Friends of Hackmatack NWR Board Members with IL Representative Lauren Underwood:
Pete Jackson, Nancy Williamson, Steve Byers, Paul Bruett, Rep. Underwood, Ed Collins, Vince Mosca
The Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge applied for $975,000 through Congresswoman Underwood’s Community Project Funding, Account #5 entitled Conservation Operations to restore wetlands on a 165-acre parcel land owned by Openlands. The project will reduce the incidence and severity of flooding, improve water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife.
This project builds upon earlier efforts of the McHenry County Conservation District and Section 206 of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore portions of Nippersink Creek located in Glacial Park.
Funding for the Hackmatack NWR/Nippersink Creek Restoration Project has been included in the FY23 Budget recently approved by Congress. The Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge plan to begin implementation of the project by early summer 2023. The 165-acre parcel is located within the Tamarack core of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge and adjacent to Glacial Park owned by the McHenry County Conservation District.
September 17, 2025 Update
It has been a very busy summer with tremendous progress being made on this project, putting back an historic 100-acre wetland in the Nippersink Watershed.
Overview of the area, including the original man-made channel. Drain tiles were placed throughout this area to funnel all of the water into a straight channel that drained into the Nippersink Creek.
Controlled burn that was done in the spring of 2025. In the distance is McHenry County Conservation District’s Glacial Park. This property, along with Glacial Park and MCCD’s North Branch, now contain 6,000 continuous acres protected for wildlife.
The work included the removal of drain tiles from the area, and installation of rock weirs throughout the channel to allow the incoming water to sheet naturally over the area, re-creating the natural wetland.
This photo was taken in September of 2025, in the evening when the large equipment was finished for the day and the workers had left. Just imagine the incredible biodiversity that will flourish when the work is finished.
Why is it so important to restore our natural wetlands?
They are the most productive ecosystems in the world! Wetland ecosystems are on par with rain forests and coral reefs.
For people, they provide great value, with the premier value being natural water quality improvement. Wetlands function as natural sponges, providing flood protection. They trap water in the vegetation and slowly release it, providing flood protection and preventing water logging of crops.
For wildlife, they provide a habitat where more than one-third of the U.S. threatened and endangered species live. Shallow water, with high levels of nutrients, is ideal for the development of organisms that form the base of the food web.
What might we expect to see in a restored wetland?
- wood ducks
- muskrats
- beaver
- otter
- raccoon
- deer
- peregrine falcon
- great blue heron
- ducks
- geese
- woodpeckers
- hawks
- wading birds
- song birds
- white pelicans
- and much more!
Friends of Hackmatack NWR
P.O. Box 413
Richmond, IL 60071
friendsofhackmatacknwr@gmail.com
Call 262-448-3558 to listen for the latest updates on upcoming activities. If you need to reach us, please leave a message and we will return your call.
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