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Urban Ecological Restoration: Enhancing the Chicago River and Riparian Zone – Eugene Field Park in Chicago, IL The Eugene Field Park, located in Chicago, IL, is an 8-acre parcel along the Chicago River North Branch that currently serves as a city park. The site suffers from impairments typically associated with a heavily urbanized watershed - complete obliteration of natural fluvialgeomorphic and hydrologic processes. Ensuing problems include loss of channel morphology and instream complexity, loss of riparian corridor and habitat fragmentation, loss of native species diversity, and extremely degraded water quality. The Corps has completed a feasibility study and detailed design of a restoration plan under the Section 206 Authority (Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration). The recommended plan would begin by removing structures and facilities such as fencing, light poles, asphalt pathways, etc. from the project footprint. The site would then be cleared of nonnative brush and trees, but certain native tree species would be salvaged such as oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and willow (Salix nigra). Next, 20,000 cubic yards of fill material would be removed to expose the natural soils beneath, and to provide the proper hydrology for wetland reestablishment. Final grading of the site would establish naturally sloping contours along the river banks and wetland depression. Three riffles will be placed in the Chicago River to increase instream complexity, flow velocity diversity, sediment transport and to reduce bank erosion. Seeding of wetland, mesic prairie and oak savanna plant communities would commence after the earthwork is complete. The next two or three years after construction would involve supplementing the site with native plugs to further increase plant species richness and ecological surveys to monitor success.