The Porter County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America is asking
the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission to implement the
wetland mitigation required of them by their state permits.
“The permits to the commission to build their levees and flood control
project require the wetland mitigation be completed by Sept. 29, 2012,” said
board member Tom Anderson.
Wetland mitigation is the restoration of wetlands in one place for those
that were destroyed by a project in another. Anderson continued, “The Little
Cal Commission hasn’t started the mitigation yet so they will not meet the
deadline.”
The group maintains that the work is required by the Construction in a
Floodway permit from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of
Water and the Section 401 permit from the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management.
Member Sandy O’Brien said the mitigation is essential to the “Hobart Marsh”
area, part of a 1000 acre natural area complex just south of the river near
I-65. She said the mitigation can enhance the area and “maximize the
ecological and recreational benefit” of the mitigation by connecting
existing protected conservation land.
The Porter County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League has been involved with
the planning and design of the flood control project since the Commission
was formed in the 1970’s said past chapter president Herb Read.
Members met recently with First District Congressman Pete Visclosky and
asked him to remind the Commission that they will need local funds to secure
the federal portion of the cost of mitigation. They also reminded him that a
recreational component was added in 1977 to obtain a favorable cost/benefit
determination from the US Army Corps of Engineers.
President Jim Sweeney said, “We urge the Little Cal Commission to elevate
the mitigation in priority and to place it on their agenda at every meeting
until the mitigation is completed.”
“The construction project is nearing completion,” said Anderson, “so should
the mitigation. It is required by the law.”
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