We strive to spread knowledge and awareness of the unique ravine ecosystems in our community of Highland Park, Illinois. These distinctive geologic landforms are rare and vulnerable, and our town is home to many along Lake Michigan. Our community has come together to work to restore the ravines and make them a viable habitat for local plants and animals.
Through the collaboration of the Park District of Highland Park, the Gary Borger chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Environmental Science classes at Highland Park High School, students of North Shore School District 112, and countless other members of the community, we work to become good stewards of this precious ecosystem. Through observation, research and exploration of the ravines, we will work to understand and educate how these ecosystems once were prior to development, the plants and animals that have historically used the slopes and streams as refuge, and which species still depend on ravines today. Our experiences will guide us to better understand and determine what is still possible in terms of preservation and restoration.
Initially funded by the EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, improvements are continuing to be made to fish spawning habitat through restoration, research and education. Since 2010, we have received support for education and outreach from the Illinois Department of Natural Resource's Illinois Coastal Management Program and funding to improve fish habitat at Rosewood Park beach from the United States Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes Fisheries and Ecosystem Restoration (GLFER) funds.
Two main components of the education portion of the project have been in conjunction with local schools. Based on work with our high school students, we developed a science based field trip program for elementary school students that educates about ravine ecology, negative influences on the habitat, and restoration possibilities. This program has served as a model for other agencies in ravine communities to implement. Another example of our education efforts has been support of the Trout in the Classroom project. Since 2012, students of the HPHS, Braeside Elementary and Red Oak School have raised and released rainbow trout to ravine streams at Millard Park and Rosewood Beach. Our hope is that these fish will return in a few years to spawn in our ravines. If they do, that will be one indicator that the ravines are once again a healthy habitat for local wildlife. We also work to educate adults in the community with public education programs and restoration workdays.
This
blog serves as a tool for us to share and document our efforts and communicate with the students and the public. Our main goal is to
increase community awareness and pride in this special ecosystem. We
hope this project is a drop in the water that will create a ripple
effect along this part of Lake Michigan, encouraging other ravine
communities to become good stewards of their land and water.
If you would like more information or to get involved with this project, please email highlandparkravines@gmail.com.
If you would like more information or to get involved with this project, please email highlandparkravines@gmail.com.
