News and EventsSpring and Fall 2023
Valparaiso University students spend a day clearing honeysuckle from old woodlands at Cherry Hill and Robin Dale Bartholomew Wildlife Areas. Summer 2022 Stewardship at Robin Dale Bartholomew wildlife area organized by Tom Goyne, assisted by several Valparaiso University students. Fall 2020 A visit to the Franciscan Wetland Restoration in LaPorte County showed showed superb restoration already begun. By 2021 the project is mostly completed. Corona has limited our activities for this year. Tree Planting Cherry Hill 2019 An elegant planting at a Cherry Hill upper field spring of 2019 got 300 trees in the ground, upgrading the species diversity. Also at Cherry Hill a mandated contractor has redone the drainage system, eliminating severe erosion and reconstructing retention ponds, making this already good area into a great wildlife preserve. We are continuing to be a part of the 1000+ acre Hobart Marsh Project, a consortium of environmental entities preserving land east of Gary and I-65. |
A good day of planting, Valparaiso University students
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News 2018
At Cherry Hill Preserve a yearlong extensive project to correct erosion, shore up silt ponds, and enhance water retention in the four wetland areas has been completed, relieving WSLC of long-range future maintenance. Lien holders of the nearby subdivision underwrote this expensive work. Already a notable wildlife area, Cherry Hill Preserve is positioned for greater potential.
At Cherry Hill Preserve a yearlong extensive project to correct erosion, shore up silt ponds, and enhance water retention in the four wetland areas has been completed, relieving WSLC of long-range future maintenance. Lien holders of the nearby subdivision underwrote this expensive work. Already a notable wildlife area, Cherry Hill Preserve is positioned for greater potential.
Our first mitigation property, resulting from the Franciscan Hospital construction in Michigan City, is undergoing restoration from an eroded cornfield to a wet woodland. Ditches were reconfigured to retain rather than drain water. Some 1400 trees have been planted. Restoration is being done by Soil Solutions, experts in such matters. Franciscan Health Systems covered mitigation costs as well as provided an endowment.
Lands Preserved
Our emphasis on Salt Creek has been enhanced by the generous gift by Cindy Keikkesen of nearly 1500 hundred feet of frontage within the city of Valparaiso. These heavily wooded isolated acres are now the Robin Dale Bartholomew Nature Area.
The 90-acre Cherry Hill Preserve, also along Salt Creek, continues to be incrementally expanded. The most recent donation was a 13-acre pond and surrounding wetland for which there is to be no access by paths, an area left strictly to nature. The entire Preserve, most of which is accessible by a trail system, is projected to be about 100 acres when completed.
Our emphasis on Salt Creek has been enhanced by the generous gift by Cindy Keikkesen of nearly 1500 hundred feet of frontage within the city of Valparaiso. These heavily wooded isolated acres are now the Robin Dale Bartholomew Nature Area.
The 90-acre Cherry Hill Preserve, also along Salt Creek, continues to be incrementally expanded. The most recent donation was a 13-acre pond and surrounding wetland for which there is to be no access by paths, an area left strictly to nature. The entire Preserve, most of which is accessible by a trail system, is projected to be about 100 acres when completed.