Special Places in the Lake Calumet Region
This quest explores only a small subsection of the Calumet region. It focuses on the importance of recognizing the experiences that people have in natural environments and the important role of conservation and environmental protection. Flowing from the “Nature Reworked” Theme presented in the Calumet Region feasibility study, when people have highly valued aesthetic and emotional experiences in specific places or types of settings, these places and settings take on particular importance for them and become “special places” that should be protected for the continued protection of environmental and public health. All of the places listed here dive into the emotional connections that tie residents and visitors to the Lake Calumet Region, as described in the USDA Forest Services‘ report on survey information gathered by Herbert W. Schroeder.
- Lake Calumet Area: The largest body of water within the city of Chicago. The Lake Calumet area contains a diverse mixture of industrial development, residential communities, and natural features such as lakes, wetlands, streams, prairies, and forests. This diversity attracts people to enjoy recreational activities and re-charge in nature.
- Wolf Lake Area: A lake that crosses over the Indiana and Illinois state line. Despite years of environmental damage caused by heavy industries, transportation infrastructure, urban runoff and filling of wetlands, it is one of the most important biological sites in the Chicago region. Explore the exciting new regional trails like the Wolf Lake Trail connect natural areas with industrial landscapes!
- Powderhorn Area: Powderhorn Lake Forest Preserve is an example of a site that has achieved a statewide level of protection, but achieves a national level of significance due to its sites of the rare dune-and-ridge ecosystem. The lake and surrounding lands are popular among anglers, nature lovers and birders.
- Lake Michigan Shore: It is acknowledged as one of the most important flyways for migrant songbirds in the United States by ornithologists and bird watchers worldwide. Many other families of migrating birds – hawks and falcons, owls, waterfowl, gulls, terns and shorebirds – also follow Lake Michigan’s shore line or winter just offshore. In all, more than 300 species of birds have been recorded in the Chicagoland area since 1970.
- Grand Calumet River Area: A string of nature preserves operated by The Nature Conservancy, the Shirley Heinze Land Trust and the Lake County Parks Department run along the banks of the lower East Branch of the river in Gary, East Chicago and Hammond. Known as the Tolleston Strand Plain, the preserves are home to the dune and swale habitat. Endangered and threatened species in these nature preserves along the Grand Calumet include the Karner blue butterfly.
San Antonio 