GARY, Ind. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Indiana Congressman Frank Mrvan toured wetland restoration projects in Gary on Thursday, and did some bird-watching with members of Audubon Great Lakes.
Audubon Great Lakes is working on-the-ground in the Calumet region of Northwest Indiana to bring back declining bird populations and connect local communities with their natural spaces.
On Thursday, Congressman Frank Mrvan joined Audubon Great Lake Senior Policy Director Marnie Urso to birdwatch at Lake Etta County Park in Gary, Indiana, and learn about the important conservation and community engagement work, as well as discuss bipartisan conservation and climate solutions to protect Indiana’s birds and people.
“Thank you to Audubon Great Lakes for the birding adventure today. I am grateful for the role of the federal government to support programs that conserve and improve the Northwest Indiana environment, and I applaud the dedicated community engagement of Audubon that benefits Northwest Indiana’s wildlife and our regional economy," Mrvan said.
The bird walk through Lake Etta County Park included a stop at the Little Calumet River where Audubon Great Lakes is working to restore wetlands, as part of its vision plan to restore the Great Lakes region.
According to Audubon Great Lakes, loss of quality wetland habitat in the Calumet Region has contributed to the region’s decline of several marsh bird species over the past two decades. Over the past two years, Audubon and partners have restored 300 acres of wetlands along a 10-mile stretch of the Little Calumet River with support from the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission.
In addition to protecting birds, this important restoration work provides natural spaces, improves water quality and alleviates flooding for the benefit of local communities
"Great Lakes restoration and projection is a big priority for Audubon, so we are doing wetland restoration work across the region. Here in Indiana there is 8,000 acres we are looking to restore. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is being put to good use right here to benefit birds and people," Audubon Great Lake Senior Policy Director Marnie Urso said.
Congressman Mrvan added "the environment is extremely important. What this does and when we do cleanups and when we put money towards the Great Lakes, when we put money towards Little Calumet River; what this does is show the side of things that we are looking for: the fruits of the labor, the people who are invested in this."
Congressman Mrvan saw a number of birds, including a red-headed woodpecker, an egret, and some barn swallows.
He said it was very zen.
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