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Project Details

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Project Information Sheet 2004-11

Restoration of West Dune Creek-Great Marsh complex

Funding Source:	Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks and Reservoirs
Period of Contract:	30 Aug 2003 to 1 Sep 2004
Status:	completed — Definition of status type
Project Director:	Greg Olyphant

Issue

E. coli loadings frequently exceed the full-body contact limit of 235 CFU/mL in Dunes Creek, which discharges onto a popular bathing beach at Indiana Dunes State Park located on Lake Michigan. In addition to investing in scientific prediction models to evaluate E. coli-loading risks, decision makers have decided to evaluate the potential of restoring wetlands in the area to reduce bacterial loadings.

Objective

The design of the project was intended to further scientific research and insight into potential reduction of E. coli levels in receiving waters following increased solar exposure, sedimentation, filtration, increased retention, and biological treatment provided by wetlands.

Approach

The project requires the construction of a wetland where E. coli-loading both up- and down-gradient of the wetland will be monitored and measured. Continuous monitoring of hydrologic conditions will take place, as will frequent water collection and analysis of E. coli concentrations.

Products

The products include digital databases of the collected data, along with analysis and interpretation of the data.

Benefits

The data collected from this project will provide researchers insight into what effects wetlands have on E. coli loading in the Dunes Creek Watershed that eventually discharge onto the bathing beaches at Indiana Dunes State Park located on Lake Michigan.

Locations Affected:

Lake

Indiana House Districts Affected:

1 10 11

12 13 15

17 19 2

3 4 5

Indiana Senate Districts Affected:

1 2

3 4

5 6

8

Indiana Congressional Districts Affected:

Information Updated February 2, 2007

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