Borton Wetlands Habitat Restoration
May 1, 2025
Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy recently was awarded $5,000 from the NIPSCO Environmental Action Grant for restoration work at Borton Wetlands Nature Preserve. Borton Wetlands is a 12-acre nature preserve that covers two ecosystems. The North section is a 4-acre forested wetland. The south section is an 8-acre oak barrens ecosystem. A 5-year restoration project has been designed to improve and restore this functional ecosystem. 
In 2025, year, staff and volunteers will focus on invasive bush honeysuckle and invasive autumn olive removal in the oak barrens area. In early winter, a variety of seeds native to Indiana will be planted with 35 different species of grasses, sedges, and forbs. By removing the invasive plants and non-native trees, the native seeds will have adequate resources to grow and establish.
Allowing various plant species to thrive improves habitat for many different animals including numerous birds, butterflies, skippers, grasshoppers, ants, and locusts. Additionally, native plant roots grow deeper into the soil to promote groundwater infiltration and buffering. Throughout the next few years, different areas of the preserve will be similarly restored allowing for a steady reestablishment process in the ecosystems.