[BCNnet] Hegewisch Marsh grant

[Randi Doeker - Chicago]

FYI: Randi Doeker, Chicago


 


 


Million-dollar grant to fix up lake's 'kidney' 


February 2, 2006 

Chicago Sun-Times

Tucked into the southeast corner of Chicago, Hegewisch Marsh seems an
odd choice for a "coastal wetlands" federal grant of $750,000. 

Even if you count the shoreline of Lake Michigan as a coast, the
140-acre marsh is nearly five miles from the lake. 

But there was U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service chief Dale Hall at the
Chicago Cultural Center on Wednesday, symbolically signing an
oversized check for Mayor Daley and Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. 

Hall said the restoration plan was one of 19 to win U.S. funding this
year, beating out 21 competitors. It was chosen as one of only two
urban projects -- the other is in Detroit. A 40 percent match from the
city, state, Conservation Fund and Field Museum will bring the
contribution to $1,260,540. 

Hegewisch Marsh may not be on the lake, but it is part of the lake.
Connected by the Calumet River, it helps clean the lake by filtering
out pollution. "In a lot of ways, the marsh is one of the kidneys of
Lake Michigan," said Quinn. 

And along with the other 10 wetlands in the 4,800-acre Calumet Open
Space Reserve, Hegewisch Marsh is a haven for endangered and
threatened wildlife -- including Blanding's turtle, Franklin's ground
squirrel, the yellow-headed blackbird, pied-billed grebe and
black-crowned night heron. 

City going for Big Marsh 

Plans for the site include woods, savanna, meadows and sedge, hiking
trails and scenic overlooks. It will be home to the 24,000-square-foot
Ford Calumet Environmental Center, serving visitors and students from
22 schools within a 10-mile radius. 

Quinn said the marsh's proximity to Interstate 80 will make it a
national destination for tourists. 

"Nature can come back to urban areas," Daley said. "The idea that you
have to travel far from the city to enjoy nature? You don't have to
any more." 

The city is negotiating with Waste Management to buy an even larger
wetland, 300-acre Big Marsh. 

Five years ago the city and state put together the Calumet Land Use
Plan out of mostly vacant space, much of it polluted by a
long-departed steel industry. Set aside in addition to the open space
reserve are 3,000 acres for industrial redevelopment. 

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