurasian Water
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Invades
Myriophyllum spicatum
Milfoil
Flower undisturbed habitat. Prolific seeds. Alters habitat 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
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6
Taxonomic Name
Common Name
Type
Invasive threats
Habitat* Risk**
Prolific seed producer. Extensive 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 invade undisturbed habitat. Reduces fuel loads for fire.
Populus deltoides
Eastern Cottonwood Tree
Shades out other species.
W, P
H
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Will invade
undisturbed 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 invade
undisturbed habitat. Reduces fuel loads for fire. Shades out
Salix interior
Sandbar Willow
Shrub
other species.
W, p
H
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Will invade
undisturbed habitat. Prolific seed producer. Shades out
Securigera varia
Crown Vetch
Flower other species.
P, w
C
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Will invade
Typha *glauca (angustifolia x
undisturbed habitat. Prolific seed producer. Alters habitat
latifolia)
Hybrid Cattail
Flower structure.
W
C
Extensive root system suppresses competition. Will invade
undisturbed 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
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6
Appendix B: Summary of Goals & Outcomes
Illinois Beach State Park
Site is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Waukegan Lakefront North
OVERALL



Secure partnerships/MOUs to manage coastal dunes as a cohesive unit.
Control common reed and lyme grass to less than 1% of known 2013 population extents.
Implement consistent bird monitoring program.
Johns Manville



Control common reed & manage it to 1% or less of current (2013)levels
Control sweet clover and crown vetch to 3% or less of plants set seed.
Conduct vegetation, bird, and herp surveys after capping projects are complete to establish
habitat quality baselines.
Midwest Generation


Control invasive shrubs and trees to less than 3% of current (2013) levels.
Continue bird and herp surveys already being conducted on the site.
North Shore Sanitary District



Control common reed & manage it to 1% or less of current (2013)levels
Monitor dune area for invasive species, esp. lyme grass and sweet clover.
Continue bird, and herp surveys already being conducted on the site.
ComEd




Monitor transmission corridor to establish baseline for avian losses
Establish cooperative agreement with adjacent stakeholders for management of B-2 Wetlands
Continue established monitoring of avian and herp species in B-2 Wetlands
Establish re-vegetation protocols that include species that are compatible with adjoining natural
areas and ComEd’s land use requirements
Bowen Park



Develop long-term management plan for natural areas
Develop and implement prescribed burn management plan for natural areas
Continue long-term monitoring of vegetation, avian, and herp species
Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6
Site has a separate management plant developed in 2012.
Waukegan Lakefront South
Overall





Improve habitat quality of the mouth of the Waukegan River
Manage redevelopment so that xx% of surface run-off can infiltrate instead of flowing directly
into the river
Maintain xx% of redevelopment area as open space
Develop plan so that 100% of landscape trees/shrubs used are native varieties
Monitor avian species to establish baselines for future management
North Chicago
Overall


Establish necessary MOUs with stakeholders to allow for monitoring and assessment
Develop a plan for re-development of lake front
Foss Park


Develop management plan for park property
Monitor avian species to establish baselines for future management
Transportation Corridor



Establish necessary MOUs with stakeholders to allow for monitoring and assessment
Survey and map invasive species
Develop invasive species management plan that controls high-priority target species by 95%
Nearshore Habitat




Establish water quality monitoring plan for North Ditch, South Ditch, and Waukegan River
Take actions recommended in the Waukegan River Watershed Plan that will reduce sediments
entering Lake Michigan by xx%
Take actions recommended in the Waukegan River Watershed Plan that will reduce persistent
bioaccumulative toxins entering Lake Michigan by xx%
Implement actions from the Waukegan Beach Health Assessment to reduce beach erosion by
xx%
Overall





Coastal wetlands will remain stable or increase.
Quality bird habitat will remain stable or increase.
Land managed for habitat remains stable or increases
Protected/open land acreage remains stable or increases.
Shore armoring remains stable or decreases
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Waukegan Harbor EAOC management recommendations draft v.6



Sediment loading from outflows decreases.
Number of green infrastructure projects increases
Biodiversity measures remain stable or increase.
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Waukegan Harbor AOC-EAOC management plan draft
Appendix C: Activity Summary
Waukegan EAOC
Overarching Activities
Activity
Identify/Rank Invasive Species Threats
Establish Baseline Conditions for Sites Undergoing Restoration
Develop EAOC-wide Invasive Species Protocols
Examine Hydrology in the EAOC
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
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Waukegan Harbor AOC-EAOC management plan draft
Waukegan Harbor EAOC - 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
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Waukegan Harbor AOC-EAOC management plan draft
Waukegan Harbor EAOC - 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
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Waukegan Harbor AOC-EAOC management plan draft
Waukegan Harbor EAOC - 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 EAOC - 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
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Waukegan Harbor AOC-EAOC management plan draft
Waukegan EAOC – 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.
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
INHS
LCSMD
54