Des Plaines River

Des Plaines River
Typical section of Des Plaines River in Lake County, Illinois.
Origin	west of Kenosha, Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Mouth	Illinois River
Basin countries	United States
Length	150 miles (241 km)
Avg. discharge	535 cu ft per sec
Basin area	630 sq mi

The Des Plaines River is a river that flows southward for 150 miles (241 km) through southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois^[1] in the U.S. Midwest, eventually meeting the Kankakee River west of Channahon to form the Illinois River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. Des Plaines is French for "of the plains" or "of the prairie", but it is pronounced phonetically by locals (only the last 'e' is silent), rather than according to the French pronunciation.

The river provided a transportation route and portage for native Americans, who revealed to early explorers how to traverse waterways of the Des Plaines watershed to travel from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi Valley. The river's name derives from the period of French exploration and colonization in the New World.

The bodies of several of serial killer John Wayne Gacy's victims were found in the river.

Course and character

Des Plaines River near Lockport, IL.

The slow-moving Des Plaines River rises in southern Wisconsin just west of Kenosha and flows southward primarily through marshland as it crosses into Illinois. The river turns to the west and flows through woodland forest preserve districts in Lake County and Cook County (and through the city of Des Plaines), northwest of Chicago. There are numerous small fixed dams on the river starting in central Lake County and continuing through Cook County. Eventually, the river turns to the southwest and joins with the Sanitary and Ship Canal in Lockport before flowing through the city of Joliet.

In the heavily industrialized area around Joliet, dams control the river. Just west of Joliet, the Des Plaines converges with the Kankakee River to form the Illinois River.

Parts of the Des Plaines River preserved in a mostly natural state are used for conservation and recreation, while substantially altered sections serve as an important industrial waterway and drainage channel.

The original course of the riverbed was moved to the west at the town of Lockport during the construction of the Sanitary and Ship Canal in 1905.

According to Chicago Wilderness Magazine, as the Des Plaines River runs 95 miles (153 km) through four Illinois counties, it "changes from prairie creek to a suburban stream, to a large urbanized river, to a major industrial waterway." ^[2]

Sections of the river in Lake County and Cook County Forest Preserve districts in Illinois create "a nearly continuous greenway though all of Lake County and the northern section of Cook County." While canoe launching ramps are available, "The lack of ramps for trailered-boats makes this long river a quiet, family-friendly river." ^[2] This greenway also supports the Des Plaines River Trail, a multi-use trail that roughly follows the course of the Des Plaines River through Lake County and into Cook County.

Des Plaines River Bridge

Des Plaines River in Joliet, IL

Des Plaines River Bridge in Joliet, IL

The Des Plaines River Bridge in Joliet is a cantilever bridge that is six lanes wide—three lanes traveling eastbound and westbound. The bridge is signed as part of Interstate 80.

The bridge is located on the south side of Joliet, and connects U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 52/Illinois Route 53.

Flood control projects

A modern flood control study^[3] report stated that flooding on the Des Plaines River has caused significant damage and economic impacts. The greatest recorded flood, in September 1986 caused an estimated $35 million in damage to 10,000 dwellings and 263 business and industrial sites. A Phase I flood control Project was authorized under the Water Resources Development Act of 1999. Project features include levee, dam, and reservoir expansion at a total cost of $50.5 million (in 2002). A project including a deep tunnel is under construction also, planned to be completed by 2011.

On August 24, 2007, the river flooded by over 9 feet.^[4] On September 14, 2008, the river flooded after receiving over 10 inches (250 mm) of rain fall over two days.^[5]

References

See also

• Des Plaines River Trail

External links

• 2000 Des Plaines River Watershed Orthophotography (by Illinois State Geological Survey) http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/nsdihome/webdocs/desplaines/
• Des Plaines River Wetlands Demonstration Project
• Upper Des Plaines River Canoe Routes
• Openlands Project Water Trails