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Habitat restoration complete at Powderhorn Lake near Illinois/Indiana Border

Powderhorn Lake shoreline. (Credit: Audubon Great Lakes)
Powderhorn Lake shoreline. (Credit: Audubon Great Lakes)

Located just outside the western border of the Calumet Area of Concern in the southeast side of Chicago, IL, Powderhorn Lake is a 50-acre freshwater lake owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC). Powderhorn Lake is surrounded by rare dune and swale habitat— parallel sandy ridges alternating with low wetlands—and is home to hundreds of plant and animal species. As a result of a century of urban and industrial development, however, the lake suffered from high water levels that drowned out emergent marsh vegetation and shallow open water areas that are critical for fish and wildlife habitat.

The three-year Powderhorn Lake restoration project restored 192 acres of wetland habitat, 630 linear feet of stream habitat, and 45 acres of native vegetation. Partners also installed a water control structure to help to alleviate flooding in the surrounding community and reconnected Powderhorn Lake with Wolf Lake and Lake Michigan, allowing passage for native fish and wildlife. The work was completed in fall 2023, with additional monitoring efforts taking place in the coming spring and summer.

An aerial view of Powderhorn Lake and marsh. (Credit: Audubon Great Lakes)
An aerial view of Powderhorn Lake and marsh. (Credit: Audubon Great Lakes)

This project was made possible through a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Great Lakes Commission (GLC), Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Audubon Great Lakes, and FPCC. Funding for this work was provided by the GLRI through the NOAA/GLC Regional Partnership.

Read more about the habitat restoration at Powderhorn Lake: