PROPERTIES

THE FRAME LITTLE CALUMET CONSERVATION AREA (SHOWN IN WHITE) IS LOCATED SEVEN MILES FROM MICHIGAN CITY AND ONE-HALF MILE FROM THE INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE HERON ROOKERY UNIT (SHOWN IN YELLOW) AND IS ACCESSED VIA COUNTY LINE ROAD (ON THE EAST). IT LIES DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE NEW DNR GAME BIRD AREA, REYNOLDS CREEK GAME BIRD HABITAT AREA (SHOWN IN RED).

FRAME LITTLE CALUMET CONSERVATION AREA

CLEAN WATER FOR THE GREAT LAKES STARTS UPSTREAM! THAT’S WHY THE PORTER COUNTY IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE (PCC) WILL BE WORKING WITH THE NORTHWEST INDIANA URBAN WATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP PILOT PROJECT ALONG THE EAST BRANCH OF THE LITTLE CALUMET RIVER AND REYNOLDS CREEK. PCC, ALONG WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, IS WORKING TO DEVELOP URBAN GREEN SPACES, REDUCE FLOOD RISKS, IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, AND CREATE A VISION FOR GREENWAY PRESERVATION AND WATER TRAIL DEVELOPMENT.

SOME FEATURES OF THE 19.7-ACRE PROPERTY WE HAVE PURCHASED INCLUDE:

THE PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO THE NEW INDIANA DNR GAME BIRD AREA REYNOLDS CREEK GAME BIRD HABITAT AREA.
BOTH STREAMS ARE SPRING-FED, CLEAN WATER CREEKS THAT RISE IN THE VALPARAISO MORAINE OF LAPORTE COUNTY.
SALMON AND STEELHEAD RUN UP THE LITTLE CALUMET RIVER FROM LAKE MICHIGAN.
REYNOLDS CREEK IS THOUGHT TO STILL SUPPORT BROOK TROUT, THE ONLY STREAM-DWELLING TROUT NATIVE TO THE GREAT LAKES. BROOK TROUT ARE NATIVE TO SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, LAKES, AND SPRING PONDS; BECAUSE BROOK TROUT IS A POPULAR GAME FISH WITH ANGLERS BUT DEPENDS ON COLD, CLEAR, WELL-OXYGENATED WATER, ITS NUMBERS ARE DECREASING AS ITS HABITAT DETERIORATES.
BROOK TROUT, SALVELINUS FONTINALIS
DUE TO ITS HYDRIC SOIL, THE LAND ADJACENT TO THE STREAMS HAS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR WETLAND AND RIPARIAN WOODLAND RESTORATION AND EDUCATION. A SMALL PUBLIC PARKING LOT AND TRAILS WILL BE DEVELOPED ONCE THE LAND IS PURCHASED.
BOTH STREAMS HAVE BEEN CHANNELIZED IN THE PAST BUT ARE RESTORING THEIR NATURAL SINUOSITY, RIFFLES, AND POOLS.

THE DONALD AND MARY FRAME LITTLE CALUMET RIVER CONSERVATION AREA

THIS LAND WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DON AND MARY FRAME FAMILY TO PROTECT OPEN SPACE NEAR THE EAST BRANCH OF THE LITTLE CALUMET RIVER AND THE TERMINUS OF REYNOLDS CREEK. FUNDING CAME FROM THE NIPSCO CONSENT DECREE MITIGATION FUND, AND THE INDIANA HERITAGE TRUST. THE STATE OF INDIANA OWNS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE PROPERTY WHICH WILL PREVENT IT FROM EVER BEING DEVELOPED. AS PERMANENTLY PROTECTED AND MANAGED OPEN SPACE IT WILL ALLOW THE PERCOLATION OF RAIN WATER SLOWLY INTO THE GROUND WHICH WILL ALSO CLEAN THE WATER.

THE ROBERT C. AND RUTH J. FRAME LITTLE CALUMET RIVER CONSERVATION AREA

THIS LAND WAS PURCHASED FROM A FRAME FAMILY TRUST TO PROTECT OPEN SPACE NEAR THE EAST BRANCH OF THE LITTLE CALUMET RIVER AND REYNOLDS CREEK. 50% OF THE FUNDING CAME FROM THE ENBRIDGE L-6B MITIGATION FUND, ADMINISTERED BY THE CONSERVATION FUND, AND 50% FROM THE INDIANA BICENTENNIAL NATURE TRUST. THE STATE OF INDIANA AND THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BOTH HOLD CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON THE PROPERTY WHICH WILL PREVENT IT FROM EVER BEING DEVELOPED. AS PERMANENTLY PROTECTED AND MANAGED OPEN SPACE IT WILL ALLOW THE STORAGE AND PERCOLATION OF RAIN WATER AND SNOWMELT INTO THE GROUND WHICH WILL ALSO CLEAN THE WATER.

THE CAROL COOK WETLAND OVERLOOK IS LOCATED IN 582 E. 1200 N LAT. 41.583137, LON. -86.989018. FROM 80, EXIT ON STATE RD 49 SOUTH, TO INDIAN BOUNDARY RD. TURN LEFT (EAST) AND DRIVE TO BRUMMIT RD. TURN RIGHT (SOUTH) AND DRIVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO 1ST ROAD ON LEFT (1225 N) TURN LEFT (EAST) ON 1225 N. THE ROAD WILL TURN SOUTH AND THEN EAST AGAIN. IT IS NOW 1200 N. CONTINUE ON 1200N TO 4-WAY STOP AT 575 E. CONTINUE EAST 200 FT. THE IWLA-PCC CAROL COOK WETLAND OVERLOOK IS ON YOUR RIGHT. THE ADDRESS IS 582 E. 1200 N (BURDICK RD.)

CAROL COOK WETLAND OVERLOOK

THIS IS A TWO-ACRE PARCEL RIGHT ON BURDICK ROAD EAST OF 575 EAST. IT IS MOSTLY WETLAND EXCEPT FOR THE LAND CLOSEST TO BURDICK ROAD. IT BORDERS A BIG WETLAND THAT WAS CREATED AS PART OF THE USDA WETLAND RESERVE PROGRAM. OUR PROJECT BEGAN BY WORKING WITH THE LANDOWNER TO THE WEST, (THE OWNER OF THE WRP WETLAND,) AND 3 LOCAL EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS COORDINATED TO BUILD A SMALL VIEWING PLATFORM WITH BENCH SEATS.

AN INFORMATION KIOSK TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE BENEFITS OF WETLAND CONSERVATION IS PLANNED. THE PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED BY THE CHAPTER FOR CASH FOR EDUCATION AND TO BUFFER THE WETLAND AND PREVENT DEVELOPMENT ON THE PARCEL. THERE ARE NO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON THIS PROPERTY.

CAROL COOK OVERLOOK IS SURROUNDED BY PRIVATE LAND — VISITORS PLEASE KEEP TO THE OVERLOOK PLATFORM ONLY. THIS SITE IS NAMED IN HONOR OF MS. CAROL COOK; CONSERVATIONIST AND ARTIST OF NORTHWEST INDIANA. PCC WANTS TO THANK BOY SCOUT TROOP 929 OF THE BSA LASALLE COUNCIL FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN CLEARING OUR PARKING LOT, PREPPING THE GROUND AND BUILDING THE OVERLOOK. THANKS ALSO TO THE DISCOVERY TRACKERS 4-H CLUB FOR THEIR FUNDRAISING FOR THE MATERIALS.

AS FIRST FEATURED IN THE 2017 INDIANA AUDUBON BIRDING FESTIVAL LOCATIONS GUIDE

SEE WETLAND BIRDS; WATERFOWL, WADING AND SHOREBIRDS PLUS SAND HILL CRANES AND BALD EAGLES

HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/COOKPCCBIRDS/?REF=BR_RS

THE MASSAUGA CREEK UNIT OF THE LITTLE CALUMET CONSERVATION AREA LAND WAS DONATED TO THE PCC IWLA AS MITIGATION FOR AN ADJACENT UNAUTHORIZED WETLAND FILL AS REQUIRED BY THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, DETROIT DISTRICT, UNDER SECTION 404 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT (33 U.S.C.) THE PARCEL IS PRIMARILY WETLAND AND REDUCES RUNOFF BY STORING WATER.

MASSAUGA CREEK UNIT OF THE LITTLE CALUMET CONSERVATION AREA

THIS LAND WAS DONATED TO THE PCC IWLA AS MITIGATION FOR AN ADJACENT UNAUTHORIZED WETLAND FILL AS REQUIRED BY THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, DETROIT DISTRICT, UNDER SECTION 404 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT (33 U.S.C.) THE PARCEL IS PRIMARILY WETLAND AND REDUCES RUNOFF BY STORING WATER.

URBAN SPRAWL IS REDUCING TRACTS TO UNMANAGAABLE SIZES. THE SPRAWL INTRODUCES NON-NATIVE SPECIES THAT ARE OFTEN INVASIVE AND CROWD OUT NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS. IN ADDITION, THE INCREASED ROOF AND ROAD AREA INCREASE RUNOFF IN THE SHORT TERM AND REDUCE WATER FLOW DURING DRY PERIODS. AT THE SAME TIME INCREASED FLOW OF POLLUTED RUNOFF FROM ROADS AND PARKING AREAS IS INCREASED AND THE BUFFERING OF THE WATER CHANNELS BY VEGETAION IS REDUCED.

THE DNR FORESTY DIVISION OF INDIANA ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES FOR CARE OF THE 9.8 ACRES AT THE MASSAUGA UNIT IN 2012 FOR PCC. IT CALLS FOR MAINTAINING FOREST HEALTH BY REDUCING INVASIVES IN THE UNDERSTORY TO SAVE TREES AND ON THE FLOOR TO PROMOTE NATIVE PLANT GROWTH.

EXOTICS ARE CAPABLE OF REPLACING THIS FOREST BUT WITH SOME WORK AND TIME, THIS FOREST WILL BE HERE WELL INTO THE FUTURE. THIS PARCEL DOES NOT HAVE HIKING TRAILS OR A PARKING LOT. IT IS MEANT TO BE A SPACE FOR SHELTERING WILDLIFE AND PROMOTING NATIVE SPECIES AND FORESTATION.

THE SANDRA DEE BEDENKOP SPRING RUN CONSERVATION AREA LAND IS WITHIN THE CLASSIFIED FOREST AND WILD LANDS PROGRAM UNDER THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (IDNR), DIVISION OF FORESTRY, AND HAS BEEN UNDER THAT PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS. BY DEFINITION: “THE LAND IS MANAGED FOR TIMBER PRODUCTION, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND THE PROTECTION OF WATERSHEDS, WHILE CONSERVING OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES AND VALUES”; HOWEVER, THE PCC IWLA LAND IS NOT MANAGED FOR TIMBER PRODUCTION, ONLY FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT AND WATERSHED PROTECTION WITHOUT ANY ECONOMIC USES. THE PARCEL IS PRIMARILY WETLAND.

SINCE 2016 THE SANDRA DEE BEDENKOP SPRING RUN PROPERTY HAS BEEN UNDER QDMA (QUALITY DEER MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION) GUIDELINES. QDMA MISSION: ENSURING THE FUTURE OF WHITE-TAILED DEER, WILDLIFE HABITAT AND OUR HUNTING HERITAGE.

TERRENCE AND ELIZABETH MCCLOSKEY RAVINES CONSERVATION AREA

AFTER NEARLY THREE YEARS OF MEETINGS, NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS, THE PORTER COUNTY CHAPTER IS NOW THE OWNER OF ANOTHER 40 ACRES OF LAND. IT WILL BE CALLED THE TERRENCE AND ELIZABETH MCCLOSKEY RAVINES CONSERVATION AREA. PORTER COUNTY CHAPTER PURCHASED THE PROPERTY FROM MEADOW BROOK DEVELOPMENT AND ADAM KESLING. IT IS FOUND BETWEEN OTIS ROAD AND IN 421 ACROSS THE STREET FROM PURDUE UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST.

MCCLOSKEY RAVINES IS ALREADY A VERY HIGH-QUALITY HABITAT. THERE IS SOME CLEANING-UP TO DO TO COMPLY WITH OUR AGREEMENTS. PCC FRIENDS AND VOLUNTEERS WILL BE CALLED ON TO REMOVE SOME INITIAL DEBRIS AND MONITOR IT FOR INVASIVE SPECIES EVERY YEAR. IT WAS THE THIRD PROPERTY WHICH WE HAVE ACQUIRED WITH 50% FUNDING FROM THE ENBRIDGE L-6B MITIGATION FUND AND 50% FUNDING FROM THE INDIANA BICENTENNIAL NATURE TRUST. YES. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE COST TO THE CHAPTER.

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