Last updated: October 31, 2023
Article
Porter Beach Restoration
In October 2021, an ambitious and dedicated group of individuals from the Porter Beach community began working with NPS staff as volunteers to remove non-native invasive plants surrounding the southern NPS parking lot at Porter Beach, in Porter Indiana.
After the non-native ground layer vegetation was treated, the Great Lakes Fire Management team began cutting and removing the non-native invasive trees from this area. As of July 2023, 11 acres of previously disturbed habitat have been cleared of undesirable plants including Tree of Heaven, Oriental Bittersweet, Siberian elm, Honeysuckle, Autumn olive, and Black locust.
On April 11, 2023, NPS staff, along with personnel from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources completed a successful 59-acre prescribed fire on NPS and State lands that included the Porter Beach restoration project area. The successful prescribed fire burned piles of debris in the project area created by NPS employees and volunteers as they cut and removed the invasive species over the previous several months.
The park, in collaboration with volunteers and the Great Lakes Fire Management Staff, plans to continue to remove non-native plants from this area into the future. Selective foliar applications of herbicide will be made to re-generation of non-native invasive plants during the growing season. Native seeds will be planted in areas lacking a diverse native assortment of plant species.
Removal of invasive plants in this area will improve the overall health of this unique ecological community, expand the habitat for rare species, and prevent the spread of invasive plants to surrounding natural areas on NPS, State Parks, and Private properties. This work will provide an improved viewshed of the dunes, offering visitors and residents a view similar to what would have been enjoyed by participants of the Dunes Pageant in 1917 which occurred in the vicinity, ultimately contributing to the protection of the dunes as a national park. There are no official trails through this unit and preventing hiking in this area is critical to the success of the restoration efforts.
After the non-native ground layer vegetation was treated, the Great Lakes Fire Management team began cutting and removing the non-native invasive trees from this area. As of July 2023, 11 acres of previously disturbed habitat have been cleared of undesirable plants including Tree of Heaven, Oriental Bittersweet, Siberian elm, Honeysuckle, Autumn olive, and Black locust.
On April 11, 2023, NPS staff, along with personnel from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources completed a successful 59-acre prescribed fire on NPS and State lands that included the Porter Beach restoration project area. The successful prescribed fire burned piles of debris in the project area created by NPS employees and volunteers as they cut and removed the invasive species over the previous several months.
The park, in collaboration with volunteers and the Great Lakes Fire Management Staff, plans to continue to remove non-native plants from this area into the future. Selective foliar applications of herbicide will be made to re-generation of non-native invasive plants during the growing season. Native seeds will be planted in areas lacking a diverse native assortment of plant species.
Removal of invasive plants in this area will improve the overall health of this unique ecological community, expand the habitat for rare species, and prevent the spread of invasive plants to surrounding natural areas on NPS, State Parks, and Private properties. This work will provide an improved viewshed of the dunes, offering visitors and residents a view similar to what would have been enjoyed by participants of the Dunes Pageant in 1917 which occurred in the vicinity, ultimately contributing to the protection of the dunes as a national park. There are no official trails through this unit and preventing hiking in this area is critical to the success of the restoration efforts.