Shirley Heinze Land Tr Inc

PURPOSE OF AWARD (SUMMARY OF THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT): EVALUATE AND IMPROVE HEALTH OF WATERSHEDS, LANDSCAPES, AND MARINE AND COSTAL RESOURCES, SUSTAINS BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES ON THE LANDS AND WATERS IN PARKS. SUMMARY OF PROJECT SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES: DEVELOP AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DESIGN FOR FUTURE RESTORATION OF A MEANDERING CHANNEL AND RECONNECTION TO THE FLOODPLAIN OF THE EAST BRANCH OF THE LITTLE CALUMET RIVER, A STATE OF INDIANA DESIGNATED BICENTENNIAL NATURE TRUST CONSERVATION CORRIDOR, FLOWS THROUGH SEVERAL UNITS OF INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK WITHIN THE HERON ROOKERY UNIT OF THE PARK AND ADJACENT PARTNER LANDS.PERFORMANCE GOALS INCLUDING MILESTONES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: CO-COLLABORATION EFFORT RESTORATION OF THIS RIVER SEGMENT WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN IMPROVED WATER QUALITY, DECREASED FLOODING, AND ENHANCED NATURAL ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION.BENEFICIARIES: NONPROFIT

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO SHIRLEY HEINZ LAND TRUST INCORPORATED TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN PORTER AND LAPORTE COUNTIES IN INDIANA. THE GRANTEE WILL DO THIS BY FORMALIZING AND EXPANDING A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF REGIONAL POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCED FIELD BASED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, CROSS-INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION, AND DATA-INFORMED STEWARDSHIP OF THE RIVER CORRIDOR. GOALS INCLUDE SUPPORTING THE NETWORK OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN CREATING SUSTAINABLE, IMMERSIVE FIELD EXPERIENCES TO MOTIVATE AND TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS AND DEVELOPING SHARED DATA INFRASTRUCTURE AND DASHBOARDS THAT ADVANCE THE USE OF AI AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE RIVER CORRIDOR TO INFORM ONGOING COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP AND MANAGEMENT. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN PORTER AND LAPORTE COUNTIES, INDIANA. THE PRIMARY TARGET AUDIENCE IS POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS FROM REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES ACROSS DISCIPLINES. CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS AND LAND MANAGERS IS AN ADDITIONAL AUDIENCE BEING REACHED, THEY WILL GAIN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE HOLDING A KICKOFF MEETING TO IDENTIFY EXISTING AND POTENTIAL EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, DEVELOPING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FROM POTENTIAL SUBAWARD PARTNERS FOR WORK THEY WOULD CONDUCT TOWARDS THIS PROJECT, CONVENING REGULAR VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH THE NETWORK OF EDUCATIONAL AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS TO COLLABORATE ON FIELD EXPERIENCES AND INFORMING RESEARCH PRIORITIES AND FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RESEARCH CURRICULA BY PARTICIPATING EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, TO INCLUDE A FIELD RESEARCH EXPERIENCE. SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARDS ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE AWARDED TO AT LEAST 12 ELIGIBLE SUBRECIPIENT ORGANIZATIONS AT $5,000 OR LESS TO FACILITATE PARTICIPATION IN NETWORK AND FIELD-BASED RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT. IN ADDITION, CURRICULA AND WILL BE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED. THESE ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE LOCAL COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WITHIN NORTHWESTERN INDIANA AND THE MIDWEST REGION. OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES: A NETWORK OF REGIONAL POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCE FIELD BASED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AT LEAST 5 EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH SUBAWARDS, AT LEAST 20 PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS ENGAGED, AT LEAST 10 FIELD BASED RESEARCH EXPERIENCES AND SHARED DATA INFRASTRUCTURE AND DASHBOARDS THAT ADVANCE THE USE OF AI AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE RIVER CORRIDOR. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE PARTICIPANTS BENEFITTING FROM ONGOING FACILITY AND LOCATION ALLOCATION BY PARTNERS FOR CROSS INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION, ESTABLISHMENT OF A RIVER FIELD STUDIES NETWORK IN THE EAST BRANCH OF THE LITTLE CALUMET CONSERVATION CORRIDOR, INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF WATERSHED HEALTH AND TRENDS AND LONG TERM SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION OF A RIVER FIELD STUDIES MODEL IN THE EAST BRANCH OF THE LITTLE CALUMET CONSERVATION CORRIDOR. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS FROM REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES ACROSS DISCIPLINES. PARTNERS FROM THROUGHOUT INDIANA, ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN WILL BE ENGAGED.

OVERVIEW: SINCE 1981, THE SHIRLEY HEINZE LAND TRUST (SHLT) HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF SIGNIFICANT NATURAL AREAS THROUGHOUT NORTHWESTERN INDIANA. TODAY, APPROXIMATELY 4,000 ACRES ACROSS LAKE, PORTER, LAPORTE, ST. JOSEPH, MARSHALL, AND STARKE COUNTIES ARE PERMANENTLY PROTECTED, WITH MOST OF SHLTS NATURE PRESERVES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR EXPLORATION AND ENJOYMENT. WORKING TOGETHER, THE SHLT, THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE S PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM (PFW), AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE S COASTAL PROGRAM (CP) WILL IDENTIFY STRATEGIC HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE THE MUTUAL GOALS OF EACH ORGANIZATION. SHLT WILL ASSIST WITH OUTREACH TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, IN-PERSON GATHERINGS, AND INFORMATIONAL HANDOUTS. THE ORGANIZATION WILL ALSO HANDLE ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS AND PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT TO LANDOWNERS FOR ELIGIBLE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RESTORATIONS.THE GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE (GLRI) FUNDING HAS SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE (PFW) PROGRAM IN NORTHERN INDIANA, DRIVING CRITICAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS WITHIN THE GREAT LAKES WATERSHED. BY LEVERAGING THIS FUNDING, THE PFW PROGRAM HAS SUCCESSFULLY INITIATED HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT NATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES POSED BY INVASIVE SPECIES AND HABITAT DEGRADATION. THESE EFFORTS HAVE FOSTERED IMPROVED WATER QUALITY AND SPECIES ABUNDANCE, CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE GREAT LAKES. THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES THAT NOT ONLY BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO PROMOTE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE IN THE REGION. THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF GLRI FUNDING UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATIVE CONSERVATION INITIATIVES IN PRESERVING THIS VITAL FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM.THE SHIRLEY HEINZE LAND TRUST (SHLT), ALONG WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE S PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM (PFW) AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE S COASTAL PROGRAM (CP), HAS EMBARKED ON A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO ENHANCE SUPPORT FOR VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND OTHER ENTITIES. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1981, SHLT HAS CHAMPIONED THE CONSERVATION OF THE REGIONS VALUABLE WETLANDS, FORESTS, AND GRASSLANDS THROUGH VARIOUS WATERSHED-FOCUSED INITIATIVES. THIS AGREEMENT AIMS TO DEEPEN THAT COMMITMENT BY COLLABORATIVELY RESTORING CRITICAL HABITATS THAT WILL BENEFIT BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. FOCUSED ON RESTORING AND ENHANCING HABITATS FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS, POLLINATORS, FEDERALLY THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES, AND OTHER FEDERAL TRUST SPECIES, THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL TARGET WETLAND AND UPLAND COMPLEXES IN NORTHWEST INDIANA. BY PRIORITIZING PROJECT SITES THAT EXPAND PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE CONSERVATION AREAS AND PRIVATE LAND TRANSITIONING OUT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, THE INITIATIVE AIMS TO CREATE A ROBUST ECOLOGICAL NETWORK THAT NOT ONLY SUPPORTS WILDLIFE BUT IMPROVES THE OVERALL HEALTH OF SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

SHIRLEY HEINZE TRUST, P14AC00476, WETLAND RESTORATION, $20,000

FUNDS UNDER THIS AWARD ARE TO BE USED TO IMPLEMENT PRESCRIBED FIRE ON PROPERTIES IN THE GRAND CALUMET RIVER AREA OF CONCERN. BURNS WILL BE CONDUCTED ON PROPERTY BEING MANAGED FOR WILDLIFE, AS PART OF THE EFFORTS TO REMOVE THE LOSS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT BENEFICIAL USE IMPAIRMENT.