Eagle Marsh

 park, forest, wetland

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www.lrwp.org

Eagle Marsh is the largest inland urban wetland restoration project in the U.S., at 752 acres. Eight miles of trails allow hikers to access the preserve's varied habitats of shallow-water wetland, sedge meadow, prairie, mature forest and young trees. More than 200 kinds of birds and numerous other wild creatures have been seen at Eagle Marsh, among them 24 bird and two amphibian species endangered or of special concern in Indiana. Bald eagles are seen often at the preserve.

The restoration: LRWP acquired Eagle Marsh (then 676 acres) in 2005 and, after extensive planning, began one of the largest wetland restorations ever undertaken in Indiana. Shallow areas were dug deeper, drain tiles broken, and pumps removed to hold more water on the land, approximating its original hydrology. Over 500 acres were seeded with native rushes, grasses, and wildflowers and approximately 45,000 native trees and shrubs planted. The initial restoration was completed in 2009. Intensive stewardship care will be needed for at least five years to protect the new native plants from being overtaken by invasive species such as reed canary grass and phragmites.

The Eagle Marsh woods: Almost thirty acres of mature forested wetland at the southeast corner of Eagle Marsh were acquired in 2007 and 2008, and another 11 acres were added in 2010. This woods provides important habitat for many birds and animals that need large trees, sandy soil, or leaf litter to complete their life cycles--such as the black-crowned night heron and blue-spotted salamander, both species of special concern in Indiana.