Jan 16th, 2008
Janna Odenthal, Post Tribune correspondent
“Dead of winter” is an oxymoron, according to volunteers at the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, a non-profit organization that preserves and protects various regions within the Indiana Dunes. A group of people worked to restore life at Coulter Preserve, a recently acquired savannah along County Line Road in Portage.
Like a scene from Currier and Ives, volunteers in boots, hats and gloves stacked logs for future firewood, while snow embellished the pile. Squirrels watched with curiosity as the group took a break for grilled hot dogs, soup and hot chocolate.
On the site, Queen Anne's Lace grasps her arms around tufts of snow as if planning to add it to her treasure trove of jewels. Wispy hair of the Canada Wild Rye resemble a fountain's spray as it defies the wind's attempts to destroy her beauty. Leaves of Goldenrod stems curlicue themselves against the cold in a fashion no artist could dream of duplicating. Such is the winter beauty of the nature preserve.
The volunteer efforts will help increase the vitality of the ephemeral wetland. A grant from the United States Fish and Wildlife Services helps make it possible to restore the 66 acres that contains more than 200 native plant species.
Individuals cut trees and hauled brush to a chipper, creating mulch to be used along trails. The thinning of the canopy will bring sunlight to ground level for various flora, including the lupine plant, the sole food of the Karner blue butterfly larvae. Both plant and butterfly are federally endangered species native to Indiana.
This was one of many restoration projects through the year. Field coordinator Jim Erdelac said a strong core of volunteers provided 475 hours of work in 2008. He said he hopes for continued success in 2009.
“I try to work with the volunteers as much as I can to suit their interests and strengths so they could be most effective. To do what we did today would’ve taken three or four days if it weren’t for the volunteers that came out,” said Erdelac.
Parks are open to the public. Certain activities, animals and vehicles are prohibited.
For more information see website http://www.heinzetrust.org/, contact the land trust at 879-4725 or email volunteer@heinzetrust.org.
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