Indiana Dunes Wetlands to be Restored

(Image courtesy of the National Park Service)

A section of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’s Great Marsh will soon get a makeover. The National Park Service says it plans to restore wetlands at the park over the winter and early spring.

The restoration includes the removal of fill and other debris, such as sand, cement and rubble placed in the marsh during the last century. The NPS says removing the debris will "expose historic peat soils to wetland hydrology and restore ecosystem services such as water purification, water storage, plant and animal habitat, and recreational viewing."

The National Park Service has not listed a specific time frame for the project.

The debris is scattered over four acres of the Great Marsh. The NPS says the work will be done in the town of Beverly Shores, east and west of South Broadway. The work may require periodic, short-term closure of the Great Marsh parking lot for safety reasons.

A National Park Service archaeologist will be present during any excavation work to make sure any archaeological resources that are found are protected. Wetland plants that were seen in the Great Marsh in the early 20th century will also be planted in the restoration area.