The Little Calumet River Conservation Collaborative
The Little Calumet River Conservation Collaborative (LCRCC) brings together regional nonprofit organizations and municipalities working to restore the West branch of the Little Calumet River floodplain to diverse, functional habitat. The goal is to create lasting benefits for the communities that surround it. Active since 2019, the Collaborative combines the specialized expertise and resources of its partners to take on restoration work no single organization could do alone.
The West Branch Corridor runs from Indianapolis Boulevard to the confluence with Deep River near Interstate 65 in northwest Indiana. It’s a stretch of floodplain wetland sitting within a levee system built for urban flood control, offering a unique opportunity for continuous habitat for native vegetation and wildlife and direct access to nature for the surrounding urban communities.
436 acres
under active management and restoration
8
partners working across the corridor
Active since
2019
3
active restoration sites
$X million
invested into the corridor
Our Vision
The Collaborative’s long-term goal is to restore the West Branch floodplain basin to diverse, functional habitat, with a focus on breeding marsh birds and other threatened fish and wildlife. Alongside that ecological work, the Collaborative is committed to making the West Branch a place designed by and for the surrounding communities, expanding access to green space, creating recreational opportunities, and delivering real benefits to northwest Indiana residents.
Read the West Branch of the Little Calumet River Conservation Plan
“This ambitious, community-driven restoration project is a model for how community-led conservation can support both ecological recovery and human well-being.”
The Work So Far
The Collaborative now has 436 acres of wetland under active management and restoration across three sites along the West Branch Corridor. Learn more about our active restoration sites on the West Branch of the Little Calumet River
Collaborative Partners
