Little Calumet River Conservation Action Plan (CAP)

The CAP identifies sites that are high priorities for acquisition as open space and for protection, ecological restoration and management, and for connecting communities to the river and landscapes along its banks. It also suggests conservation targets and strategies for each site to achieve its vision. The plan was developed by Openlands, the Metropolitan Planning Council, and the Field Museum, integrating input from many other partners, including landowners, managers, and local communities.

The Calumet Region frames the southern shore of Lake Michigan in Illinois and Indiana and has a unique ecological heritage, including dune and swale habitats that support rare species.  Beginning in the second half of the 1800s, farming and then industrial development resulted in the transformation and fragmentation of the landscape, as marshes and wet prairies were drained, railroads were laid down, and industry was established.  The CAP introduces a set of strategies to restore the land and water, plant pollinator-friendly landscapes, and connect neighborhoods to regional trails. More specific conservation strategies include removing invasive species, restoring oak savanna and wetlands, installing crevice habitats within the Calumet riverbanks to support fish populations, and utilizing prescribed burns in prairie areas.

Sites were identified as a “priority” for this project in part by looking at managed areas, open space, and vacant parcels along the river on an interactive map created for this project. This map combines layers to help provide an understanding of the ecological condition of the sites. In addition, the team developed spatial data in a GIS file outlining the priority areas and linking them to a matrix of characteristics, including size, connectivity, high-quality habitat, and connections to neighborhoods.