The Forest Preserve District is moving forward with plans to improve the West Branch DuPage River through four forest preserves to create an ecologically healthy and more contiguous river corridor.

Dubbed the West Branch DuPage River Corridor Habitat Improvement Project, plans call for creating a more contiguous habitat along the river through West DuPage Woods, Blackwell, Warrenville Grove and McDowell Grove forest preserves in the communities of West Chicago, Warrenville and Naperville.The project will build upon previous enhancements vital for floodwater storage and conveyance, water filtration and ecological habitat.

This work is part of a larger initiative within the West Branch DuPage River watershed that includes the Klein Fen river restoration and wetland mitigation project at West Branch Forest Preserve in Bartlett, an upcoming river restoration project at Mallard Lake Forest Preserve in Hanover Park, and the restoration of Spring Brook Creek, a tributary that flows through St. James Farm and Blackwell forest preserves in Warrenville.

A 2013 intergovernmental agreement between the District and DuPage County allowed several grant-funded stormwater and ecological improvement projects to be completed along the West Branch in Warrenville and McDowell Grove forest preserves.