Indiana Dune's Heron Rookery expansion : educational center

This project identified the characteristics of wetland habitats, the characteristics of an outdoor learning environment, the restoration strategies for rivers, and the needs of a heron rookery to design an expansion on the existing Heron Rookery in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (IDNLP). The project is located in the Calumet Area, a highly diverse ecological area that has also been important to human growth (Indiana Dunes). Because this area is close to Chicago and near Lake Michigan it falls in a major trade route, so is a key place for manufacturing industries to locate (Schoon). This in turn has destroyed the ecology through deforestation, wetland drainage and pollution of the water and land (Schoon). The area needs to be preserved and restored because of the diverse ecology. Herons, a type of waterfowl, have been recovering over the past 20 years and "play an integral role as recyclers, predators, and prey in a variety of ecosystems" (Audubon). Because over one hundred heron nests already exist in the Heron Rookery (Indiana Dunes), expanding the Heron Rookery will enhance their habitat with out disturbing their nest. Since the location of the project will be adjacent and upstream on the Little Calumet River of the existing Heron Rookery the site is ideal in helping improve the water quality of the Little Calumet River and the Heron Rookery. There was a wide variety of methods use in this project. The inventory and analysis for the final design is done through historical maps of the area, river, soils, vegetation, trails in the Heron Rookery, roads, buildings, and land uses on the site currently. In addition the GIS data was used to locate issues with the Little Calumet River. Because education is also important, information on how to incorporate education was gathered through site observation and through looking through the Pinhook Bog teacher program packet provided by IDNLP. Case studies of similar restorations, such as the Provo River Restoration Project and Grand Kankakee Marsh, have been compared based on criteria of climate, size, and habitats to further understand the site. At the end this project created a plan that will enhance the habitat for various birds, while establishing a trail that will allow people to visit, view and learn about herons and natural habitats. It will take advantage of the Chicago Wilderness Green Infrastructure Vision (CWGIV) to allow for this project to affect a larger region. This site is a educational facility that teaches the public about habitats and birds.Thesis (B.?)Honors Colleg