Des Plaines River

Des Plaines River
Name	Des Plaines River
Source location	Kankakee River
Mouth	Illinois River
Subdivision type1	Country
Subdivision name1	United States
Subdivision type2	State
Subdivision name2	Illinois
Length	133 mi
Basin size	3430 sq mi

Des Plaines River The Des Plaines River is a major tributary of the Illinois River in northeastern Illinois, United States. The river flows through suburban and urban landscapes including parts of Cook County and Lake County, shaping regional development, transportation, and conservation efforts. Its watershed intersects municipalities such as Chicago, Joliet, and Waukegan and links to historic waterways like the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and the Illinois and Michigan Canal.

Course and Hydrology

The river originates near the border of Wisconsin and Illinois in a network of glacially formed wetlands and drains southwestward to join the Kankakee River forming the Illinois River near Channahon. Along its course it passes through municipalities including Wauconda, Lake Zurich, Mundelein, Schaumburg, Des Plaines, and River Grove, intersecting canals such as the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and tributaries like the Salt Creek and Chicago River. Hydrologic monitoring is conducted by agencies including the United States Geological Survey and the National Weather Service, which track discharge, stage, and flood frequency at gauges in locations like Lemont and Joliet. The watershed exhibits seasonal flow variation influenced by precipitation patterns tied to systems such as Gulf Coast low pressure systems and Lake Michigan-modulated weather, and is affected by legacy features from Wisconsin glaciation.

History and Human Use

Indigenous peoples including the Potawatomi and Miami people used the river corridor for transport and resources prior to European contact. During the 17th and 18th centuries European exploration by figures associated with the French colonization of the Americas integrated the river into networks linking the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed. In the 19th century, the river's proximity to projects such as the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the Chicago Portage influenced settlement patterns and industrial expansion around Chicago. During the industrial era, entities like the Illinois Central Railroad and companies in Joliet harnessed the river for water supply and transport, while 20th-century infrastructure projects by the United States Army Corps of Engineers reconfigured channels and floodplains to support navigation and development. Modern management involves coordination among the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and local municipalities.

Ecology and Environment

The river corridor hosts riparian habitats supporting species documented by organizations such as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and conservation groups like the Nature Conservancy. Floodplain forests, marshes, and oxbow wetlands along the river provide habitat for birds including Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, and migratory species tracked by programs like the Audubon Society. Fish assemblages include species monitored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Illinois Natural History Survey, while invasive species management targets organisms such as Common carp and Asian carp that threaten native assemblages similar to those in the Mississippi River Basin. Water quality challenges from urban runoff, legacy industrial contaminants, and nutrient loading are addressed through initiatives tied to the Clean Water Act and regional stormwater planning with partners like the Environmental Protection Agency.

Recreation and Parks

The Des Plaines corridor supports recreation managed by agencies including the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Lake County Forest Preserves, and municipal park districts in Schaumburg, Des Plaines, and Arlington Heights. Trail networks such as parts of the Grand Illinois Trail and local greenways provide access for hiking, cycling, and paddling; outfitters in towns like McHenry offer canoe and kayak launches. Parks along the river include preserves connected to initiatives by the National Park Service and state programs like Illinois state parks. Organized events and educational programs are often coordinated with organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and university extensions from institutions like University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Flood Control and Management

Flood control on the river involves engineered structures and policy instruments developed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, and state agencies. Major flood mitigation measures include levees, detention basins, channel modifications, and reservoir projects inspired by case studies such as the Great Flood of 1993 and regional responses to events like Hurricane Ike-related rainfall impacts. Local floodplain ordinances enforced by county boards and municipal councils coordinate with hazard mapping produced by the National Flood Insurance Program to guide land use decisions in vulnerable communities including Joliet, Des Plaines, and Wheeling.

Infrastructure and Crossings

Critical infrastructure crossing the river includes transportation corridors like Interstate 90, Interstate 294, U.S. Route 20, rail lines operated by Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway, and historic crossing points near the Chicago and North Western Railway corridor. Bridges managed by Departments of Transportation for Illinois and counties span urbanized areas, while utility crossings support regional power grids and pipelines linked to providers such as Commonwealth Edison. Water resource and navigation infrastructure interfaces with federal navigation channels and locks comparable to systems operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Illinois Waterway.

Category:Rivers of Illinois