The purpose of this creative project was to outline the concept of Wetland Incentive Zones and to develop a site masterplan based on this concept. Meant as an alternative to large single-site wetland banks, Wetland Incentive Zones would be linear areas of land where wetland construction and preservation efforts would be concentrated. The linear structure would distribute the benefits associated with wetlands through a greater area than would a typical wetland bank. If linked together, the zones would form a network of recreational greenways and function as a travel corridor for wildlife. Participating zone landowners would benefit from tax abatements on wetland acreage and other incentive programs. The public would benefit from the preservation and construction of wetlands and the zone's recreational and educational elements.The masterplan was developed to direct wetland site development opportunities and public recreation and educational functions within a 3200 acre study site located in Allen County, Indiana. This site masterplan identified areas suitable for wetland construction, investigated their potential as wildlife habitat, and the wetland condition likely to be supported. The development plan for the site was focused on the use of an abandoned railroad line as a trail system for public recreation and educational use. / Department of Landscape Architecture

This study examines the status and distribution of rail populations in northern Indiana. Because rails are secretive and difficult to study, there have been few attempts in Indiana to determine the impact of wetland loss on the populations of rails and other marsh-nesting birds. There can be little doubt, however, that the loss of Indiana wetlands during historic times has caused a dramatic decline in rail populations.Using tape-recorded calls to elicit vocalizations, the status and distribution of five species of rails were studied in a 25,900 km2 area in northern Indiana in 1993 and 1994. A total of 107 surveys were conducted at 46 natural wetlands and 42 restored wetlands. The species surveyed were Sora (Porzana carolina), Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), King Rail (Rallus elegans), Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis), and Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis). Playbacks were also used to detect American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis), Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) and Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis). Data were also collected on all other species of marsh-nesting birds detected during this study.Rails exhibited a patchy distribution. A total of 25 Soras, 33 Virginia Rails, and 1 King Rail was detected in natural wetlands in 1993. In 1994, 75 Soras, 46 Virginia Rails, and 1 King Rail was detected in the natural wetlands. A total of 30 Soras and 9 Virginia Rails was found in the restored wetlands studied in 1993 and 1994. No Yellow or Black Rails were found. Ten Least Bitterns, 31 Marsh Wrens, and 6 Sedge Wrens were detected in natural wetlands, but these species were not observed in restored wetlands.The occurrence of rails in natural wetlands was positively correlated with wetland size, presence of shrub vegetation in the watershed, amount of emergent vegetation, proximity of other wetlands, and extent of cattail cover. Negative correlations were found for human disturbance, amount of open water, and watershed characteristics. The strongest negative correlationswere found for human disturbances in or around the wetland.In restored wetlands, a significant difference was found between the occurrence of Sora and Virginia Rails with Soras occurring more frequently than Virginia Rails. A near significant difference in rail occurrence between natural and restored wetlands was also found, with rails occurring more frequently in natural wetlands, suggesting that natural wetlands surveyed may be a more suitable habitat for rails than the restored wetlands surveyed.Restored wetlands surveyed in this study failed to attract American Bitterns, Least Bitterns, Marsh Wrens or Sedge Wrens. American Bitterns were reported in natural wetlands during this study, but they were not observed. / Department of Biology

Wetlands in the United States have been decreasing in number from the time European settlers began draining them for agricultural purposes to the present. Wetlands serve many important ecological functions such as waterfowl habitat.The purpose of this project was to investigate wetland creation literature in order to develop a process which could be applied to a particular site to attract waterfowl. The topics reviewed for this project were goal setting, for wetland creations, wetland creation methodologies and waterfowl habitat criteria. The major portion of the project was devoted to the construction process of the wetland. The criteria used to direct the wetland construction were hydrology, topographic contour design, revegetation, and protective buffers. Trail development to provide public access for educational purposes was also an important component of the wetland design. Waterfowl habitat criteria was also researched and applied to the project in order it insure that waterfowl would be attracted to the wetland.The process developed from the research was applied to Jim Haberek's property located in Anderson, Indiana. The product was a masterplan which included a site analysis, a water level management plan, a contour design, a revegetation plan, protective buffers and a trail design for the public. / Department of Landscape Architecture