GARY, IN (November 18, 2025) – Congressman Frank J. Mrvan (D-Highland) went birdwatching with Audubon Nice Lakes, The Wetlands Initiative and Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society in Gary, Indiana on November 7, to study wetlands restoration alongside West Department of the Little Calumet River, and the way essential insurance policies just like the Nice Lakes Restoration Initiative are supporting this essential conservation work.
“Thanks to all of the leaders and members of Audubon and the Wetlands Initiative for this glorious alternative to go birding and see the unbelievable pure wonders within the Metropolis of Gary. I’m grateful for all of your devoted efforts to advertise out of doors actions and spotlight profitable restoration efforts alongside the Little Calumet River,” mentioned Congressman Mrvan. “As a member of the Home Appropriations Committee, I’ll proceed to do all I can to help the Nice Lakes Restoration Initiative and the super advantages it supplies for our surroundings, our communities, and our regional economic system.”
“As soon as house to expansive wetlands, the Calumet area was vastly completely different from what it’s in the present day. Now we’re working with companions and the neighborhood to revive wetlands alongside the West Department of the Little Calumet River, which can profit the birds that want them to outlive and the residents who depend on them to guard in opposition to flooding, whereas serving to maintain the water clear and preserving our pure areas,” mentioned Daniel Suarez, Conservation Director for Audubon Nice Lakes. “We’re grateful to Congressman Mrvan for becoming a member of us to study extra about our work to guard Indiana’s pure areas, and for championing insurance policies just like the Nice Lakes Restoration Initiative, that make this work attainable.”
Since 2019, Audubon Nice Lakes has been working alongside companions, together with The Wetlands Initiative, members of the neighborhood and the Little Calumet River Conservation Collaborative to revive wetlands habitat alongside a 10-mile stretch of the West Department of the Little Calumet River. The hen outing with Congressman Mrvan came about at Grant Avenue Wetland, throughout the Chase Avenue Advanced, an almost 800-acre website alongside the West Department of the Little Calumet River. Positioned between Clark Rd. and Hatcher Blvd. (previously Grant St.), the Chase Avenue Advanced options various habitats like woodlands, prairies, and wetlands, making it ripe for restoration. Audubon Nice Lakes, The Wetlands Initiative, and different companions are restoring Grant Avenue Wetlands via invasive species elimination, prescribed burns, native plug planting, and native seed gathering to revive the circumstances that weak birds want.
Indiana ranks fourth amongst states with the best lack of wetlands. Within the Calumet area, degradation and lack of wetlands has resulted in vital losses of biodiversity to a area that was as soon as house to 1000’s of acres of sprawling wetlands that offered wealthy and considerable habitat for wildlife and crops.
The Calumet area has been recognized by Audubon scientists as one of many 12 most essential coastal wetland areas throughout the Nice Lakes to preserve or restore for weak marsh birds. Audubon Nice Lakes is working with companions in every of those precedence areas to coordinate landscape-scale hen monitoring and habitat restoration.
“Restoration of wetlands is required to carry again native habitats for wildlife and to supply surrounding communities with open area and leisure alternatives—facilities that haven’t been obtainable to most of the space’s residents,” mentioned Harry Kuttner, Calumet Program Supervisor for The Wetlands initiative.
Up to now, Audubon Nice Lakes and companions have restored over 420 acres of wetland habitat alongside the West Department of the Little Calumet River. This work is made attainable due to help from the Little Calumet River Basin Improvement Fee, and federal packages just like the Nice Lakes Restoration Initiative.
The Nice Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 is required to reauthorize federal funding of this system for one more 5 years, at $500 million yearly. Extending this program will enable conservation initiatives to proceed in communities throughout the Nice Lakes area.
“We’re making progress to guard birds, and we’re seeing the advantages these initiatives present to the neighborhood,” mentioned Suarez. “An extension of the Nice Lakes Restoration Initiative will enable conservation packages like ours to proceed to profit communities throughout our area.”
To study extra about Audubon Nice Lakes, please go to gl.audubon.org.
