Appendix A: Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-333)
Section 816. Calumet Ecological Park

(a) Feasibility study.

(1)In general. Not later than 6 month after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a study of the feasibility of establishing an urban ecological park to be known as "Calumet Ecological Park" in the Lake Calumet area situated between the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

(2) Particulars of study. - The study under paragraph (1) shall include consideration of the following:

(A) The suitability of establishing a park in the Lake Calumet area that -

(i) conserves and protects the wealth of natural resources threatened by development and pollution in the Lake Calumet area; and

(ii) consists of a number of non-adjacent sites forming green corridors between the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore that are based on the lakes and waterways in the area.

(B) The long term future use of the Lake Calumet area.

(C) Ways in which a Calumet Ecological Park would -

(i) benefit and enhance the cultural, historical, and natural resources of the Lake Calumet area; and

(ii) preserve natural lands and habitats in the Lake Calumet area and northwest Indiana.

(3) Report. - Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report containing findings and recommendations of a study under this section.

Appendix B: Members of the Calumet Ecological Park Feasibility Study Team

Appendix C: Resource Experts Consulted during the Study

Natural Resource Contributors

Paul Labus, The Nature Conservancy, Whiting, Indiana

Judy Beck, Karen Holland, and Mardi Klevs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago, Illinois

John Rogner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Barrington, Illinois

Laurel Ross, The Nature Conservancy, Chicago, Illinois

Deb Moskovitz, Chicago Wilderness, Chicago, Illinois

Richard Whitman, U.S. Geological Survey, Porter, Indiana

Bob Kay, U.S. Geological Survey, DeKalb, Illinois

Historic and Cultural Resource Contributors

Dan Botich, City Planning, Whiting, Indiana

Jim Grossman, Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois

Larry McClellan, Governor's State University, University Park, Illinois

Don Mikulic, Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, Illinois

Paul Petraitis, Pullman, Illinois

Rod Sellers, Southeast Historical Society, Chicago, Illinois

Ann Swallow, Illinois State Historic Preservation Office, Springfield, Illinois

D. Saki Villalobos, William Powers State Fish and Wildlife Area, Wolf Lake, Illinois

Recreation Resource Contributors

John Bacone, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Nature Preserves, Indianapolis, Indiana

Charlotte Read, Save the Dunes, Michigan City, Indiana

Bill Rosenberg, Parks and Recreation, South Holland, Illinois

Barbara Waxman, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, Portage, Indiana

Mapping Contributors

Ignacio Correa-Ortiz, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago, Illinois

Hubert Morgan, Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, Chicago, Illinois

Steve Culberson, TAMS Consultants, Inc. Chicago, Illinois

Appendix D - Summary of Public Involvement

An extensive public involvement process was conducted during the feasibility study. This process consisted of distributing information regarding the study to a broad-range of organizations and interested individuals, as well as conducting a variety of forums and meetings.

Public Involvement Goals

· describe National Park Service activities regarding the Calumet Ecological Park Feasibility Study;

· collect information regarding natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources of the Calumet region as well as public uses and values associated with these resources;

· identify public interests and concerns regarding the region, its resources and any National Park Service involvement;

· identify known or suspected threats to important resources in the region;

· identify and evaluate various mechanisms and management strategies appropriate for resource protection; and

· increase public awareness and understanding of the region's resources and promote protection of these resources.

Public Information Meetings

A series of public information meetings was conducted on July 7 and 8, 1997, to explain the feasibility study process and collect information regarding the resources of the Calumet region. An informational letter - distributed to more than 700 elected officials, businesses, private organizations and interested individuals — announced the series of public meetings and contained information regarding the National Park Service feasibility study process. In addition, attachments to the letter included congressional direction for the study and a map delineating the geographical area of the study. Two weeks prior to the public meetings, a news release was distributed to media throughout northeastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana. Several news media articles - news papers and radio - regarding the study preceded the meetings providing additional public knowledge of meeting times and locations.

The following public meetings were conducted:

Approximately 170 people attended all three public meetings. Each meeting was introduced with a detailed explanation of the study process, identification of study team, estimated study schedule and description of the study area. A large map of the study area was displayed. The mailing list used to distribute the meeting announcement was available for review and modification. In addition, two informational handouts were available which identified the U. S. Congressional delegation for the study area and provided the names and responsibilities of the National Park Service study team. Following the explanation of the study process, each meeting was open to the public for questions, for additional information and to express concerns or interests. Many questions were raised about specific aspects of the study and were clarified by National Park Service team members. In addition to questions regarding the study process, many comments and concerns included the following:

· important natural and cultural resources are dispersed throughout a complex urban, industrial area, emphasizing the need to view these features in context of the regional landscape;

· extensive interest for improving the region's image and becoming a healthier place for people to live, work and play;

· protection of important resources could be accomplished by improving cooperative relationships among local governments, States of Illinois and Indiana, Federal agencies and by building consensus throughout the region;

· appropriate roles of the National Park Service include leadership in urban conservation, facilitation of cooperative partnerships and assistance with regional interpretive programs;

· important to use available information and recognize activities of existing organizations in any future actions;

· lack of understanding as to the National Park Service special resource study process, particularly, the criteria used to determine national significance, different standards for significance among Federal natural resource agencies and objective evaluation of resources given the region's urbanization and industrial image;

· concerns regarding increased Federal presence in view of activities associated with Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Coastal Zone Management;

· concerns regarding potential tax revenue losses due to increased Federal land ownership;

· concerns regarding possible effects that a national park system unit would have on employment, future economic development and air quality standards; and

· a prepared statement from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago endorsing the ecological park concept provided that it did not 1) dictate land use changes, 2) require designated lands to change ownership and 3) result in financial burdens to the District

In addition to the oral comments at the public meetings, numerous letters were received from local governments, non-profit organizations and interested citizens. All letters received expressed general support for National Park Service involvement in protecting the region's natural and cultural resources. A number of these letters also provided additional information about specific sites or referenced information documenting important resources.

Public Open House Forums

Two public information forums were conducted on October 6 and 7, 1997, to display important natural and cultural areas identified during the initial study efforts and to collect additional information from participants. Preliminary information regarding management strategies could not be displayed at the forums, as originally intended, because the collection and evaluation of resource information was more extensive than anticipated. The study team decided that the discussion of possible management strategies would be most appropriate in the draft study report. A notice announcing the forums was distributed using the mailing list developed for the initial series of public forums plus the addresses added during the course of study. In addition, maps delineating important natural areas and cultural features were distributed with the notice.

The following forums were conducted:

Approximately 90 people attended the two public forums. Large-scale maps of the study area identifying important natural areas and cultural features were displayed at each forum. Additional information for each area or feature displayed in matrix format was also available for review. Attendees were encouraged to provide additional information, identify references and add notations to display maps. National Park Service study team members participated at each forum to provide further explanations, answer questions and receive information from participants. Although some of the participants required explanations regarding the study, most were informed about the study activities. While most participants expressed support for the study frequently providing additional resource information, there were several individuals at the Portage forum that expressed opposition to any increased Federal presence or land acquisition.

Educational Tour of Lake Calumet Area

At the request of U.S. Congressman Jerry Weller, an educational tour of selected natural and historic features in the Lake Calumet portion of the study area was conducted on October 6, 1997, by National Park Service team members with assistance from local resource experts. The tour was attended by approximately 45 people representing State of Illinois and local government, area businesses and non-profit organizations. Local resource experts provided an overview of area natural and historic resources followed by a detailed description of each site visited. The tour included the following sites:

Appendix E: Assessment Matrix for Important Natural and Cultural Resources

Natural Resources

Cultural Resources

Appendix F: Summary of Resource Ranking Systems

The Nature Conservancy's Heritage Ranking System

G# - Numeric rank: A numeric rank (G1-G5) of relative endangerment based primarily on the number of occurrences of the element globally.

G1 - Critically imperiled globally due to extreme rarity or due to factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extinction. (Typically 5 or fewer occurrences or very few remaining individuals or acres).

G2 - Imperiled globally due to rarity or due to some factor(s) making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. (6 to 20 occurrences or few remaining individuals or acres)

G3 - Either very rare or local throughout its range or found locally (even abundantly at some of its locations) in a restricted range (e.g., a single western state, a physiographic region in the East) or due to other factors making it vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. (21 to 100 occurrences)

G4 - Widespread, abundant, and apparently secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Thus, the element is of long-term concern. (Usually more than 100 occurrences)

G5 - Demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Federal Endangered and Threatened Species Classification

Endangered - any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

Threatened - any species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

A species is determined to be endangered or threatened because of any of the following factors in 50 CFR 424.11:

State Endangered and Threatened Species Classification

Endangered - any species that is in danger of extinction at the State level. Known to occur on 5 or fewer sites.

Threatened - any species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future at the State level. Known to occur on 6-10 sites.

Rare - plants and insects known to occur currently on from 11-20 sites.

S1 - Critically imperiled at the State level because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences or very few remaining individuals or acres) or because of some factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state.

S2 - Imperiled at the State level because of rarity (6-20 occurrences or few remaining individuals or acres) or because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the state.

S3 - Rare or uncommon in the State (21-100 occurrences).

S4 - Apparently secure at the State level, with many occurrences.

S5 - Demonstrably secure in the State and essentially ineradicable under present conditions.

Floristic Quality Index

The Floristic Quality Assessment and Index were developed by Swink and Wilhelm and described in Plants of the Chicago Region (1994). This assessment assigns a coefficient of conservatism, or "C value" to all native plant species in a region. A conservative species is one that requires a specific habitat or set of environmental conditions. Conservative species are often those that are rare, threatened or endangered in the Chicago region. Plants are ranked from 0-10, with 10 being the most conservative species. The Floristic Quality Index (FQI) looks at the absolute number of species with high C values that are found at a site. The Floristic Quality Index is derived by multiplying C by the square root of the number of species.

Eligibility Criteria for Additions to the National Park System

Determinations of eligibility for potential additions to the National Park System are based on national significance. An area will be considered to be nationally significant if it (1) is an outstanding example of a particular type of resource, (2) possesses exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the natural or cultural themes of our nations heritage, (3) offers superlative opportunities for recreation, public use, and enjoyment or for scientific study, and (4) retains a high degree of integrity as an accurate, and relatively unspoiled example of a resource. These criteria are the same as the criteria used to evaluate national historic landmarks and national natural landmarks.

Eligibility Criteria for Designation as a National Recreation Area

• a natural or cultural feature providing a special setting for a variety of recreational activities;

• a spacious area located near a major population center with the potential to provide exceptional recreational opportunities and to serve visitors from around the nation rather than solely from the immediate vicinity;

• an area that protects a unique recreation resource that is scarce or disappearing in a multi-State region, such as an outstanding recreational river, a unique maritime environment or coastline, or a unique scenic area; or

• a unique combination of natural, cultural, and recreational resources that collectively offer outstanding opportunities for public use and enjoyment even though each feature might not individually be considered nationally significant.

Eligibility Criteria for Designation as a National Heritage Area

"National Heritage Area" is a place designated by Congress where natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography. These patterns make National Heritage Areas representative of the national experience through the physical features that remain and the traditions that have evolved in the areas. Continued use of National Heritage Areas by people whose traditions helped shape the landscapes enhances their significance.

Heritage conservation is a way for people to conserve and use a region's natural and cultural resources and stories for the benefit of the entire community. A tenet of heritage conservation is that the public's experience and understanding of an area's resources and history build appreciation and the will to care for the important resources of the area. To be successful, heritage conservation requires local decision-making. It allows a community to control its destiny by developing a vision for the region's future: to conserve the region's heritage, to tell its stories, to retain the places that are special to people, and to maintain its economic base for present and future generations. Heritage conservation encourages people and communities to work together to develop a regional vision and identify collaborative initiatives aimed at enhancing the region's quality of life.

Collaboration and linkage are key concepts of heritage conservation. Successful conservation results from the collaborative efforts of diverse groups and constituencies involving landowners; Federal, State and local governments; groups representing business, tourism, education, museums, and cultural events; and recreation providers. Linkage refers here to connections between places in the form of environmental corridors, trails, tour routes, water trails, rail and other methods as well as to thematic interconnections.

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