January 6, 2015
GARY & VALPARAISO, Ind.—Two natural areas in Porter and Lake Counties grew last month with the purchases of priority lands offering environmental, recreational and community benefits. The Lake County Parks and Recreation Department acquired and added 96 acres to its Deep River County Park in Ross Township, and the Porter County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America purchased a 40-acre farm near Michigan City for inclusion in its Frame Little Calumet Conservation Area. Both conservation efforts were made possible with grants from the Enbridge 6B Mitigation Fund.
Located on the Porter County line near U.S. Highway 30, the newest addition to the Deep River County Park, known as the Thomas Farm, features upland and floodplain forests that provide ideal breeding habitat for a variety of resident and neotropical migrating birds, including the hooded warbler, Kentucky warbler and cerulean warbler. Lake County Parks plans to restore and enhance sections of the property used in the past for farming to native plant communities that will help reverse forest fragmentation, improve habitat for these species, enrich the water quality of nearby wetland areas and reduce flooding downstream. In addition, the property will provide opportunities for future public recreational activities, like hiking, birding, wildlife viewing and fishing.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has approved a ten-year enhancement and restoration plan submitted by Lake County Parks. Work on this initiative will commence in early 2015. “We are hoping to construct a trail network connecting the Thomas Farm to the existing trail system at the 1,200-acre Deep River County Park, in order that park visitors can experience the landscape transformation as restoration activities progress,” said Bob Nickovich, CEO for the Lake County Parks. “When completed, the enhanced and reforested uplands and bottomlands will provide countless benefits to targeted neo-tropical species and park users alike.”
At the confluence of the East Branch Little Calumet River and Reynolds Creek, the now expanded Frame Little Calumet Conservation Area is managed by the Porter County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America as an urban green space, nature preserve and outdoor educational area. The mix of habitats—woodlands, forested wetlands, as well as hay fields and crop land that will be restored to native forests—found on the property attract a variety of migratory birds, including nesting redheaded and pileated woodpeckers, eastern bluebirds, rose-breasted grosbeaks and red-tailed hawks. The conversion of farm land will help reduce flood risks and improve water quality within the East Branch Little River Watershed, a tributary of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan.
Chapter President Jim Sweeney said, “This is turning into a great project that should provide multiple benefits for us and the public.” He mentioned restoring brook trout to the streams and restoring wetlands, prairie, and riverine forest that will benefit bats and many other species of wildlife. “Our thanks go to Enbridge, the Indiana Bicentennial Nature Trust, and The Conservation Fund for helping us make this happen.”
The 6B Mitigation Fund was voluntarily established by Enbridge to mitigate for habitat loss or forest fragmentation caused by the construction and rehabilitation of the 6B pipeline that temporarily or permanently impact migratory birds and the habitats upon which they depend. Working collaboratively with the USFWS, grants are provided to implement local conservation measures in Indiana and Michigan to protect and restore critical habitat for migratory birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These two conservation efforts in northwest Indiana were endorsed by the USFWS to receive grants from the 6B Mitigation Fund, which helped both Porter County Chapter and the Lake County Parks & Recreation Department lever the remaining funding—including from the Indiana Bicentennial Nature Trust and other sources—needed to complete the acquisitions.
The Conservation Fund (The Fund), a national organization dedicated to creating land and water protection strategies that balance environmental stewardship with economic vitality, serves as the administrator of the Enbridge 6B Mitigation Fund. The Fund works collectively with Enbridge and the USFWS to achieve mitigation solutions with the highest conservation value.
“Our goal is to preserve lands and waters that regulatory agencies, nonprofits and local partners have identified as conservation priorities valued for their wildlife habitat, recreation, clean water, and other natural resources,” said Kris Hoellen, Vice President of Sustainable Programs for The Conservation Fund. “Because we cannot choose between our environment and our economy, we need to strike a balance by working in a collaborative way to ensure that mitigation for unavoidable impacts is meaningful and achieves the highest quality conservation of significant natural lands, like these in northwest Indiana.”
“Natural resources and green spaces are dear to every community and we recognize the impacts our construction projects can have. At Enbridge we take our responsibility to the environment seriously, and this partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Conservation Fund and our local conservation organizations is a great opportunity to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Jennifer Smith, Community Relations Manager with Enbridge.
As we work to conserve the nation’s wildlife resources, we always look for ways to work with partners in finding creative, win-win solutions to conservation challenges,” said Tom Melius, Midwest Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “This action will conserve valuable habitat for migratory birds and also provide area residents with new opportunities to enjoy wildlife.”
About The Conservation Fund
At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states to protect more than 7.5 million acres of land since 1985.
Press Release Contacts
Ann Simonelli | The Conservation Fund | 703-908-5809 | asimonelli@conservationfund.org
Robin Murphy | The Conservation Fund | 703-797- 2507 | rmurphy@conservationfund.org
Bob Nickovich | Lake County Parks and Recreation | 219-769- 7275 | bobn@lakecountyparks.com
Jim Sweeney | Izaak Walton League of America | 219-322- 7239 | jp55biod@att.net
Located on the Porter County line near U.S. Highway 30, the newest addition to the Deep River County Park, known as the Thomas Farm, features upland and floodplain forests that provide ideal breeding habitat for a variety of resident and neotropical migrating birds, including the hooded warbler, Kentucky warbler and cerulean warbler. Lake County Parks plans to restore and enhance sections of the property used in the past for farming to native plant communities that will help reverse forest fragmentation, improve habitat for these species, enrich the water quality of nearby wetland areas and reduce flooding downstream. In addition, the property will provide opportunities for future public recreational activities, like hiking, birding, wildlife viewing and fishing.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has approved a ten-year enhancement and restoration plan submitted by Lake County Parks. Work on this initiative will commence in early 2015. “We are hoping to construct a trail network connecting the Thomas Farm to the existing trail system at the 1,200-acre Deep River County Park, in order that park visitors can experience the landscape transformation as restoration activities progress,” said Bob Nickovich, CEO for the Lake County Parks. “When completed, the enhanced and reforested uplands and bottomlands will provide countless benefits to targeted neo-tropical species and park users alike.”
At the confluence of the East Branch Little Calumet River and Reynolds Creek, the now expanded Frame Little Calumet Conservation Area is managed by the Porter County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America as an urban green space, nature preserve and outdoor educational area. The mix of habitats—woodlands, forested wetlands, as well as hay fields and crop land that will be restored to native forests—found on the property attract a variety of migratory birds, including nesting redheaded and pileated woodpeckers, eastern bluebirds, rose-breasted grosbeaks and red-tailed hawks. The conversion of farm land will help reduce flood risks and improve water quality within the East Branch Little River Watershed, a tributary of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan.
Chapter President Jim Sweeney said, “This is turning into a great project that should provide multiple benefits for us and the public.” He mentioned restoring brook trout to the streams and restoring wetlands, prairie, and riverine forest that will benefit bats and many other species of wildlife. “Our thanks go to Enbridge, the Indiana Bicentennial Nature Trust, and The Conservation Fund for helping us make this happen.”
The 6B Mitigation Fund was voluntarily established by Enbridge to mitigate for habitat loss or forest fragmentation caused by the construction and rehabilitation of the 6B pipeline that temporarily or permanently impact migratory birds and the habitats upon which they depend. Working collaboratively with the USFWS, grants are provided to implement local conservation measures in Indiana and Michigan to protect and restore critical habitat for migratory birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These two conservation efforts in northwest Indiana were endorsed by the USFWS to receive grants from the 6B Mitigation Fund, which helped both Porter County Chapter and the Lake County Parks & Recreation Department lever the remaining funding—including from the Indiana Bicentennial Nature Trust and other sources—needed to complete the acquisitions.
The Conservation Fund (The Fund), a national organization dedicated to creating land and water protection strategies that balance environmental stewardship with economic vitality, serves as the administrator of the Enbridge 6B Mitigation Fund. The Fund works collectively with Enbridge and the USFWS to achieve mitigation solutions with the highest conservation value.
“Our goal is to preserve lands and waters that regulatory agencies, nonprofits and local partners have identified as conservation priorities valued for their wildlife habitat, recreation, clean water, and other natural resources,” said Kris Hoellen, Vice President of Sustainable Programs for The Conservation Fund. “Because we cannot choose between our environment and our economy, we need to strike a balance by working in a collaborative way to ensure that mitigation for unavoidable impacts is meaningful and achieves the highest quality conservation of significant natural lands, like these in northwest Indiana.”
“Natural resources and green spaces are dear to every community and we recognize the impacts our construction projects can have. At Enbridge we take our responsibility to the environment seriously, and this partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Conservation Fund and our local conservation organizations is a great opportunity to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Jennifer Smith, Community Relations Manager with Enbridge.
As we work to conserve the nation’s wildlife resources, we always look for ways to work with partners in finding creative, win-win solutions to conservation challenges,” said Tom Melius, Midwest Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “This action will conserve valuable habitat for migratory birds and also provide area residents with new opportunities to enjoy wildlife.”
About The Conservation Fund
At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states to protect more than 7.5 million acres of land since 1985.
Press Release Contacts
Ann Simonelli | The Conservation Fund | 703-908-5809 | asimonelli@conservationfund.org
Robin Murphy | The Conservation Fund | 703-797- 2507 | rmurphy@conservationfund.org
Bob Nickovich | Lake County Parks and Recreation | 219-769- 7275 | bobn@lakecountyparks.com
Jim Sweeney | Izaak Walton League of America | 219-322- 7239 | jp55biod@att.net
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