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Hegewisch Marsh Gets Grant

Calumet’s Hegewisch Marsh is set to get a $750,000 face-lift, thanks to a recent grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 100-acre parcel of wetland owned by the City of Chicago qualified for the funding under the National Coastal Wetland Conservation grant program.

While at first glance, Hegewisch Marsh may not seem to have much of a coast, its close relationship to Lake Michigan categorizes it as a coastal wetland. In fact, it’s one of the last remaining wetlands within Chicago city limits.

For the past few years, the city and its partners have carefully laid their plans for the marsh’s rehabilitation. Leading up to the grant’s submission, they had to determine where to draw the line between different wetland types, which species should be kept and which others should be culled. When they received the grant in January, it seemed they had come close to a plan that would work.

The money from the grant will be used to put in trails, remove invasive species, and restore natural species and habitats. One project will involve digging potholes in the landscape to combat dryness and encourage “hemi-marsh” conditions. They also plan to remove cottonwoods, which tend to soak up the water that is critically needed in the wetland habitat.

The initial rehabilitation is scheduled to begin in July and continue for two years. Nicole Kamins, project director with the Chicago Department of Environment, says that full restoration could take 10 to 20 years. “You know with restoration work, it’s always a project in progress,” she says. “So, this is just the first phase of work. We anticipate much more money and effort, including assistance from volunteer stewards, will be needed over the coming years.”

— Tegan Jones