Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration (LaPorte County, IN)
Project Description 
Red Mill County Park consists of 160 acres, with 108 acres designated as an Indiana Nature Preserve. Over the past 176 years, Red Mill Pond has become a stable, native pond and wetland community that is fully dependent on the earthen dam that was constructed in 1833. Failure of the dam is likely imminent; a sudden rupture would allow all of the water in the pond to drain out. This sudden change in hydrology would disrupt the site’s ecology, making it an ideal place for invasive species to thrive. Dam failure would also threaten the seven endangered plant species known to grow in Red Mill County Park.
The preferred plan includes removing a section of the dam at the emergency spillway, introducing four metal culverts to restore the natural hydrology and stream conductivity, and excavating a new channel that is sculpted to pass flow from the pond to Little Calumet River. Also, a notched weir structure across the pond would take the place of the beaver dam, which currently sits 300 feet downstream from the earthen dam. Limited restoration of native vegetation would be implemented as necessary.
The project will prevent failure of the earthen dam, and preserve the diversity of native and endangered species while preventing fragmentation of the ecosystem.
Nonfederal Partner
- LaPorte County Parks
Congressional Interest
- Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)
- Senator Dan Coats (R-IN)
- Representative Joe Donnelly (D-IN-2)
Current Status
Construction is 95 percent complete. A five-year monitoring plan will start in the fall of 2011.
Funding
| Total | Federal | Nonfederal | |
| Current working estimate | $1,877,000 | $1,220,050 | $656,950 |
| Funding to date | $1,877,000 | $1,220,050 | $656,950 |
| Funds required to complete project | $0 | $0 | $0 |
NOTE: The project is fully funded. |
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Project Manager Kirston A. Buczak Click here to download a copy |