The Conservation Foundation has been leading local efforts in the DuPage River Watershed since 1989. The first watershed plan for the East and West Branches of the DuPage River was completed in 1998 and was recently updated to meet new criteria for Watershed Based Action Plans developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 2009 Foundation staff will be undertaking the development of a watershed plan for the Lower DuPage River.

The DuPage River watershed is located on the western suburbs of the Chicagoland area. The river's west branch starts just north of the DuPage County and Cook County line near Hanover Park, Illinois. Here, the stream is a ditched channel flowing through urban residential areas. Further down stream the river flows through forest preserves and open spaces. Water quality improves significantly south of West Chicago, supporting good fish and invertebrate populations. The west branch drains all or part of the towns of Hanover Park, Bartlett, Roselle, Carol Stream, West Chicago, Wheaton, Winfield, Warrenville and Naperville.

The east branch of the DuPage River starts in Bloomingdale and has a character similar to the west branch, but more urbanized. Like the west branch, water quality and natural habitat improves down stream. The east branch drains all or part of the towns of Bloomingdale, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, Lisle, Westmont, Woodridge and Naperville.

The west and east branches merge just south of Naperville, in Will County, to form the main stem DuPage River. This segment of the stream maintains good water quality and a fairly healthy fish and invertebrate community. The land use in this part of the watershed is quickly changing from predominately agriculture to a much more urban setting. The main stem DuPage River drains all or part of towns of Naperville, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Shorewood, Minooka and Channahon before emptying into the Des Plaines River.