Hart, who has worked 29 years at the forest preserve district, 17 years as trails manager, said the last few years have been particularly challenging. When it rains, he said, it is often a devastating downpour. Instead of steady rains over the course of a day or so, it has not been uncommon for sections of the Des Plaines trail to receive 2 inches of rain in 25 minutes. Other trails throughout the Cook County forest preserve system also have been affected by the uptick in precipitation, Hart said, with trails north and south experiencing washouts and damage from rain and flooding.