Will County Forest Preserve to begin removal of Hammel Woods Dam

The Forest Preserve District of Will County announced it will start the removal and modification project at the Hammel Woods Dam in Shorewood next week.

A segment of the DuPageRiver Trail and a portion of the preserve will be closed as of July 12 for the work beginning there, according to a district news release.

The Forest Preserve’s Board of Commissioners approved the project in 2019. The purpose is to improve the health of the DuPage River and make it safer for boaters, the district said in its release.

The project will also result in the section of the DuPage River that runs through Hammel Woods being closed for boating or tubing. A portion of the DuPage River Trail from Route 52 to the dam overlook will be closed.

The Grinton Grove section of the preserve, which is the southernmost section, will be closed and the parking lot adjacent to the dam will be closed.

The existing portage area for boaters to go around the dam will be closed and removed. A new canoe/kayak launch will be built downstream of the current launch prior to the old launch being removed.

The Hammel Woods project is expected to be completed in October, but weather and other factors could affect the timeline.