1200 Acre Wildlife Preserve, Central Indiana
The owner’s requested a master plan for the creation of a wildlife preserve from a tract of land containing existing farmland and a former commercial site. Balancing the owner’s dual desires to establish a large wildlife preserve while keeping a significant portion of the existing farmland in production proved to be the key challenge.
Remenschneider Associates proposed a number of site improvements. Planned wetlands will encourage wood duck nesting. Prairies will support several varieties of song birds. Escape cover will provide foraging and shelter for rabbits, ground hogs, pheasants, mink and quail. Woodlands edge enhancements will provide nesting cover for deer, fox and wild turkey. The lake expansion, underground water islands, and emergent wetland plantings will improve fish and water fowl habitat. Building upon the existing topography and vegetative cover, the master plan will substantially expand native plant communities for wildlife diversity while maintaining 60% of the existing farmland in agricultural production.
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