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Urban Waters Partnership

Urban Waters and the Northwest Indiana Area (Indiana)

NWI residents and visitors enjoy Lake Michigan at Whihala BeachWhihala Beach at Lake Michigan 
(Photo credit: Eric Allix Rogers)
Photo Gallery for Northwest Indiana Area (Indiana)

Located along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, NWI contains a range of both rural and urban land uses.  The region juxtaposes heavy industry with natural treasures and includes, for example, both the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern and the Indiana Dunes National Park.  Like its diverse communities, NWI’s waterways each have unique characteristics, assets, and challenges.

Since 2011, the Urban Waters - NWI Partnership has been working to protect, restore, and revitalize urban waterways in Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. Co-led by the US Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS), and US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the NWI Urban Waters Partnership includes more than 70 local, state, and federal partners.NWI was one of the original Urban Waters Federal Partnership locations and follows the national guiding principles which include working to promote clean urban waters and connect people to their local waterways.

List of Partners

Federal Government

  • Corporation for National and Community Service
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
    • U.S. Forest Service
    • Natural Resource Conservation Service
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • U.S. Department of Interior
    • Bureau of Reclamation
    • Fish and Wildlife Service
    • U.S. Geological Survey
    • National Park Service
  • U.S. Department of Transportation
  • U.S. Department of Commerce
    • Economic Development Administration
    • National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
    • National Weather Service
  • U.S. Department of Defense
    • U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Non-Federal Partners

  • Indiana Department of Environmental Management
  • Indiana Department of Health
  • Indiana Department of Natural Resources
    • Community and Urban Forestry
    • Lake Michigan Coastal Program
  • City of East Chicago
  • City of Gary
  • City of Hammond
  • City of Hobart
  • City of Michigan City
  • City of Valparaiso/Valparaiso City Utilities
  • Indiana Dunes Tourism
  • Lake County Health Department
  • LaPorte County Parks and Recreation
  • LaPorte County Soil & Water Conservation District
  • Porter County Soil & Water Conservation District
  • Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission Porter County Health Department
  • Porter County Parks and Recreation
  • Town of Chesterton/ Stormwater Utility
  • Town of Highland
  • Town of Lake Station
  • Town of Munster
  • Town of Merrillville

NGO Partners

  • Access Miller
  • Alliance for the Great Lakes
  • ArcelorMittal
  • Audubon Society
  • American Rivers
  • Cardno
  • Chicago Wilderness
  • Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy
  • Davey Resource Group
  • Delta Institute
  • Dunes Learning Center
  • Graf Tree Care
  • Haas and Associates Engineering
  • Hodge Tree Care
  • Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
  • Indiana Geological Information Council
  • Indiana University Northwest
  • Izaak Walton League of America
  • Legacy Foundation
  • Miller Spotlight
  • National Parks Conservation Association
  • Northwest Indiana Forum
  • Northwest Indiana Paddling Association
  • Northwest Indiana Public Service Company
  • Northwest Indiana Steelheaders
  • Openlands
  • Purdue University/ Purdue University Northwest
  • Save the Dunes
  • Shedd Aquarium
  • Shirley Heinze Land Trust
  • Student Conservation Association
  • Gabis Arboretum
  • The Field Museum
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Unity Foundation
  • Wilderness Inquiry
  • Wildlife Habitat Council

Partnership in Action Report

Local Partnership Workplan