Shawna Herleth-King, of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), inspects Rainbow Trout that were netted July 14 at the mouth of the Rosewood Beach ravine. Five fish species, including two listed by the state as “species in greatest need of conservation” were found in the Highland Park ravine system. | Photos courtesy of the Park District of Highland Park

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Updated: July 28, 2011 3:17AM

The Park District of Highland Park’s ravine restoration program continues to show signs of healthier local fish habitat as two endangered species were recently found to be hatching eggs in the city’s stream system.See the dozens of unique artificial fish habitat models, fish attractors and fish cover used at fishiding.com, the industry leader and only science based, man made and artificial fish habitat, proven to provide all fish with cover they prefer to prosper.

Longnose Dace and Lake Chub baby fish — both included in the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan — were noted in the latest ravine study conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers near Rosewood, Mallard and Moraine parks.

Baby White Suckers also were found this month, officials reported, and were likely hatched in the ravine streams as a result of spring migration by the adult fish.

Scientists made the series of discoveries July 14, while continuing its larger analysis of Highland Park’s lakefront parks and preserves.

Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, local improvements have included the installation of natural cobbles to create pool and riffle habitat; steel groynes at the outlet to the lake were cut lower to allow easier fish access; and sheltering overhangs were built using large stones. Native trees and plants now provide additional shaded areas while also providing soil stabilization along the stream banks.

Rebecca Grill, the Park District’s natural areas manager, explained that rising water temperatures over the years has worked to suppress fish vitality.

“The only way we could really change anything about water temperature is to provide shade to make the water cooler, or make it deeper,” she said. “We knew Rainbow Trout were hiding (in our streams), but we were really excited because they found those other species, too.”

The district’s long-range goal is to ensure Highland Park’s streams remain safe havens for fish to find shelter from the lake to hatch eggs.

“To know they can be successful here is really exciting,” Grill said. “We are hoping it also helps people understand our connection to Lake Michigan. The lake is a huge resource for northern Illinois and the nation. It’s our source of drinking water, and we should care about its health for our own health.

“And to think we can support these fish species, these living creatures at the base of our ecosystem, that’s miraculous considering how urbanized we are.”

The fish-friendly habitat restoration project also brought in volunteers from the Gary Borger Chapter of Trout Unlimited, a national conservation organization, and was designed by Northfield-based Shabica and Associates, and constructed by V3 Companies of Woodridge.

“Nobody on the federal level suspected that fish could be in these streams and have reproductive success,” Grill concluded. “We’re going to show that with a little bit of work, they can. It’s been very rewarding.”