LOWELL – The Indiana Grand Kankakee Marsh Restoration Project has been named the November Innovator of the Month by the Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana.
The project has acquire, restored and enhanced 22,786 acres across eight counties. About 100 years ago, the Kankakee River in Indiana was dredged and the Grande Marsh wetlands drained.
Since 1994, a group of 36 partners has completed a project to reverse wetlands loss and restore habitat and waterfowl. It has involved $16 million in location matching funds and $4.5 million in federal funds.
The land was purchased from willing sellers. The project was led by Dick Blythe of Blythe Sporting Goods Inc., and managed by Robert Nickovich, superintendent of Lake County Parks. Money for the effort came from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
