To the untrained eye, it may seem that the patch of prairieto the north of a big parking lot in northwest Indiana is undisturbed,with only Mother Nature's hand guiding its natural rhythm of life. Thankfully, that's not true.

There are several additional hands at work to restore this tallgrass prairie to a more native state. The area, known as theLittle Calumet River Prairie and Wetlands (LCRPW), is part ofan ambitious, long-term initiative to restore 250 native plantspecies into potentially more than 1,000 acres of wetlands, prairie,and savanna.

Currently, a few small but high quality natural areas remainin northwest Indiana. Notable preserves near Indiana UniversityNorthwest in Gary include Hoosier Prairie, Ivanhoe Dune and Swale,Oak Ridge Prairie, Indiana Dunes (Miller Woods area), and CressmoorPrairie.  The small size and isolation of these areas confoundtheir full ecological potential and function.  Accordingto IU Northwest Professor of Biology Spencer Cortwright, theLittle Calumet River area is situated such that when restored,it could form an elongated area that reduces the distance andisolation of other natural areas.

“The clear goal of LCRPW is to enhance the ecological qualityof northwest Indiana natural areas by better preserving someof the incredible ecological mosaic once found throughout ourarea,” says Cortwright, who is also the primary caretaker ofthe LCRPW. “The project may take decades, but the ultimate ecologicalgains clearly favor pursuit of this project.”

Just seven years ago the initial 12-acre site that stretchesjust north of the IUN campus contained only 10 plant speciesnative to northwest Indiana. Most of the site was dominated byEurasian weeds, which stifle native plant growth and are of nouse to wildlife. Thanks to Cortwright, today there are more than150 native plant species evident. He hopes to raise that numberto 250.

Nearly each day of the late spring and summer last year, Cortwrightwas out in the prairie and wetlands area yanking weeds, collectingseeds, and hand planting. He fought tirelessly to establish wetlandplants, yellow coneflower, and prairie grasses in an effort torid the area of aggressive purple loosestrife and Canada thistle.This summer he is mostly working in wet areas. With help froma biology student, Cortwright plans to put in wetland plantsthat are good at battling purple loosestrife, which can producea million seeds at a time. Also, with assistance from the energycompany NiSource, beetles from the weed's native country havebeen reared and released on the site.

Using his own garden at home as a test site, Cortwright is strivingto find different ways to speed up Mother Nature's long processof restoration, while maintaining balance and order in a vulnerableenvironment. In a few years, the area should be nearly all native.When that occurs, Cortwright will switch LCRPW's focus to additionalacreage in all directions.

One expansion of 90 acres is starting now, using funding fromthe U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. Cortwright has also receivedsupport from Indianapolis Power and Light Company, U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources,and IU Northwest. He is seeking additional funding to restoreanother 55 acres of wetlands north of the site.

Cortwright notes many benefits of the site beyond its ecologicalvalue. Gary citizens may take advantage of walking trails onthe site, and preserving these areas may spur economic developmentas well.

“While it may not have been the case in the 1950s, today companiesfind natural areas near their sites appealing. Gary has longbeen seen as a rustbelt city, but it and neighboring cities aresurrounded by some of the finest nature preserves anywhere,” Cortwrightsays.