|
| |
Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage: Most of the design and environmental studies are complete on the trail from Uhlhorn
Street. through the west side along the Pigeon Creek to the Ohio River. Check the calendar for information regarding the public hearings coming up soon. Once the public hearings are complete, the Parks
Department will proceed to property acquisition. If your property is affected in
anyway it is important you attend these hearings.
Howell Wetlands Outdoor Education Center:
- Clean Water Indiana Grant: Vanderburgh Soil and Water Conservation District Project at Howell Wetland on Cypress Moist Soil Unit north of parking lot off
Tekoppel Avenue. A terrace is to be installed to stop runoff from the warm season grass field from eroding on the northern and eastern shorelines. Erosion is creating a 1,200
foot eroded perimeter that is highly visible from Tekoppel. The project is a cost share with a total of $10,625. ($1,700 match must be cash from the Park’s
Department and Westside Improvement will provide another $450 to complete the match).
- Blue Bird Trail: Westside Catholic Schools (under the guidance of Judy Thompson) applied
for and received a grant from Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana to purchase wood and materials for creation of a Bluebird Trail and construction of
tree swallow boxes and bat boxes at the Howell Wetlands mitigation site. The trail was installed on February
6. The tree swallow and bat boxes will be installed in March.
- Woodduck Ecology Project: Seth Williams, son of Mr. & Mrs. Brian Williams, has started his Eagle Scout project at Howell Wetlands. His project will focus on habitat enhancement for the woodduck. Tasks include: habitat inventory and mapping, nest box construction and installation, tree planting, and planting of rooted native aquatic plants needed by woodduck ducklings.
- Buttonbush Restoration: Paul Bouseman at Mesker Zoo has propagated buttonbush cuttings from Howell Wetlands for replanting this spring in the old oxbow. The buttonbush is a keystone specie for woodduck and copperbelly
watersnake.
- Indiana Bat Survey: Diana Barber and Joy Fitzgerald will be conducting bat surveys this early summer for Indiana Bat maternal roost sites in and around Howell Wetlands.
|
