Figure 1:  DeSanto Dam before and after the rock ramp was constructed. - Photos courtesy of the Kane County DEM and Rob Simmonds, FWS

Figure 2. Left - Arnold Dam before and after the rock ramp was constructed. - Photos courtesy of the Kane County DEM and Rob Simmonds, FWS

Brewster Creek, a perennial tributary to the Fox River, features a 15-square mile watershed located in Kane, Cook, and DuPage Counties, Illinois. The Brewster Creek watershed is composed of residential developments, agricultural land, forested areas, a small commercial area, and open space. 

Until 2006, Brewster Creek had three dams along its length that blocked fish movements.  One was a 10-foot high dam on Camp Tu-Endie-Wei, an outdoor education facility owned and operated by the YWCA of Elgin. This facility provides day and overnight outdoor education programs to school groups. 

The dam was designated by the state of Illinois as a Class I dam meaning it had a high probability of causing loss of life and/or substantial economic loss in the event of a failure.  The dam was removed in 2003-2004 as Phase I of a stream restoration plan for Brewster Creek, at a cost of over $800,000. 

The dam removal restored a 4.3-acre impounded lake to a naturalized, meandering stream with vegetated banks.  Removal of the YWCA dam, and the two smaller dams in Phase II was achieved through partnerships with the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kane County Department of Environmental Management, Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago Wilderness, The Conservation Foundation, Fox Valley Land Foundation, White Gate Skeet Club, Beth & Cliff DeSanto, Penny & Gary Mallo, The Arnold Family, Christopher B. Burke Engineering West, Ltd.

Carterville FRO came on board the project in 2004, and was able to provide partial funding for Phase II of the Brewster Creek stream restoration.  In order to completely eliminate barriers to fish in Brewster Creek, the two smaller dams needed to be removed or modified. 

Carterville FRO provided nearly $50,000 through the Service’s Fish Passage Program to help with Phase II of the project.  The 3-foot high DeSanto dam downstream of the YWCA dam was notched, and a rock ramp was built to provide for fish passage (Figure 1). 

The Arnold Dam, a small concrete dam (6-12 inches high) just downstream of the DeSanto Dam, was also notched and ramped (Figure 2).  Additionally, some sediment management and streambank stabilization was carried out to create a long-term, stable stream ecosystem. 

This project eliminated fish migration barriers to approximately 10 miles of stream in a 15 square-mile watershed, improved water quality, and reduced downstream siltation. In addition, stream surveys conducted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in 1998 revealed the presence of seven species below the dams that did not occur above the dams. 

This list included stonecats, suckers, and smallmouth bass, an important recreational species.  A small stream requires a continuous connection to a larger stream to remain healthy, and species such as smallmouth bass and suckers typically use small tributary streams for spawning and nursery areas.  We hope that future surveys will show these species and others using the entire Brewster Creek watershed.