Volunteers sought for Suman Fen project

Indiana DNR Release:



The DNR Division of Nature Preserves and Save the Dunes Council are seeking volunteers to help restore a rare wetland at Suman Fen Nature Preserve in northern Porter County.

The preserve is located midway between Chesterton and Valparaiso and is one of Indiana’s best examples of a fen – a type of wetland fed by ground water.

The fen had become infested with reed canary grass, an invasive species from Europe that grows without restraint. Beginning in 2007, a grant from the Lake Michigan Coastal Program was used to purchase herbicides to control the reed canary grass on 22 acres.
Although the effort was successful in controlling the canary grass, portions of the treatment area were so damaged by the weed that additional help is required to complete the restoration.

Save the Dunes has donated more than 6,000 native wetland plants produced in greenhouses from locally collected seed. Volunteers are needed to help with plantings and scattering seed to accelerate restoration of the fen community.

Volunteers are asked to meet at 10 a.m. (CDT) on Aug. 1 at Faith Memorial Lutheran Church, 753 N. Calumet, in Valparaiso. Volunteers will then carpool to the work site. The project is scheduled to last until 2 pm (CDT).

Volunteers should bring water-resistant footwear, drinking water and insect repellant. Lunch will be provided.