Roxana Marsh
US EPA Wetland Restoration
CLIENT:
Tetra Tech EM, Inc.
LOCATION:
Hammond, Indiana
PROJECT SIZE:
75 Acres
TIME PERIOD:
2011 – 2013
ROLE OF THE FIRM:
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In-Stream Toe Construction
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Streambank Regrading, Erosion Control, and Soil Lift Construction
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Stewardship and Prescribed Fire
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Vegetation Monitoring and Reporting
DESCRIPTION::
Roxana Marsh, located along the West Branch of the Grand Calumet River in
Northwest Indiana, was funded under the Great Lakes Legacy Act. Listed by
the US EPA as an Area of Concern (AOC), Roxana Marsh is located in one of
the most industrialized areas in the country while also being home to some
of the most diverse native plant and animal communities in the Great Lakes
Basin. Native Landscape Contractors, LLC was awarded the native vegetation
establishment work in 2011.
As a larger environmental remediation project of the Calumet Region, the main objective of the project was to remove and cap contaminated soils from formerly unregulated industrial activities. Once the soils had been remediated, the site was to be converted into a healthy ecosystem where diverse organisms could thrive.
Following aggressive invasive species control measures, the installation included over 20 acres of native seed, more than 19,000 submergent, emergent, and wetland plugs, and 220 native trees and shrubs. Establishment maintenance continued on the site until project sign-off occurred on schedule in 2013. After sign-off, the site was turned over to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for long-term management.