Coffee Creek Center - Chesterton, Indiana
Services: wetland delineation and permitting, native plant
species recommendations, habitat and stream restoration, provide and install
all native plant materials, native habitat maintenance, watershed management
planning
This development in northwest Indiana highlights environmental restoration as an integral part of a 640-acre mixed use community based on innovative sustainability concepts. When completed, the new community of Coffee Creek Center will contain up to 2,000 residential units and over 3 million square feet of commercial, office, and retail space.
JFNew was integrally involved with all environmental issues on the site. JFNew's botanists and wetland ecologists were key members of the site planning team. They evaluated the topography, soils and hydrology of the prairies, wetlands and woodlands, and determined which species were appropriate to each restoration site, and which species are best adapted to the wastewater and stormwater soil absorption fields. Their plant selections were also based on the species composition of remnant prairies and riparian areas in northwest Indiana.
The JFNew Native Plant Nursery provided more than 100,000 custom-grown native wetland and prairie plants for the site. Restoration of the forested areas required removal of exotic species by hand thinning or selective application of herbicide and planting native trees and understory species. JFNew's experienced burn crew also conducted prescribed burns where appropriate for ecological restoration. All mitigation and restoration areas are monitored annually.
In addition, the JFNew restoration efforts included restoring the natural meanders and gravel bed of a trout/salmon stream, restoration of a bottomland forest, installation of bioengineering materials, native plants and seed mixes to stabilize the stream bank.
In keeping with the client's personal commitment to treating all wastewater and stormwater on the site, JFNew conducted a feasibility analysis to determine areas most suitable for construction of subsurface flow wetlands and absorption fields and coordinated with the client's development team to determine placement of these facilities within the overall site plan. JFNew prepared a wastewater treatment master plan based on the site characteristics and the estimated wastewater volume from each phase of the development. The implemented system features subsurface flow constructed wetlands planted with native species selected for their effluent treatment and evapotranspiration capabilities. The treated wastewater is piped to an absorption area or "biofield" planted with deep-rooted native grasses and flowers.
The development also uses soils and native prairie plants to treat stormwater to keep road salt and other contaminants out of Coffee Creek. Stormwater is directed to more than a mile of "level spreaders," a series of underground pipes and gravel infiltration areas under the restored prairies. As the water percolates slowly through the soil, it is purified by biological activity within the root zone. JFNew installed native wetland and prairie plants in the stormwater infiltration areas. JFNew is also in charge of the long-term maintenance and management of all natural areas and has a dedicated Management specialist based onsite. The Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy was awarded the 2003 Conservation and Native Landscape award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness for its outstanding efforts using native plants in the landscape at the Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve.
Tryon Farm - Michigan City, Indiana
Services: Wetland delineation; wetland restoration design and implementation; natural waste water treatment design, construction and maintenance; native prairie restoration and maintenance with prescription burning; and education
Tryon Farm is a unique conservation community in that approximately three-quarters of the 170-acre landscape will be preserved as restored prairie, meadows, woods, wetlands and ponds. The site is highlighted by preservation of an historic farmstead and restoration of native prairies and wetlands.
JFNew has led all environmental work for the site from the conceptual layout through development of the homesteads. This work has included wetland delineations, mitigation design & permitting, prairie and wetland restoration throughout the development. 
JFNew developed plans to restore the unique ecosystems of the Lake Michigan dune-swale region. Following development of the plans JFNew coordinated obtaining cost share money from the USFWS to plant the prairie and wetland areas with native species. JFNew has also coordinated the implementation of additional wetland areas within the site at no cost to the developer by matching other projects' mitigation needs with the restoration plans. Maintenance of the restored native communities is being completed by JFNew through a prescribed burning program.
JFNew's environmental engineering staff also designed an on-site natural treatment system using several constructed wetlands and soil infiltration "biofields." JFNew submitted all necessary permit applications and prepared the plans and specifications for septic tanks, collection systems, subsurface flow wetland cells, and the soil absorption fields. JFNew monitored the construction work and installed wetland plants in the system.
Residential Development - Hendricks County, Indiana
Services: site design assistance, BMP design, hydraulic modeling, planting plan development
JFNew worked directly with a private developer to create a conservation design for a 380-acre residential development that integrates modern development techniques. The typical residential development plans for the site had been denied approval by the local building commission and the developer asked JFNew for alternative suggestions. The resulting design incorporated conservation design principles, including the restoration and preservation of various homestead dwellings and barns within the site. The revised plan utilizes 190-acres (50%) of the property as open space and greenways with recreational paths, dog play areas, and stormwater Alternative Best Management Practices (ABMP) to treat stormwater within the open spaces prior to discharge to the local receiving stream. ABMPs included a rain garden treatment system, wooded and emergent wetlands, infiltration trenches, vegetated swales and re-circulating aeration streams. Additional design input by JFNew for road layouts and frontage provided additional innovative stormwater conveyance and treatment techniques. JFNew also participated in the design team by providing hydraulic and hydrologic evaluation for the prairie, wetland and riparian buffer restoration of agricultural areas.
Throughout the revision process, JFNew coordinated with the local officials to educate them on the advantages of conservation. Through this coordination and education, JFNew was able to obtain approval for the development as a conservation design.
