Download GoogleEarth kmz files for designated Illinois Water Trails. These collections of "placemarks" show the access sites, dams, hazards and points of interest for each entire watertrail. You must have GoogleEarth (which requires a highspeed internet connection) installed on your computer to view these files.
Click here to download GoogleEarth

2008 TrailKeeper Watertrails - Click on link to download GoogleEarth kmz files

Chicago River (North Branch, North Shore Channel and South Branch sites)

Des Plaines River

Salt Creek

East Branch of the DuPage River

West Branch of the DuPage and the DuPage River

Fox River

Kishwaukee River

Little Calumet River (includes Thorn Creek)

Other Northeastern Illinois Water Trails

Lake Michigan

Kankakee River

Nippersink Creek

McHenry County Conservation District Nippersink watertrail map (pdf)

A Vision for the Kishwaukee Water Trail (pdf format map)

Maintenance

Stream Obstructions Removal Guide

Stream Management Guide (Ohio woody debris removal guide)

Large Woody Debris - A guide for streambank and streambed owners

Large Woody Debris - an annotated bibliography of scientific studies on large woody debris in streams

Advocacy

A Paddlers Guide to Developing Watertrails

The Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Trail Plan Adopted in 1999 this Plan may contain out-of-date information and contact data

Overview of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Trail Plan @ Openlands.org

An on-line guide to the Clean Water Act

Surf Your Watershed at US EPA

US EPA Enviromapper

Stewards documents

Assumption of Risk form

Volunteer Hours Timesheet

Emergency Contact and Medical Information form

Monitoring Checklist

Illinois Water TrailKeepers Partners

Program Sponsors

Openlands sponsors the TrailKeeper Stewards

The Illinois Paddling Council sponsors the TrailKeeper In-Stream Maintenance Crews

Local Partners

Forest Preserve District of Cook County - volunteers

Lake County Forest Preserves - volunteer opportunities

Forest Preserve District of Kane County - Volunteers

River and Watershed Organizations

The Alliance for the Great Lakes

Friends of the Chicago River

Salt Creek Watershed Network

Upper Des Plaines Ecosystem Partnership

Lower Des Plaines Ecosystem Partnership

Fox River Ecosystem Partnership

Friends of the Fox

Kishwaukee River Ecosystem Partnership

Four Rivers Environmental Coalition - The Kishwaukee, Rock, Sugar & Pecatonica

TrailKeepers homepage

IPC Home

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