New Nature Preserve Approved in LaPorte County

Indiana has a new nature preserve following a designation from the Natural Resources Commission. Sebert Woods Nature Preserve in LaPorte County is located near Michigan City and directly south of Wintergreen Woods Nature Preserve.

The NRC says the new preserve of nearly 40 acres protects the Northwestern Morainal Natural Region, Chicago Lake Plain and Valparaiso Moraine sections. The area contains boreal flatwoods, mesic forest and shrub swamp and is a remnant northern boreal flatwoods natural community, which is a forest type restricted to an area just south of the Lake Michigan dunes.

The NRC says several of the 362 plant species found in Sebert Woods are normally found much farther north, including paper birch, goldthread, Canada mayflower and starflower. 

The Natural Resources Commission is comprised of the heads of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, The Indiana Destination Development Corp., and the Indiana Department of Transportation.