20150128 - Nippersink Creek (SN)

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Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com A fallen tree is reflected in Nippersink Creek at Glacial Park in Ringwood Wednesday, January 28, 2015. A joint project between the McHenry County Conservation District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of restoring 3.5 miles of Nippersink Creek and 550 acres of sedge meadow, wet prairie and wet mesic oak savanna.

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Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com ENCAP and Earth Werks contractors work on grading the streambank back on the Nippersink Creek at Glacial Park in Ringwood Wednesday, January 28, 2015. A joint five year project between the McHenry County Conservation District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore 3.5 miles of Nippersink Creek and 550 acres of sedge meadow, wet prairie and wet mesic oak savanna is currently in process to potentially alleviate some flooding and may also mean better water quality, a better wildlife and fish habitat and easier access to the creek for those fishing, kayak and canoe users.

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Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com Earth Werks contractor Omar Alaniz checks the elevation while contractors work on grading the streambank back on the Nippersink Creek at Glacial Park in Ringwood Wednesday, January 28, 2015. A joint five year project between the McHenry County Conservation District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore 3.5 miles of Nippersink Creek and 550 acres of sedge meadow, wet prairie and wet mesic oak savanna is currently in process to potentially alleviate some flooding and may also mean better water quality, a better wildlife and fish habitat and easier access to the creek for those fishing, kayak and canoe users.

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Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com An ENCAP contractor removes buckthorn, which out-competes native plants for nutrients, light and moisture, during a joint project between the McHenry County Conservation District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore 3.5 miles of Nippersink Creek and 550 acres of sedge meadow, wet prairie and wet mesic oak savanna at Glacial Park in Ringwood Wednesday, January 28, 2015.

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Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com Earth Werks contractor Omar Alaniz checks the elevation while contractors work on grading the streambank back on the Nippersink Creek at Glacial Park in Ringwood Wednesday, January 28, 2015. A joint five year project between the McHenry County Conservation District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore 3.5 miles of Nippersink Creek and 550 acres of sedge meadow, wet prairie and wet mesic oak savanna is currently in process to potentially alleviate some flooding and may also mean better water quality, a better wildlife and fish habitat and easier access to the creek for those fishing, kayak and canoe users.

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Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com Jonathan Koepke, vice president and general manager of ENCAP, Inc., talks about eroded banks and the joint project between the McHenry County Conservation District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore 3.5 miles of Nippersink Creek and 550 acres of sedge meadow, wet prairie and wet mesic oak savanna at Glacial Park in Ringwood Wednesday, January 28, 2015.

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Sarah Nader- snader@shawmedia.com Earth Werks contractor Omar Alaniz checks the elevation while contractors work on grading the streambank back on the Nippersink Creek at Glacial Park in Ringwood Wednesday, January 28, 2015. A joint five year project between the McHenry County Conservation District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore 3.5 miles of Nippersink Creek and 550 acres of sedge meadow, wet prairie and wet mesic oak savanna is currently in process to potentially alleviate some flooding and may also mean better water quality, a better wildlife and fish habitat and easier access to the creek for those fishing, kayak and canoe users.