The Des Plaines River in Potawatomi Woods Forest Preserve, Cook County, IL. Photo by Barrett Wood December 2011
The Des Plaines River flows the length of Lake County on its way from the headwaters in Racine to its confluence with the Kankakee River in Will County. The watershed includes land in two Wisconsin counties and seven in Illinois.
The Des Plaines River sits between the Chicago River to the east and the Fox to the west. Its watershed includes numerous towns and cities, agricultural lands, and natural spaces. The river flows through some of the most populous areas in the greater Chicago region.
Recreation
Through much of its length in Illinois, the Des Plaines is paralleled by the Des Plaines River Trail (DPRT). The trail follows the river corridor from the Wisconsin border south into Cook county. At present, the only discontinuity in the Lake County segment is a quarter mile in the town of Lincolnshire. The DPRT also connects to various forest preserve trail systems. The entire path is graded and surfaced with crushed gravel. Under- and overpasses are present at nearly all road crossings.
Boat launches dot the shores of the Des Plaines and kayaks, canoes, and motor boats travel up and down stream.
Fishing is permitted in numerous forest preserves throughout Lake and Cook Counties.
Cyclists on the Des Plaines Trail in Independence Grove Forest Preserve, Lake County, IL. Photograph by Barrett Wood June 2014
Ecology
The Des Plaines Watershed encompasses many different habitats and a great variety of animal and plant species. Though the river flow has increased, it is generally slow-moving and murky. Upland forests, wetlands, prairies, savannas, and floodplains are the primary ecosystems. The forests are largely mixed hardwood, oak/hickory, maple, or basswood.
Though the river itself is of relatively low quality (as assessed by the Illinois DNR), there are extremely high-quality parcels within the watershed.
Getting Involved
List of organizations involved in restoration and clean up efforts in the Des Plaines Watershed.
Cook County Forest Preserve District
Des Plaines River Canoe and Kayak Marathon
Lake County Forest Preserve District
River Monitoring Data