Page 28 - Michigan City, IN US Highway 421 Corridor Plan

2.3 Environmental Conditions Figure 2.7 Major Palustrine Wetlands within the Study Area

2.3 Environmental Conditions

5
2.3.1 Wetlands within the 3 1
Corridor Study Area
There are several wetlands existing within the study corridor, following four characteristics: (1) area less than 8 hectares (20
see Figure 2.7, Major Palustrine Wetlands within the Study acres); (2) active wave-formed or bedrock shoreline features
Area. There are 119.32 acres all together (taken from the lacking; (3) water depth in the deepest part of basin less than 2
National Wetland Inventory Map, compiled by the US Fish meters at low water; and (4) salinity due to ocean-derived salts
and Wildlife Service). (Note: while the information shown and less than 0.5 percent. Of the several Palustrine wetlands of
discussed herein is presumed to be accurate, it has not been varying classifications within the 421 Corridor Study Area, there 4
field verified and therefore cannot be used in place of on-site are four sizeable wetlands described in the figure to the right.
wetland delineation.)
The Michigan City Redevelopment Commission (RDC) sponsored
Palustrine wetlands systems, illustrated in Figure 2.8, Palustrine the preparation of a study for the wetlands at the south
Wetland Diagram, include all nontidal wetlands dominated extension of E. Frontage Road entitled The Town Center Road
by trees, shrubs, persistent emergents, emergent mosses or Extension (Beam, Longest and Neff, LLC).
lichens, and all such wetlands that occur in tidal areas where 2
salinity due to ocean-derived salts is below 0.5 percent. See There are no IDNR Floodplains within the 421 Corridor Study
Palustrine Wetland Diagram below. Palustrine systems also Area, however, there are a few floodplains located just outside
include wetlands lacking such vegetation, but with all of the of the Study Area, west of and along Ohio Street.

Figure 2.8 Palustrine Wetlands Diagram

1 2 3 4
Cleveland Ave.

scrub/shrub forested scrub/shrub aquatic emergent
emergent 20
emergent unconsolidated 20
wetland
Cleveland Ave.
S. Franklin St. 421
W 400 N
421
f
The first wetland is located at The second wetland is near the The third location is south of The fourth is located south The fifth wetland is located
‘a’ temporarily flooded the north end of the 421 Corridor southeast corner of the 421 US Highway 20 and west of of US Highway 20 and east of north of Interstate 94, south
‘b’ seasonally flooded a a a high water
‘c’ semipermanently flooded b b c average water Study Area west of S. Franklin Corridor Study Area near the US Highway 421, just west of US Highway 421, southeast of CR 400 N, and west of US
‘d’ intermittently flooded d e 2m low water Street between Southwood Drive intersection of CR 400 N and the Lake Plaza Development of Advance Auto Parts, and Highway 421.
‘e’ permanently flooded and St. Johns Road and contains Cleveland Avenue and contains and contains 0.38 acres of contains 1.33 acres of emergent
23.09 acres of forested wetland. 45.95 acres of forested wetland. swamp wetland and 8.48 acres wetland and 3.13 acres of
Source: USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center of palustrine system class aquatic bed-semi permanently
emergent, subclass persistent flooded wetland (pond). The
water regime saturated wetland. pond may offer opportunities
for aesthetic and recreational
enhancements.
2-08

2.0 Background and Existing Conditions Adopted: August 16, 2016