Howell Wetland Restoration with Clean Water Indiana (CWI) Grant 2003
           
                      Before                                                              During                                                     After  

Howell Wetland just received a face-lift, but more than beauty was at stake.  Severe soil erosion and sedimentation could have destroyed parts of the area within five years.  This wetland not only serves as a beautiful Westside educational and recreational area, but also as a filter for sediment and other pollutants before entering nearby waterways and eventually the Ohio River.  The establishment of the 22-acre park took place in the 1990's and is managed by Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve Society for the Evansville Parks Department.

The Vanderburgh County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) became aware of the need and importance of this restoration project by associate SWCD member Joy Fitzgerald.  The SWCD Board of Supervisors verified the information presented and then recommended that a portion of the Clean Water Indiana funding be used for this project.  Alice Rademacher of Wesselman's Woods was able to secure the required cost share money from the City of Evansville.  From that point and through much collaboration and innovation the project was successfully completed in early October. 

In order to restore the banks and shorelines the eroding areas were cut and filled and covered with a minimum of 6 inches of topsoil.  The area was then seeded with warm season grasses fertilized and mulched.  A surface inlet was installed to enhance surface drainage and erosion control blankets were placed in high velocity areas to reduce any chance of further erosion.  The improved slopes, eliminated gullies and greening of the grasses are already apparent.  We know over time many more positive effects such as cleaner water, improved habitat and a more affective water filter will become noticeable.

There are so many people who contributed to this project that it would be impossible to mention them all.  I have to say a special thanks to John Hahn, contractor/SWCD Associate Board Member and Darrell Rice from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) who went above and beyond their required duties.  Their effort made possible an area twice the size of the original plan to be restored.  Thanks also go to Alice Rademacher, Wesselman Woods, Kristin Moran, Howell Wetland, Shirley James, Westside Improvement for their hard work and Bonnie Bittner, SWCD for keeping all of us moving in one direction.        

                                               Top of Page           Projects