The Village of Algonquin, IL

The Village of Algonquin is proud to announce that the Woods Creek Reach 6/7 Restoration Project has received a 2026 Engineering Excellence Award – Special Achievement Award in the Water Resources category from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-IL).

Completed in spring 2025, the project restored approximately 1,000 feet of stream and more than 26 acres of surrounding wetland and riparian areas, creating a more resilient and naturally functioning corridor. Improvements included restoring natural stream curves, reconnecting the creek to its floodplain, reducing erosion, and replacing invasive vegetation with native plant communities. For a project known as Reach 6/7, the results are anything but so-so—delivering measurable improvements to stream stability and long-term performance.

The Woods Creek Reach 6/7 Restoration is part of the Village’s broader Woods Creek restoration program, which began with watershed planning efforts in 2013 and has guided multiple projects along the corridor. This long-term approach has improved creek stability while reducing downstream impacts during storm events.

“This project reflects the Village’s commitment to thoughtful, long-term investment in community infrastructure,” said Village President Debby Sosine. “Similar to recent projects, the Woods Creek restoration will deliver lasting value for generations to come."

The ACEC-IL presents awards annually to projects that showcase exceptional planning, design, and execution. This year’s award highlights the Village of Algonquin’s continued commitment to improving its infrastructure through strategic, long-term investment. In 2025, two Algonquin projects also received Engineering Excellence recognition: the Old Town Algonquin Riverwalk and Streetscape Project and Washington and Harrison Street Project, and the Souwanas Trail Improvements project.

To learn more about planned and ongoing infrastructure projects in the Village of Algonquin, visit www.algonquin.org/construction.