Lake Station Wetland Mitigation Bank - Northwest, Indiana
Services: site location, feasibility study, site planning, hydrology studies, agency negotiations, providing and installing native plant materials, maintenance
On behalf of a private client, JFNew developed the first full-scale private wetland mitigation bank in Indiana. JFNew completed the design for the 223 acre agricultural site which resulted in the restoration of 202 acres of wetland. Prior to the restoration, the privately held property offered no public opportunity. Following restoration, the property has become a popular birding location and has become part of the open space available to the public. Furthermore, the wet prairie habitat of the restored wetland adds nearly 25% to the total wet prairie habitat existing.
The site had been in agricultural production since at least the 1930's through a series of drainage tiles, ditches and deepening of the Little Calumet River channel. Once the site was identified, JFNew conducted a restoration feasibility study to identify the results of restoring the natural hydrology to the site. This was accomplished through installation of several monitoring wells and development of site-specific hydrologic models and water budgets. Based on the data obtained and the modeling results, it was determined that hydrologic conditions would likely allow for restoration of a wet prairie habitat, of which only approximately 750 acres remained in the southern Lake Michigan area.
JFNew developed and coordinated banking agreements and permits through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resource Conservation Service and USEPA. While pursuing approval of the banking agreement, planning activities continued with wetland design, including construction sequencing and development of a planting plan of local genotype plants. Restoration activities were completed by JFNew and included removal of over 31,000 linear feet of subsurface tile, plugging the interior ditch, production and installation of seed for over 70 native plant species, and control of non-native exotic species.
JFNew will continue to provide site management through continued exotic species control, prescribed burning, and monitoring of the hydrology and wetland community development. Working with our client and the National Park Service (NPS), JFNew arranged an agreement for the property to become part of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, including a long-term maintenance fund. The maintenance fund is being created from a portion of the proceeds from each credit sold being placed in the interest bearing maintenance fund. This fund is managed by the National Parks Foundation with the principle remaining in perpetuity and the interest being used to fund maintenance needs.
Since restoration has been completed, monitoring results have shown 163 native species of plants present, with a Floristic Quality Index of 47.5. This is an increase of over 400 percent over the pre-restoration findings. Additionally, wildlife use has increased significantly, particularly use by non-game species. Approximately 40 species of birds have been documented using the site, including documented nesting of the state threatened marsh wren every year since restoration.
Waste Site Re-development - Hammond, Indiana
Services: wetland delineation and permitting, aquatic planting plan development, construction observation, native plant materials supply and installation, and maintenance of natural areas
JFNew completed a wetland delineation and floristic quality assessment of a former industrial disposal site proposed for development as a municipal golf course. JFNew also evaluated ecological impacts of the existing slag fill and prepared a chronology of previous disturbance at the site. This information was used for early coordination with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Following the initial assessment, JFNew attended regular meetings with the Client and the project engineer to provide coordination and oversee incorporation of Best Management Practices into the conceptual design. Once the design was finalized, JFNew prepared and submitted an Individual Permit application with design for restoration and mitigation of natural areas. The course was successfully completed and opened in 2002 and has been recognized as one of the most successful brownfield redevelopment projects in the Midwest.
BMP Incorporation - Northeast Illinois
Services: BMP design, prairie restoration, public education
JFNew developed a design incorporating Best Management Practices (BMPs) for a municipal park. The final design included restoration and creation of a total of nine acres of native tall grass prairie, three acres of wet prairie, and a fishing pond with native emergent vegetation lining the shorelines. The park successfully combines aesthetics and function by incorporating BMPs consisting of natural and hard armored swales and sediment basins as well as three hundred feet of recirculating stream. The native vegetation within the natural treatment system facilitates absorption and biochemical breakdown of pollutants and excess nutrients. In addition to the functions of the treatment system, the park also provides education and recreation opportunities while demonstrating resource management through a best management approach to stormwater management and treatment. In addition to design services, JFNew provided construction management services through implementation of the design as well as supplying and installing the native plant materials. The Village received the 2003 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness for their outstanding efforts in using native plants in the landscape.
Marquette Greenway - Indiana Lake Michigan Shoreline
Services: Environmental evaluation
JFNew was a member of the Team chosen to develop a master plan for the shoreline of Indiana linking Chicago and Michigan. The plan identified the links necessary to draw people to the underutilized asset that is the Lake Michigan shoreline and the additional components needed to increase economic development within the region. The plan will be used as a tool for pursuing additional funding for implementation. Projects included a coordinated public transportation system focused on creating links to the shoreline, properties for public acquisition, and coordination of public use with significant landowners. Throughout the process, public involvement was a key component. This included multiple public meetings within each of the 5 communities involved.
JFNew worked within the Team to identify properties and natural features within the Greenway of ecological significance. Much of this information was obtained through JFNew's extensive experience within the region resulting from more than 15 years of projects, many involving the major landowners. JFNew's relationship within many of these landowners provided an avenue for communication with key decision-makers within the organizations.
The completed Marquette Plan won a Merit Award for Planning from the Illinois Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects.
