Nettle Creek Aqueduct Current State

Top photo current photo Nettle Creek Aqueduct.
Bottom photo current state of the Illinois Michigan Canal Gebhard Woods State Park
     Located just off Ottawa Street in Morris, Illinois is Gebhard Woods State Park.  This 30 acre site was originally owned by Mrs. William Gebhard (the beer brewing family).  It was subsequently purchased by the Grundy County Rod and Gun Club in 1934.  Sale price was $1500.  A game fish rearing pool was added to the site by the club.  Subsequently, the property was donated to the state to be maintained as a park.
     During the depression several improvements were made by the CCC.  The landscape was cleared.  Two additional spawning pools for fish were constructed.  Hiking trails were developed.  Multiple shelters were constructed.
     The park is bordered on the south by the I M Canal.  Currently there is little water in the canal; it is weed filled.  On the north border is Nettle Creek.
     At the site where the canal crosses Nettle Creek is the aqueduct.  This was originally constructed in 1847.  It has been rebuilt several times.  In April, 2013, the aqueduct collapsed during a severe rain storm.  It has remained in this state ever since.