Dunes Creek Watershed
As part of the Dunes Creek watershed management effort, Save the Dunes Conservation Fund (SDCF) demonstrated appropriate best management practices (BMPs) at the new Porter County Visitor Center. The purpose of installing these BMPs was to reduce the impact of the new development on water quality in Dunes Creek and educate the public. (read more. . .)
During development of the Dunes Creek Watershed Management Plan (DCWMP), SDCF identified malfunctioning septic systems as one source of Escherichia coli (E. coli) to Dunes Creek. SDCF conducted a septic system survey in the watershed to investigate the extent of the septic system problem and work toward solutions. (read more. . .)
SDCF has helped property owners to protect water quality by installing best management practices through the Dunes Creek Cost-share Program. Practices installed include agricultural filter strips, rain gardens, and more. In the spring of 2008, SDCF will install created wetlands and other water features. Contact SDCF to determine if your project in the Dunes Creek watershed is eligible (more ...)
In the spring of 2007 SDCF planted the first rain garden at the Indiana Dunes State Park with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Porter County Master Gardeners, and other volunteers. Water from the roof of the IDNR-Lake Michigan Coastal Program (LMCP) office building is now directed to the rain garden. Joe Exl, Coastal Nonpoint Coordinator with IDNR-LMCP designed the garden. The rain garden provides an excellent opportunity to educate Indiana Dunes State Park visitors on ways they can help alleviate stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution. A second rain garden was planted at the Dorothy Buell Memorial Porter County Visitor Center. After attending a workshop on rain gardens, more than fifty volunteers helped SDCF plant the rain garden, which collects runoff from the Visitor Center roof (read more. . .)