The purpose of this project (CZ584-309) was to develop a landacquisition strategy that identifies priority parcels, fundingmechanisms and supporting geospatial products for threefocus areas in Northwest Indiana: Hoosier Prairie, MoraineComplex and Ambler Flatwoods. This was achieved through acollaborative conservation action planning (CAP) process withlocal stakeholders who identified conservation targets, threatsand the strategies for the best conservation outcomes. Thedeliverables of this project will be used by conservationorganizations and land managers to advance land and wildlifeconservation in the Calumet region.

CONSERVATION ACTIONPLANNING

HOOSIER PRAIRIE | MORAINE COMPLEX | AMBLER FLATWOODS

Executive Summary: CALUMETLAND ACQUISITION & HABITATRESTORATION PLAN

This project was made possible by a grant to the ArcelorMittal Foundation(CZ548-309) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Lake Michigan Coastal Program.

Photo by Derek Nimetz, IDNR

Calumet region.

The gap areas (i.e. conservationareas not covered by CELCP)identified in this report aresignificant because theypossess high biodiversity,contain high quality, limitednatural resources, and areconnected to regional trailsystems. They are alsosurrounded and intersected byvarious land uses. Land usesinclude residential andcommercial development,transportation, agriculture andutility and industrial use. Thechallenge of maintaining highquality natural areas that aresurrounded by urbanization andindustrialization called forstrong, strategic conservationplans involving all stakeholdersin the Indiana coastal region. Asa result, the conservation plansfor each gap area detail landmanagement and acquisitionstrategies that addressconservation threats andtargets, highlight opportunitiesfor funding, collaboration, andfuture work, and identify metricsthat will indicate if strategies aresuccessful. Each gap area hasits own plan and supportinggeospatial products as eachgap area faces differentconservation threats andtargets. These three action-oriented plans cover the next 5years and can be used as a toolto engage and educatestakeholders in conservationwork throughout the region.

The gap areas and thesurrounding land are managedby a number of partnersincluding but not limited to stateagencies,

federal agencies, park districts,land trusts, developmentcompanies, utilities, privatebusinesses, and otherorganizations. Due to thenumber of partners involved, acollaborative, action-orientedprocess called ConservationAction Planning (CAP) proved tobe the most efficient andeffective way to bring allpartners together. The CAPprocess builds effective projectswith the greatest impactpossible by focusing on whatneeds to be done, how it shouldbe done, and monitors successafter action is taken. Forgreatest efficacy and impact,this CAP process was split upinto 3, two-hour meetings foreach gap area over the courseof 3 months with supplementalsite visits and partnercorrespondence throughout.Each meeting wasprofessionally facilitated by JoeTutterrow from The NatureConservancy. The meetingswere interactive and adaptive,and used maps to help visualizestrategies. The meetingsfocused on action-orientedoutcomes to ensure all partieswere in agreement with thestrategies that addressed thevarious conservation targets,threats, and opportunities, aswell as what would bemeasured to indicate eachstrategy’s success.

Conservation ActionPlanningis critical for the sustainabilityof complex ecosystems in theLake Michigan Watershed. Thisplanning process and resultingplan captures a record ofdecisions and supportinginformation for treatment ofseveral units of land. Itidentifies practices needed tosolve natural resourceconcerns and seizeopportunities to improve thetargeted lands. NorthwestIndiana is fortunate to havemany experts committed tolooking at the geography of thelandscape and determiningstrategies that maintain and/orrestore biodiversity and qualityhabitat.

One of the most completestrategic conservation planningefforts to date has been theproduction of the Coastal andEstuarine Land ConservationProgram (CELCP) Plan inIndiana. However, gap areasnot covered by previousplanning efforts such as CELCPstill exist. With support from theIndiana Department of NaturalResources Lake MichiganCoastal Program, conservationpartners of the Calumet regionled a conservation planningprocess to address the gapareas of: Oak Ridge / HoosierPrairie (Lake County), Moraine /Sunset Hill (Porter Country),and Amber Flatwoods (LaPorteCounty). This process yieldedconservation action plans forthese key areas that will beused by conservationorganizations and landmanagers to advance land andwildlife conservation in the

In this document, "gap areas" areconservation areas that were notincluded in the Coastal andEstuarine Land ConservationProgram (CELCP), the previousconservation planning document

created for the region.

Photo by Derek Nimetz, IDNR

Calumet CollaborativeThe Field MuseumIndiana Department of NaturalResources (IDNR)The Nature Conservancy(TNC)

Northwest Indiana RegionalPlanning Commission(NIRPC)Save the Dunes ConservationFund (SDCF)Shirley Heinze Land Trust(SHLT)

Project documents written collaboratively by:

Contributing partners tothe CAP process:Alliance for the Great Lakes

Indiana Department ofNatural Resources (DNR)Lake Michigan CoastalProgram, Division of NaturePreserves and Division ofLand Acquisition

Lake County Parks

Michigan City Planning andRedevelopment Department

The National Park Service(NPS), Indiana DunesNational Lakeshore (INDU)

Northern Indiana PublicService Company (NIPSCO)

Porter County Parks

Purdue UniversityNorthwest/NorthwestIndidana Urban WatersFederal Partnership

The level ofprotection for theland is determinedby land managers

There are a number ofagencies and organizationsmanaging the naturalresources prioritized throughthis conservation planningprocess. While someproperties are managed forecological health, others aremaintained primarily forrecreational purposes, whilestill others are managed asgreen space. Below aredescriptions of three levels ofprotection identified for thegap areas based on theirrespective land managementregimes:

A1) Protected, in perpetuity, forconservation purposes bypublic or private organizationsand/or agencies such as:Shirley Heinze Land Trust(SHLT), Save the DunesConservation Fund (SDCF),Indiana Department of NaturalResources (IDNR), Division ofNature Preserves, TheNational Park Service (NPS),Izaak Walton League ofAmerica (IWLA), U.S. Fish andWildlife Service (USFWS),Coffee Creek WatershedConservancy, and LaPorteCounty Conservation Trust.

A2) Publicly owned naturalareas where conservation/habitat management is notnecessarily the primarymanagement lens and is notguaranteed. These areas areoften managed for recreationaluse. Examples of A2 landmanagers include: Lake,Porter and LaPorte CountyParks; Liberty and PortageTownship; and Michigan City,Schererville, Highland, Griffthand Merrillville Park Districts;and the Town of Long Beach.

A3) Privately owned naturalareas that could be sold and/or converted to otherpurposes at ownersdiscrection. Examples of A3land owners include:Girl Scouts (Camp ButternutSprings), Mount Lawrence,Tryon Farms, FranciscanHospital, Buckeye Pipeline,Marathon, and EnbridgeEnergy.

Photo by Ron Trigg

Ambler Flatwoods. Photo by Ron Trigg

Ambler FlatwoodsPhoto by Ron Trigg

impacts where possible. Forinstance, in areas that are highlyfragmented, partnering with utilitiesand adjacent landowners oninvasive species control and bestmanagement practices has beenidentified as a strategy withpotential for a number of potentialprojects sites. Additionally,preparing for increasedfragmentation in the future is acritical step in protectingconservation targets fromdevelopment. Land acquisition andconservation easements have beenidentified as strategies to limit thefuture impact of developmentadjacent to priority sites as well asproviding input into municipalplanning processes to influencedevelopment practices and wherepossible to encourage sustainabledevelopment consistent with thesurrounding ecology.

Invasive SpeciesInvasive species were identified asa costly and severely damaging tothe native species and habitatstructures of the three focus areas.The impact of invasive species isexacerbated by other threats such

as fragmentation, pollution, andreduced fire regime. While invasivespecies are a regional threat, landmanagers and other partners havethe ability to reduce the impactsthrough restoration andmanagement projects,conservation planning, outreachand partnership-building withadjacent landowners, and securingadditional resources.

A list of invasive species ofconcern has been identified by theIndiana Coastal Cooperative WeedManagement Area partnership ledby The Nature Conservancy. A listof species can be found atwww.nature.org.

Reduced Fire RegimeDisruption of consistent fireregimes is a threat for savanna,woodland, and prairie complexes;it threatens natural resources in theHoosier Prairie and MoraineComplex focus areas. The use offire in managing natural areas isinconsistent and, in some years,barely existent. This is due to theproximity of residential areas,

RegionalConservationThreats

FragmentationFragmentation that occurs viaright-of-ways (ROWs), roads thatbisecting individual sites andresidential, industrial, and otherdeveloped areas reduces theconnectivity of natural areas acrossthe landscape. Impacts offragmentation can be abatedthrough cooperative management;sites managed as part of acontiguous landscape despitejurisdictional boundaries are moreresilient to disturbances andvulnerabilities associated withfragmentation. Fragmentation is amore severe threat when adjacentdevelopment is incompatible withhealthy habitats. For example, landuses that prohibit connectivity andcreate noise, light, air, and waterpollution reduce the integrity ofadjacent natural areas.Fragmentation also encouragesencroachment or allows for theestablishment of large infestationsof invasive species. Fragmentationconcerns are increasing asNorthwest Indiana grows inpopulation and the potential forrapid, high-intensity developmentadjacent to priority site increases.

While there is limited ability toaddress all existing fragmentation,partners have identifiedopportunities to reduce the

policies that limit burn windows,unfavorable weather conditions,and limited staff and funding toimplement prescribed burns.

Due to the lack of fire in savannaand prairie habitats over the years,many local sites have becomeovergrown with aggressive andnonnative species and have begunto lose the structure that supportsthese unique habitats.

Increasing the use of prescribedburns to manage these areas maybe achieved through policy-change, such as widening the burnwindow; increased funding for staffand equipment; interagencyresource-sharing; collaborationwith local municipalities; outreachto improve public perception ofprescribed burns; and contingencyplanning, such as usingmechanical methods of invasivespecies removal when burns arenot feasible.

Pollution andContamination ofLand and WaterResourcesBecause of proximity to industry,agriculture, urbanization and otherland uses, pollution is a concern forthe health of natural resources inthis region. The presence ofpollutants disrupts ecosystemfunction, encourages invasivespecies spread, and threatenswildlife.

The type and severity of pollutantsvaries across the Indiana coastallandscape. While pollution fromnearby active industry and a formerindustrial complex now classifiedas a superfund site threatenHoosier Prairie, the MoraineComplex’s proximity tosubdivisions and other

development pressures presentsit's own suite of pollutionchallenges.

Furthermore, wetlands, naturalareas with capacity to store, filterand purify water, have beendramatically altered across thelandscape negatively impacting thehydrology of surrounding lands.Historically, Northwest Indiana wasfilled with wetlands which havediminished or become degradedover time. According to theNorthwestern Indiana RegionalPlanning Commission’s 2040 Plan,the acreage of wetlands inNorthwest Indiana once numberedmore than 340,000 total acresbased on NRCS hydric soils data.Today, only 72,410 acres of thesewetlands remain.

Strategies for overcomingproblems resulting from pollutionof land and water are built aroundbest-use-management policies,outreach, and green infrastructureimplementation.

Human DisturbancesWhile passive recreation ondesignated trails is encouraged,some recreational activities are notcompatible with maintaining publicsafety and ecological integrity. Useof all-terrain vehicles, unpermittedfires, and the creation of socialtrails have a cumulative impact onfrequently visited sites. Dumping isalso an ongoing threat to these andmany other natural areas.

Lack of Funding forLand ManagersThroughout all three focus areas, aconsistent threat is the lack offunding for land managers tomanage natural resources. Thequality and rarity of naturalresources coupled with

accelerated stresses from adjacentland uses, requires a high-level ofactive management to protect thelandscape. Because naturalprocesses have been disrupted byfragmentation, thereby increasingtheir vulnerability, land managersare critical players in protecting ourresources. However, funds toadequately manage them arelimited. Securing long-term,sustainable funding for landmanagement activities is essentialfor conservation of these areas.

Climate ChangeClimate change exacerbates allother threats. Further, it will likelyfavor generalist and invasivespecies in transitioning ecozones,intensify weather events thatdisrupt ecological functions,increase both drought andflashiness, and will threatenspecies that help maintain habitatstructures.

Clear-cutting andDeforestationClear-cutting is a logging practicein which most or all trees in an areaare uniformly cut down. TheMoraine Complex and AmblerFlatwoods are both vulnerable tothis threat. Clear-cutting canreduce the quality and quantity oftopsoil, and the resulting loss oftrees can negatively impact thesurrounding air quality.Additionally, the many species thatrely on Moraine and Ambler’s treecover are at risk of losing theirhomes and habitat. Forests alsoplay a critical role in mitigatingclimate change as forests act as acarbon sink, soaking up carbondioxide in the atmosphere thatwould otherwise contribute toongoing changes in climatepatterns.

Class AConservation Class A concerns themanagement and restoration of landsthat are already under protectiveconservation management.

Class B1Conservation Class B1 involvles landacquisitions that contribute toexisiting conservation areas or thatserve as buffer zones that protectconservation priorities from futuredevelopment.

Class B2Conservation Class B2 representsland acquisitions and or other meansof land protection that have thecapacity to connect nature preserves,recreation sites and/or trails.

Class CIncorporating conservation prioritiesinto municipal planning is an exampleof conservation class C. This classalso includes increasing connectivityon the landscape by incoporatingworking lands, or right-of-ways(ROWS), managed by utilities,railways, or transportationdepartments.

Additional StrategicToolsAdditional conservation tools includepolicies that are written to protectnatural resources from developmentpressures and outreach activities thatcultivate local land stewards byenhancing their appreciation andawareness of the natural landscape.

Graded according to their conservationpotential, "Conservation Classes" enableland managers to strategize conservationpriorities. Utilized here, they identifyopportunities for achieving the bestconservation outcomes.

Conservation StrategiesThrough the Conservation Action Planning (CAP) process, partnerscollaboratively developed conservation strategies that address the threats,targets and opportunities in three gap areas in coastal Indiana: Oak Ridge,Moraine Complex, and Ambler Flatwoods.

ConservationClasses

Photo by Ron Trigg

Moraine Complex

The Oak Ridge/Hoosier Prairie Complex (i.e. Hoosier Prairie) is anapproximately 2098-acre area comprised of lands managed by local,state and federal entities, as well as private land owners includingutilities and railroad companies. The land considered for conservationin this report is distributed across municipal boundaries in Griffith,Schererville, and Merrillville in Lake County, Indiana. Hoosier Prairiecontains excellent examples of lake plain prairies that were preservedduring industrial development due to the requirement that land be setaside to support infrastructure on energy and railroad industrialcomplexes. Today, this land is a recreational hub that connectsregional trail systems and contains high-quality biodiversity.

The Moraine/Sunset Hill Complex (i.e. Moraine Complex) in PorterCounty is an approximately 1569-acre area managed by a variety ofland managers including municipal departments, the state of Indiana,and private land owners. It includes Moraine Nature Preserve, the 14thnature preserve dedicated as such in the United States. Land includedin the Moraine Complex that is addressed in this report is highlyfragmented and spread across the municipalities of Valparaiso,Chesterton and Liberty, Jackson, and Washington Townships.

AmblerFlatwoods

The Ambler Flatwoods ConservationArea (i.e. Ambler Flatwoods) is anapproximately 1429-acre area inLaPorte County. Land currentlymanaged for conservation in this areais highly fragmented. Opportunitiesfor improving connectivity involveland managers at the local and statelevel as well as public and privateentities. Ambler Flatwoods containthe best example of a boreal flatwoodhabitat type in coastal Indiana and itboasts high ecotourism potential.Parcels of interest for conservationare located within the municipalboundaries of Michigan City andSpringfield Township.

Hoosier Prairie

Photo by Derek Nimetz, IDNR

Photo by:Derek Nimetz, IDNR

Photo by Derek Nimetz, IDNR

Photo by Christopher Jordan

Site SignificanceHoosier Prairie is a refuge for high-quality natural resources surroundedby an urban landscape thatotherwise has limited preserved andmanaged natural areas. Several siteswithin Hoosier Prairie have areas ofhigh-quality biodiversity and areexcellent examples of lake plainprairies. Hoosier Prairie’spreservation was largely due toindustrial development; specifically,the construction of pipelines, tankfarms, and railroads called for somepreservation of the surroundingnatural land in order for theinfrastructure to function asintended. The surroundingresidential area, combined with thefact that regional trails systems meethere, make Oak Ridge/HoosierPrairie a recreational hub that offersunique opportunities for engagementwith nature.

Conservation TargetsConservation targets in HoosierPrairie include oak savanna, mesicsand prairie, wet prairie, sedgemeadows, and marsh habitat. Plantdiversity is high in Hoosier Prairiebecause of the range of moistureconditions and habitats found withinthe complex.

Site DescriptionThe Oak Ridge/Hoosier PrairieComplex (i.e. Hoosier Prairie) is anapproximately 2098-acre areacomprised of lands managed by theDepartment of Natural Resources-Division of Nature Preserves (DNR-DNP; Hoosier Prairie NaturePreserve), National Park Service-Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore(NPS; Gaylord Butterfly Prairie), LakeCounty Parks Department (Oak RidgePrairie), Buckeye Pipeline andAmerican Electric Power Companyright-of-ways (ROWs), variousrailroads and privately-owned landtargeted for acquisition, managementand/or best management practice(BMP) implementation. Hoosier Prairieis located within the municipalboundaries of Griffith, Schererville,and Merrillville in Lake County,Indiana.

Hoosier Prairie

Photo by Chris Light

FragmentationThe units of Hoosier Prairie areseparated or bisected by roadways,railroads, utility right-of-ways,industry, agriculture, and residentialareas. This fragmentationcomplicates management efforts,reduces movement of speciesbetween natural areas, disruptshydrology, and allows for greaterimpacts of pollution, including soundand light pollution. Fragmentation alsolowers the overall resiliency of HoosierPrairie because species are less ableto migrate into and out of individualsites.

Managing natural areas within HoosierPrairie with prescribed burns iscomplicated by these surroundingland uses. Because of the surroundingindustrial land uses as well as highlypopulated residential areas, veryspecific conditions are necessary toconduct prescribed burns in theHoosier Prairie footprint. This limitsopportunities to implement a criticalmanagement tool to support prairiespecies, reduce woody overgrowth,and maintain savanna structure.

Fragmentation also increasesdisturbances and incompatible use ofthe sites. This is particularly true in theGaylord Butterfly unit where all-terrainvehicle use has comprised theecological health of the site. Further,due to highly populated surroundings,Hoosier Prairie is also threatened byencroachment.

DevelopmentThe Northern Indiana CommuterTransportation District (NICTD) plansto construct the “West Lake Corridor,”a train line from Munster toHammond, in 2022. This infrastructureexpansion is expected to increasepopulation and development pressureand drive the conversion ofagricultural land. Conversion of thistype brings a new suite of stressors toa natural area; loss of connectivity forplants and wildlife, hydrologicalmodifications, and invasions of non-native landscaping plants.

Invasive SpeciesHoosier Prairie is home to high qualitynatural resources and is a hub ofbiodiversity in Northwest Indiana. Thepresence and spread of invasivespecies threatens the species andstructures that support biodiversity inthis area. Because fire can be difficultto implement as a management tool,invasive species control techniquesare often labor intensive, includingmanual and mechanical methods, andfunding resources are limited forsufficient stewardship crews to carryout these functions. Invasive speciesare also worsened by adjacent landuses, including non-nativelandscaping and constructionactivities.

Fragmentation of the project areacomplicates land management effortsby increasing vectors for the spread ofinvasive species. This affects habitatfor species that establish in interiornatural areas, while favoring speciesthat thrive in disturbed areas. Theamount of infrastructure in HoosierPrairie increases, disturbances tonatural areas which in turn worsensthe spread of invasive species; forexample, construction activitiesrequired during maintenance andreplacement of underground pipelineswithin managed areas is a gateway forthe continued spread of invasivespecies.

Water PollutionHoosier Prairie is impacted by waterpollution from residential, commercial,and agricultural runoff, and legacypollution from previous industrial uses,including a superfund site located tothe southwest of Oak Ridge Prairie.

Conservation Threats

Photo by Ron Trigg

Photo by Ron Leonetti

Photo from River Valley

Photo from www.indianatrailsPhoto by Victoria Wittig

Hoosier Prairie controlling invasivespecies and maintaining trails andother amenities.There is an opportunity for enhancedcooperative management betweenNPS and DNR at Hoosier Prairie.NPS manages the Gaylord ButterflyPrairie adjacent to Hoosier PrairieNature Preserve by controllinginvasive species, promotingpollinator habitat, and installingfencing to limit all-terrain vehicle andother disturbances. The GaylordButterfly Prairie unit is locatedbetween Hoosier Prairie NaturePreserve’s northern and southerntracts, and while they are currentlymanaged separately there is interestfrom the land management agenciesto increase joint management andtreat the area as one contiguous site.

Because of the proximity of industryto the Hoosier Prairie Complex and

increased development slated tooccur in surrounding areas,mitigation dollars for managementand acquisition are expected toincrease in this area. For example,land managers plan to work withNICTD early in the process ofconstruction of the “West LakeCorridor,” to identify restorationpriorities. Ongoing mitigation workincludes:

a. Franciscan Hospital – 21acres, in year three ofmitigation work

b. Enbridge Energy – 20 acres, inyear two of mitigation work

c. Centennial – 18 acres, in firstyear of restoration efforts

d. Grimmer Construction – inplanning for ~17-20 acres ofrestoration

e. Pennsy Trail – in planning for5.5 acres of restoration

Management &Restoration ofExisting ProtectedLands:Conservation Class AHoosier Prairie is home to high-qualityremnant prairie, marsh, and savannacomplexes and is a managementpriority for the DNR-DNP. Strategiesto enhance management efforts atHoosier Prairie include increasingadequate funding for invasive speciescontrol, restoring degraded habitatthrough mitigation funding,influencing local policies that affectfrequency and flexibility of prescribedburns, and addressing hydrologyissues that complicate managementefforts throughout. DNR has field staffthat devote about 40% of their time at

Hoosier Prairie

Conservation Strategies

There is limited opportunity forconnecting Hoosier Prairie NaturePreserve and Oak Ridge Prairie throughland acquisition because of existinginfrastructure, industry, legacycontamination and a superfund site thatseparates the eastern and western sites.However, there is opportunity forimplementation of other connectivitystrategies. Trail systems and utility ROWsrun through several sites within theproject area and can help connect sitesnot only for recreation purposes, but ifmanaged properly can also help supportwildlife and pollinator movement.

Another strategy is to implement a wildlifecrossing on Main Street in Schererville,which separates two units of HoosierNature Preserve. This would effectivelyreduce the number of amphibians andother wildlife that are killed attempting tocross the street.

Connectivity throughManagemnent of ROWsand Recreational Trails:Conservation Class C

Within the Oak Ridge/Hoosier Prairieproject area there are opportunitiesfor the design and implementation ofpolicies that would help protectconservation priorities. To helpaddress issues of future developmentand increased fragmentation, a‘Conservation/Nature District’ couldbe outlined to help strengthen naturalresource protection measures withinthe district, including ordinances,

BMPs, and more stringent permittingprocesses for development. Thisdesignation would underscore thevalue of the Oak Ridge/HoosierPrairie Complex to surroundingcommunities for conservation,recreation, tourism, and quality of life.

Acquisition priority criteria are basedon present quality of the site,restoration potential, and/orprotection of priority managed landsand are represented on the map as“Conservation Class B1.”Conservation partners haveidentified a number of properties thatwould be priority acquisitions forenhancement or protection ofbiodiversity in the Hoosier Prairie/

Oak Ridge Complex.Priority acquisition targets includeland that would connect currentlyfragmented units of Hoosier PrairieNature Preserve; expand HoosierPrairie Nature Preserve; expand OakRidge Prairie; and improveconnectivity between Hoosier PrairieNature Preserve and Oak RidgePrairie.

Acquisition of Land that Contributes to High-quality Natural Resources:Conservation Class B1

Acquisition of Land that Protects or BuffersHigh-quality Natural Resources throughGreenspace, Habitat Re-creation orConnectivity:Conservation Class B2The second tier of acquisitionopportunities, includes propertiesthat buffer and protect managedlands and offer habitat re-creationpotential.

Agricultural land south of Oak RidgePrairie is of interest to land managersbecause of the threat of futuredevelopment. If this sizeable area ofland were converted into a higherimpact use, such as commercialdevelopment, Oak Ridge Prairiecould face additional and increasedstressors from light and noisepollution, runoff, increased invasive

species from land disturbance, lackof connectivity for pollinators, andother threats resulting fromdevelopment incompatible withconservation targets. Acquiring orutilizing conservation easementswithin this area would reduce thisthreat while also helping to protectwater quality for Turkey Creek.Habitat re-creation projects, such asreforestation on the site, also havepotential to reduce developmentpressures and could be funded aspart of the Deep River WatershedManagement Plan Implementation.

In addition to working with localmunicipalities to establish naturalresource protections, there areopportunities to partner with theagricultural community to conserveworking agricultural lands, wetlands,grasslands and forestlands throughconservation easements and BMPs tohelp maintain the capacity of theseresources to serve as buffers and assistwith connectivity on the landscape.

Additional StrategicTools: StakeholderEngagement

Additional Strategic Tools:Development of Policies that Protect NaturalResources

Hill Complex is located withinmunicipal boundaries of Valparaiso,Chesterton, Liberty Township,Jackson Township, and WashingtonTownship in Porter County, Indiana.

Site SignificanceMoraine Nature Preserve wasconceived in the late 1960s and in1971 was dedicated as the 14th

nature preserve in the United States.Private citizens contactedconservationists about preservationof Moraine due to the special andunique forests which include avariety of habitat types such asupland forest, streams, ponds, andfens. These habitats protect andhouse rare species such as thecerulean warbler, hooded warbler,amphibians and diverseherpetofauna. Moraine is animportant geological resource

containing a phenomenon of sand,soil and gravel deposits, whileserving as a connectivity corridorfrom the Kankakee River to LakeMichigan. There is high developmentpressure surrounding Moraine whichpoints to the high quality of life thatthe nature preserve provides forsurrounding residents.

Site DescriptionThe Moraine/Sunset Hill Complex (i.e.Moraine) is an approximately 1569-acre area comprised of landsmanaged by the Department ofNatural Resources, Division of NaturePreserves (Moraine Nature Preserve),Shirley Heinze Land Trust(Meadowbrook Nature Preserve),Porter County Parks Department(Sunset Hill Farm County Park),Coffee Creek WatershedConservancy (Coffee CreekWatershed Preserve), Girl Scouts ofGreater Chicago and NorthwestIndiana (Camp Butternut Springs),Northwest Indiana Catholic YouthOrganization (Camp Lawrence),NIPSCO right-of-ways (ROWs), andprivately-owned land targeted foracquisition, management and/or bestmanagement practice (BMP)implementation. The Moraine/Sunset

Moraine Complex

Photo by Derek Nimetz, IDNR

These targets are supported by thetopography of rolling ridges, steephills, and ravine systems andcollectively support many species ofplants and animals.

The mesic upland forest in Moraineis dominated by American beech,sugar maple, basswood, and tuliptree. Some of the higher qualitymesic upland forests can be foundalong the cool moist ravines andlower slopes. The dry-mesic uplandforest is characterized by white oak,red oak, black cherry, shagbarkhickory, and bitternut hickory. Thisnatural community is found on well-drained slopes and at the top of theravines.

Fen natural communities arecalcareous groundwater-fedwetlands located within Moraine.Characteristic fen plant species atMoraine include Angelicaatropurpurea, Cypripediumcandidum, Cacalia tuberosa,Chelone glabra, Eriophorumangustifolium, Pedicularislanceolate, Potentilla fruticose,Solidago riddellii, Zizea aurea.

Ponds, or permanent water bodiessmaller than 4 acres, occur withinMoraine. These natural occurringwater bodies contain conservativeand rare plant and animal species.Species found within andsurrounding the ponds at Moraine

include Cephalanthus occidentalis,Didiplis diandra, Nuphar advena,Potamogeton vaseyi, Sparganiumandrocladum, Utricularia gibba.

In 1994, a breeding bird survey wascompleted at Moraine NaturePreserves by the IndianaDepartment of Natural Resources,Division of Nature Preserves (DNR-DNP). Sixty-five species of birdswere identified in the survey. Ofthose identified, seventeen speciesare considered moderately to highlysensitive to habitat fragmentation.Sixteen of the sensitive species areforest birds including hoodedwarbler, cerulean warbler, Americanredstart, and ovenbird. The highestnumber oftotal birds and the greatest numberof bird species were found in maturesecond-growth upland forests.

Moraine protects numerouswetlands including Carlson Pond,smaller pothole wetlands, a largeshrub swamp, and an intermittenttributary that drains to Coffee Creekfurther east of the preserve. Thesewetlands are used by numerousspecies of amphibians and reptilesfor breeding. Some of theamphibians found at Moraineinclude blue-spotted salamander,eastern tiger salamander, easternred-back salamander, and graytreefrog.

Conservation TargetsConservation targets for Moraine include mesic upland forest, dry-mesic upland forest, fen, natural ponds, sufficient habitat for forestbreeding birds such as the hooded warbler and cerulean warbler, andsufficient wetland habitats for breeding amphibians such as blue-spotted salamander and eastern newt.

Photo by Ron Trigg

Photo by Derek Nimetz, IDNR

Photo by Derek Nimetz, IDNRPhoto by Derek Nimetz, IDNR

and impacts water quality.

Current water pollution threatsinclude runoff from agricultural fieldsand lawn maintenance activities ofadjacent subdivisions, while potentialthreats include increased water flow,erosion, and sedimentation fromland use conversion and newdevelopment. Water quality is aconservation priority for Morainebecause of the site’s waterresources; Coffee Creek,meandering streams, potholewetlands, and ponds, all of which areimpacted by pollutants fromadjacent land uses are present atMoraine.

Invasive SpeciesInvasive plant species establishmentand spread is a substantial threat tothe diversity of habitats and speciesthey support. Invasive species suchas garlic mustard increase shadewithin the forest understory. Thisshading reduces diversity and thesubsequent quality of the naturalcommunity. Invasive woody speciessuch as barberry can change thestructure of the forest’s understoryand potentially the canopy structureover a longer period of time. Invasiveplant species not only diminish plantdiversity and health of nativespecies, but also have a negativeimpact on suitable nesting habitat forsome bird species. Aquatic andwetland invasive plants such asphragmites and hybrid cattail mayreduce available habitat foramphibians and reptiles. Details onspecific invasive species impactingthe health of the Moraine/Sunset HillComplex can be found in DNR-DNP’s Moraine Nature PreserveInvasive Plant Management Plan.

Moraine contains a number of oldagricultural fields that are slowly

reverting back to forestcommunities, and during the processof succession fallow fields have beenovergrown with invasive plants.Within Moraine Nature Preserve,these fields are centrally located andare a seed source for invasivespecies throughout the property.Without the opportunity foracquisition and/or interveningmanagement, active agriculturalfields are preferable to follow fields.

Management challenges areintensified by lack of resources forland managers. Large scalerestoration projects to controlinvasive species and subsequentfollow up treatments are a costlyundertaking. Funding is not sufficientto control invasives throughout theentire management unit. Rather,sites are prioritized based on thepresence and condition ofconservation targets and the abilityto reduce invasive speciesinfestations.

Herbivore BrowseThe impact of deer on vegetation inMoraine is a threat to native plantspecies, species diversity, andhabitat structure. Spring ephemeralplants, in particular, are beingaffected by an overabundance ofwhite-tailed deer. The DNR-DNP hasrecently started a deer managementprogram on portions of MoraineNature Preserve. Based on scientificmonitoring protocols, select hunterswill be provided white-tail deerhunting opportunities to reduce thenumber of deer at Moraine NaturePreserve during years when deerbrowse is found to be severe.

DevelopmentMany acres of natural areas areunprotected in Moraine anddevelopment pressures are increasingquickly in Valparaiso and Chesterton.The Indiana State Road 49 corridor isexpected to see significant populationgrowth, and natural areas currentlyhave few protections in place to limitdevelopment incompatible withconservation. Deforestation is aprimary threat; large forest blocks arenecessary for support of conservationtargets, and further fragmentationendangers bird and amphibianspecies.

A substantial portion of landsurrounding Moraine is agriculturalland. While adjacent agriculturepresents its own challenges toconservation priorities, particularlyrelated to runoff pollution, alternativeland uses can be more threatening tonatural areas and offer lessopportunity for integratedmanagement. Manicured lawns ofsubdivisions and increased pavedsurfaces of commercial developmentdegrade water quality, decreaseconnectivity and contribute to issuesof fragmentation.

Altered Hydrologyand PollutionDevelopment pressures also causechanges in hydrology by increasingimpermeable surface areas andincreasing the volume and flow ofwater in ravine systems. This increasein ravine flow, exacerbated byintensified weather events resultingfrom climate change, worsens erosion

ConservationThreats

Climate ChangeThere are a number of potentialclimate change impacts to foresthabitat. Wet or mesic forests arevulnerable to seasonal precipitationshifts and landscape fragmentationthat disrupts natural hydrology;

species composition in forestedlandscapes are expected to change;and climate change exacerbatesother threats by favoring invasivespecies, increasing deer population,and amplifying the impacts offragmentation and development.

Photos by Derek Nimetz, IDNR

Management &Restoration of ExistingProtected Lands:Conservation Class A

Moraine Nature Preserve is currentlymanaged by DNR-DNP staff throughinvasive species removal and deermanagement. Most invasive plantmanagement has been focused ongarlic mustard control and invasiveshrubs such as autumn olive andexotic bush honeysuckles in fallowfields. Because invasive shrubs andherbaceous weeds have spread tosome of the higher quality uplandforests, focusing efforts on higherquality portions of the property isnecessary for maintaining andprotecting conservation targets.Additionally, because fundingresources are limited, control efforts

are focused on smaller populations ofselected species to maximizeeffectiveness with minimum resources.

While the Invasive Plant ManagementPlan for Moraine Nature Preserve helpsguide the DNR-DNP’s managementpriorities, an updated species inventoryof the Moraine/Sunset Hill Complexwould help land managers gain abetter understanding of the presenceand quality of conservation priorities onsite. This would enable the strategicuse of limited resources by prioritizingrestoration and management projects.

The Indiana Dunes Climate ChangeAdaptation Plan, written by the FieldMuseum in partnership with Save theDunes, identified adaptation strategiesfor land managers to increaseresiliency in forested areas, includingincreasing microhabitat sizes forrefugia that provide a range ofmoisture and temperature gradients;designing and implementing a

monitoring protocol to evaluate climatechange effects on local plants andanimals; implementing an earlydetection rapid response program fornew invaders; and using assistedmigration to preserve climate sensitivespecies. Using this resource inmanagement decisions will help ensureeffectiveness and sustainability ofrestoration and management projects.

Conservation Strategies

Acquisition priority criteria are basedon present quality of the site,restoration potential, and/or protectionof priority managed lands and arerepresented on the map as“Conservation Class B1.”Conservation partners have identifieda number of properties that would-bepriority acquisition for enhancement orprotection of biodiversity in the

Moraine/Sunset Hill Complex.

An acquisition priority includes landsurrounding Moraine Nature Preserveand adjacent sites which contain highquality natural resources or buffers thecore management area. Another isMoore Swamp which includes theheadwaters of Coffee Creek andsurrounding wetlands and contributes

to overall water quality of the rivercorridor. The expansion of SHLT'sMeadowbrook Nature Preserve is alsoa priority, as is the westernmostacquisition of Camp ButternutSprings. These natural areascontribute to air quality improvementsin a heavily industrialized region aswell as serving as carbon sinks.

Acquisition of Land that Contributes to High-quality Natural Resources:Conservation Class B1

Moraine Complex

Conservation Strategies

Acquisition of Land that Protects and Buffers Priority Use Sites:Conservation Class B2In addition to lands identified foracquisition due to their conservationvalue or potential for restoration, landshave also been identified for buffering,connectivity, and water qualityprotection purposes. While they arenot targeted for their habitat quality,

these lands protect conservationpriorities in other sites by providing abuffer from potential development,connecting sites to reducefragmentation, increasing acreage ofprotected lands, and allowing formovement of wildlife. Generally, large

areas of land are desired for bufferingand connectivity in this landscapebecause sizable forest blocks are aconservation priority, however, smalleracquisitions are considered if theycontribute to a larger and achievablevision of connectivity.

Acquisition isn’t the only means ofincreasing connectivity in thelandscape; utility right of ways (ROWs)and regional trails can be used ascorridors for natural areas, greenspaceand wildlife movement. A NIPSCOROW connects Sunset Hill andMeadowbrook Nature Preserve, andwhile the ROW currently runs throughagriculture and natural areas, it wouldprotect an east to west connection ifadjacent lands were developed.

Conservation partners are working ona number of projects throughoutNorthwest Indiana with NIPSCO onintegrated vegetation management(IVM), wherein management efforts ofNIPSCO ROWs are consistent withmanagement of surrounding naturalareas. For example, removing invasiveshrubs from a ROW protectsecological integrity of surroundingnatural areas while reducing thepresence of woody speciesunconducive to ideal ROW conditions.While there are less opportunities forIVM through forested habitat, there areopportunities to limit establishment

and spread of invasive species andpromote native plant populations.

An additional opportunity forincreasing connectivity, buffering, andhabitat for core management areas isreforestation of agricultural landssurrounding priority sites. DNR-DNPhas identified land south of MoraineNature Preserve as a potential site fora reforestation project, which wouldexpand the forest block, increasecanopy cover, and help protect waterquality along Coffee Creek. Convertingagricultural land to forest will also helpprotect Moraine Nature Preserve fromincreased adjacent development.

While ROWs provide an opportunity foreast to west connectivity, Coffee Creekprovides an opportunity for north tosouth connectivity. Similar to SHLT’sEast Branch of the Little Calumet RiverConservation Corridor, the CoffeeCreek corridor can guide acquisitionand BMP projects to preservewetlands and forested floodplain andprotect water quality.

Connectivity through Managemnent of ROWsand Recreational Trails & River Corridors:Conservation Class C

Because potential development andland use conversion are primary threatsfor Moraine, a necessary strategy forprotecting conservation targets will bepartnering with Porter County andmunicipalities on zoning and planningprocesses for the region. Developmentis occurring quickly in this area and aloss of tree canopy and degradation ofwater quality may occur if zoning lawsare not updated to reflect populationgrowth. Conservation partners caninfluence planning decisions byoutlining acquisition priorities,identifying areas where developmentwould disrupt ecosystem quality andfunction, and highlighting areas fordevelopment that would not diminishconservation value.

In addition to influencing county andmunicipal planning decisions,improving local ordinances andstormwater fee structures in PorterCounty are a high priority forconservation partners.

The 2014 Farm Bill, reauthorized for2018, includes conservation programsthat create significant opportunities forconservation organizations to protecthigh-priority farm and ranch lands,grasslands, wetlands and forests. TheFarm Bill conservation programs arethe largest single federal source offunding for private land conservation,providing matching funds toconservation partners. The Natural

Coupled with programs like the Farm Bill,protection efforts will be maximized withpublic support and the creation of aconservation ethic in this project area. Inaddition to farmers, there are manyprivate landowners with large acreage offorested land on their property;conservation partners are exploring theopportunity to better connect with theselandowners to increase the awareness ofconservation value of their land and howthey can support ecological health ofMoraine.

Additional Strategic Tools:Development of Policies that Protect NaturalResources

Additional StrategicTools: EnhanceAwareness &Appreciation ofLandscape to CultivateLocal Stewards

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),which administers the program, offerseasement programs to eligiblelandowners to conserve workingagricultural lands, wetlands, grasslandsand forestlands. Additional programsinclude conservation partnerships, whichenlist partner groups, such as land trusts,state agencies, tribes, and other relatedgroups to coordinate conservationactivities on a national or state scale andengages landowners and agriculturalproducers in conservation activities; andtechnical assistance for farmers toimplement conservation practices.Because the Moraine/Sunset HillComplex is largely agricultural andconservation partners prefer activemanagement or production of those fieldsover high-use development or fallowfields, there is an opportunity to utilizethese programs and build relationshipswith the agricultural community toenhance conservation practices onagricultural lands.

Photo by Cathy Martin

Site SignificanceAmbler contains the best example ofa boreal flatwood habitat in coastalIndiana. Ambler also boasts highquality natural resources andrelatively undeveloped surroundingareas. The ability to witnesswilderness in an urban setting is amajor draw to this landscape and theopportunities for every day, casualrecreation appeals to currentresidents. Ambler is also perfectlylocated as a pivot point from theurban surroundings of theChicagoland area to the dunes andexpansive wilderness that continuesinto Michigan. This pivot pointlocation, combined with the largeboreal flatwood habitat, provides anopportunity for a large, contiguousarea of protection that could spurecotourism to the region.

Conservation TargetsHabitats within Ambler include mesic

forests, floodplain forests, and borealflatwoods. The primary conservationtarget for Ambler Flatwoods is borealflatwoods, a forested wetland/uplandcomplex in poorly drained, acidicsoils. Boreal flatwoods exist in a levelsand plain formed by an ancientglacial lake. Dominant species aredeciduous hardwoods andsoftwoods, including paper birch,white pine, red maple, and tuliptrees. Ambler is the southernmostrange for boreal flatwoods and ishome to a number of plant speciesrare to the State of Indiana such asgoldthread, wintergreen, shinleaf,and several species orchids, sedges,clubmoss, and ferns.

The hydrology of Ambler alsoprovides significant habitat foramphibians. Of note, scatteredseasonal ponds provide importanthabitat for a diverse assemblage ofbreeding salamanders in late winterand early spring.

Site DescriptionThe Ambler Flatwoods ConservationArea (i.e. Ambler) is an approximately1429-acre area comprised of landsmanaged by Shirley Heinze Land Trust(Ambler Flatwoods), Department ofNatural Resources-Division of Fishand Wildlife (Trail Creek Public FishingArea), Michigan City Parks Department(Kruger Memorial Park, site names),Tryon Farm Institute (Tryon Farm),Save the Dunes (Stockwell Woods,Trail Creek Fen, Sebert Forks), FloraRichardson Foundation (Hidden 100),LaPorte County Park Board/Conservation Trust (WintergreenWoods), and privately-owned landtargeted for acquisition, management,and/or best management practice(BMP) implementation. Ambler islocated within the municipalboundaries of Michigan City andSpringfield Township.

AmblerFlatwoods

Conservation ThreatsFragmentationWhile the central management unit ofAmbler is relatively intact, the largerlandscape is highly fragmented. I-94runs directly south of SHLT’s AmblerFlatwoods management unit; IndianaState Road 212 separates Amblerfrom other managed lands; countyroads bisect the management unit inseveral locations; and railroad tracksrun through the northern portion.Cumulatively, the infrastructure withinAmbler limits opportunities forexpansion of protected acres andcontiguous management units.

The existence and quality of borealflatwoods habitat in Ambler is largelycontrolled by hydrology. While siteswithin Ambler have lost structure andspecies characteristic of borealflatwoods, Ambler Flatwoods Nature

Preserve and surrounding lands havemaintained these ecological attributesdue to relatively undisruptedhydrology. Changes to wetlandhydrology, even on adjacent privatelands, are impacts experienced onlandscape level.

DevelopmentMichigan City anticipates a significantpopulation increase over the next fewdecades and development pressuresare expected to intensify. MichiganCity is exploring tax incrementfinancing (TIF) districts in several areasthroughout the Ambler FlatwoodsComplex project area. TIF districtsadjacent to protected land wouldencourage potentially high-usecommercial development that woulddisrupt hydrology, introduce invasivespecies, and increase light, sound andrunoff pollution. Because hydrology isparticularly important to the structure

and functionality of boreal flatwoods,adjacent development that might drainwetlands is a significant threat in thisproject area.

Climate ChangeBecause boreal flatwoods in Amblerare located within the southernmostarea of their habitat range, they aresusceptible to the impacts of climatechange. Boreal relics in NorthwestIndiana are threatened by changes inclimate already occurring andexpected to increase, includingwarmer temperatures and moreextreme rain events with lessconsistent rainfall. Land managers andscientists in Northwest Indiana areexpecting climate change impacts todiminish the conditions for borealspecies and fear Indiana could losesome of the species characteristic ofboreal flatwoods habitat.

Conservation Strategiesunprotected areas. For example,remnant species are found adjacent toLaPorte County Conservation Trust’sWintergreen Woods Nature Preserve. Itis a priority of the DNR-DNP to see notonly Wintergreen Woods managed, butthe surrounding natural areas acquiredand managed, as well, before thoseremnant species are lost. As SHLT andother organizations acquire more landin Ambler, management opportunitieswill increase and help protectconservation priorities in the centralmanagement unit.

There are also potential opportunitiesto increase funding for priorityrestoration and management projectsthrough mitigation funding. As theSouth Shore Railroad implements itsDouble Track project and impactswetlands along the route, the NorthernIndiana Commuter TransportationDistrict (NICTD) is seekingopportunities to fund wetlandrestoration and acquisition. Becausetheir rail line runs through AmblerFlatwoods, there is a significant

Management &Restoration of ExistingProtected Lands:Conservation Class AInvasive species are less of a threat forthe Ambler Flatwoods Complex thanother natural areas of NorthwestIndiana, however, management effortsare still necessary to maintain habitatquality. This is particularly true in areaswhere invasive species such as Orientalbittersweet have increased.

Current management activities includeremoval of invasive species from newacquisitions and edge habitat,reforestation of areas that had beenlogged or disturbed by past land uses,and increasing connectivity throughfurther land acquisition. Management ofdeer populations and rare plantmonitoring is also underway.

There are also management needsoutside of currently protected lands tomaintain quality of habitats in

opportunity to share restoration andacquisition needs with the railroadcompany, and a strategy for this projectarea includes shovel-ready proposals forthose priority projects.

A strategy identified for strengtheningmanagement efforts in AmblerFlatwoods is an update of the IndianaNatural Heritage Data Center. With anupdated inventory of plants, amphibians,and birds, land managers can makemore informed decisions onmanagement priorities and projects thatwill support conservation targets.

Photo by Ron Trigg

Conservation partners have identifieda number of properties that would-bepriority acquisitions for enhancementor protection of biodiversity in Ambler.Acquisition priorities are based onpresent quality of the site, restorationpotential, and/or protection of prioritymanaged lands. Conservation ClassB1 on the above map representspriority acquisition areas.

Because size is important in thislandscape for maintaining hydrology,providing habitat for amphibians, andincreasing resiliency against climatechange impacts, the target size forpriority acquisitions are 20+ acres forstandalone sites, while a property ofany size is targeted for areas directlyadjacent to priority managed lands

such as Ambler Flatwoods NaturePreserve. Wetlands adjacent to borealflatwoods habitat are also prioritizedin this landscape as an effort tomaintain hydrology.

East to west acquisition lensestransition from protection of remnantecosystems to buffering andconnectivity. The northeast corner ofthe project area, specifically adjacentto Wintergreen Woods NaturePreserve, is an acquisition priority dueto the presence of high qualityremnant boreal habitats. The areacontains a forest block with wetlandsand is a target for boreal habitat andwildlife. Moving west, properties tothe east of Ambler Flatwoods NaturePreserve are a priority for rare,

threatened, and endangered speciesand protecting the Nature Preserveand surrounding land fromincompatible development. NearMichigan City, acquisition interestsfocus on connectivity of managedlands using trail systems and TrailCreek as corridors.

An important component of the landacquisition strategy is locatingsustainable funding. Advocating forthe Bicentennial Nature Trust, a stateprogram funding land protection inIndiana, leverages funding, maximizesacres protected, and is key forachieving acquisition goals.

Acquisition of Land that Contributes toHigh-quality Natural Resources: Conservation Class B1

Ambler FlatwoodsConservation Strategies

Michigan City is in the process offinalizing a Land Acquisition Strategywhere lands of high ecological valuewithin the Ambler region may beprioritized for acquisition to protectand improve local habitat. MichiganCity prioritizes acquisition of lands ofhigh quality ecological value that alsoprovide passive recreation or TrailCreek access. Coordinatingacquisition activities between the Cityand conservation entities so thatproperties with high quality borealflatwoods but little trail or passiverecreation opportunities may beprioritized for conservation

organization acquisitions.

Additionally, conveying conservationpriorities to city planners can helpinfluence zoning and developmentplans. For example, a previouslyidentified area for a TIF district wassurrounding the Michigan CityMunicipal Airport; however, thatlocation is also home to high qualitynatural resources. Working with thecity to outline areas to carve out ofTIF districts and development plansduring the planning process will bemore effective than reacting todevelopment as it occurs.

Incorporate Conservation Priorities intoMunicipal Planning:Conservation Class C

In addition to land acquisition,opportunities exist to design andimplement policies that protect naturalresources of the Ambler FlatwoodsComplex. As development pressuresincrease, incorporating natural resourceprotection measures into local policy canhelp reduce the impact of commercial orhigh use development within or adjacentto natural areas. Creating a conservationor nature district could change thepermitting process for undeveloped land,limit certain types of development withinthe district, require BMPs to be used inconstruction and operation of newdevelopments, and acknowledge naturalresources as an asset to protect not onlyfor habitat but enjoyment by surroundingcommunities.

Enforcement of local policy is also a keycomponent of protecting naturalresources. For example, while LaPorteCounty has a policy that prohibits clearcutting of land adjacent to naturepreserves, outreach to developers andneighboring landowners andenforcement of the policy have beenlimited. Tree preservation is important inthe Ambler Flatwoods Complex andworking with the county andmunicipalities to identify opportunities forenhancing effectiveness of these policieswill minimize instances of existingpolicies being disregarded or highlightneed for policy change.

Create Acquisition Outreach Strategy:Conservation Class B1SHLT and other partners haveimplemented outreach projects toinform landowners of conservationinterests on their properties. Buildingon these outreach projects is astrategy for building relationships withcommunity members and increasingacreage of protected land. BecauseAmbler Flatwoods Complex is hometo habitats unique to Indiana,messaging the conservation value oflandowners’ properties andopportunity to preserve a last-remaining ecosystem in the State can

be meaningful.An outreach strategy would includeinformation on boreal flatwoodshabitat, the wildlife that thrive withinit, the significance of the area, andthe varying levels of opportunity forland protection. In some cases, largeparcels of land have a homesite onseveral acres of natural land; theoutreach strategy can also informlandowners of the possibility forsubdividing parcels or placing aconservation easement on theundeveloped portion of the property.

Additional StrategicTools:Development ofPolicies that ProtectNatural Resources

Increase Connectivity through Managementof ROWs, Bike Trails, and Recreation:Conservation Class CPlanned regional multi-use trailsystems as identified through IDNR's"Indian Trail Vision" will crisscrossthrough Ambler. Coordination withNIRPC and Michigan City Parks oncreating spur connectivity from these

regional trails like Singing Sands Trail(local name for Marquette GreenwayTrail) into conserved Amblerproperties provides an opportunity toincrease awareness, appreciation,and stewardship of these properties.

Additional Strategic Tools: Cultivate LocalStewardsAmbler Flatwoods offers a uniqueopportunity to connect local residentsand tourists to boreal relics of coastalIndiana. This will create stewards ofIndiana’s only flatwoods habitat andfoster a sense of identity with a localgem. An outreach campaign to ‘Keep

Indiana Wild’ will amplify voices oflocal residents who want to see thisunique place protected. These folkswill may work alongside conservationorganizations to elevate that messageto local planners and policy makers.

Photo by Ron Trigg

Conclusion

The action-oriented plans in this report cover the next 5 years and can also serve as an outreach tool toconnect and educate stakeholders that should be involved in conservation of the 3 gap areas. TheCAP planning process itself raised awareness of each partner’s conservation work in the gap areas,and this report will be further summarized and transformed into shareable communication pieces thatraise awareness of conservation work in coastal Indiana. The plans are meant to be dynamic andadaptive over time. Continuous assessment and monitoring of implemented practices will be key inaddressing resource concerns and achieving planned goals.

Photo by Derek Nimetz, IDNR

Photo by Ron Leonetti