FLOODS CLOSE DU PAGE FOREST PRESERVES AS NATURAL AREAS HELP ABSORB WATERS

ll of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s education centers and many of its forest preserves are closed today, Thursday, April 18, due to flooded conditions.
      District crews will repair trail washouts and clean flooded structures as soon as possible starting with frequently visited areas; but as areas reopen over the next few days, visitors should be cautious.
      When a massive rain event strikes the Chicago region, no one agency’s efforts can prevent the damage that subsequent flooding often brings. However, the open spaces owned and managed by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County serve as natural storage areas that can reduce effects.
      “It’s distressing to see the damage that friends and neighbors experience after a flood,” said Forest Preserve District President D. “Dewey” Pierotti, Jr. “But I hope residents take some comfort in the fact that for decades our agency has worked with municipalities and the county and has restored habitats to enhance water-storage capacities in manmade and natural areas.”
      The District’s Board of Commissioners has long pursued purchases along waterways to mitigate flooding. “The fact that we’ve been able to permanently maintain these lands is a testament to the foresight of county voters who have supported referenda to fund these purchases,” said Pierotti.
     
      Wetlands and other natural areas help alleviate flooding in many ways. Plants and soils soak up water like natural sponges. Efforts like the restoration of several miles of the West Branch of the DuPage River and the creek meandering project at Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville have led to healthier waterways. The creation of floodplains along the banks allows water to overflow on the natural areas where it infiltrates the soil and recharges local aquifers. Changes in the river channels help decrease erosion and subsequently reduce the amount of sediment carried downstream. Both of these design changes slow the flow of floodwaters, decreasing adverse impacts to downstream residences and businesses.
       The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County owns and manages 25,000 acres of prairies, woodlands and wetlands. Each year more than 4 million visitors enjoy 60 forest preserves, 145 miles of trails, five education centers and scores of programs. To get District e-news in your inbox, sign up at dupageforest.org/e-newsletter. For general information, visit dupageforest.org or call 630-933-7200.