Organization: Save the Dunes Conservation Fund

Lake/River Basin: Lake Michigan

Project Description: Save the Dunes Conservation Fund is working to protect and restore 22 acres of rare, high-quality raised graminoid fen located in the Trail Creek watershed. The 37-acre property also contains a forested fen component containing tamaracks, an upland/mesic woodland, a riparian woodland and a sedge meadow. Trail Creek is also a salmonid and designated trout stream, and the fen was known to contain 208 native plant species. Project activities include removal of invasive species in order to restore the native seed bank and begin the return to what may be critical habitat for some species. Native seeds will be collected and propagated in our solar greenhouse, and the resulting plants will be used in areas that were heavily infested with invasives. Photo monitoring, GIS mapping and FQIs are tools that we are using to measure success of this project. This site is being used for volunteer workdays, training and for projects with Leave No Child Inside. Some project partners include the La Porte County Soil and Water Conservation District, Michigan City Sanitary District, and the Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission.

	A portion of graminoid fen with tamaraks in the background. Photo by Save the Dunes Conservation Fund.
	A portion of fen threatened by common reed and cattails. Photo by Save the Dunes Conservation Fund.