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October 7, 2016
Eagle Marsh to celebrate continental divide
By Garth Snow gsnow@kpcmedia.com
Most Eagle Marsh hikers will note the birds and plants that inhabit either side of the Graham-McCulloch Ditch berm in like numbers. For naturalist Betsy Yankowiak, that stretch of dirt is also a thought-provoking trek along a geologic marvel. On one side lies a watery channel to the Wabash River and west and south to the Mississippi River. On the other side lies a tributary to the St. Marys River and north and east to the St. Lawrence Seaway. New Orleans to the west. Niagara Falls to the east. “This is it,” Yankowiak says as she passes a 3-foot-tall sign at the crest of a 20-foot-wide path. “This is the continental divide, right here.” Yankowiak will lead the inaugural walk atop that berm on Saturday, Oct. 8, when Little River Wetlands Project cele-
DOES EAGLE MARSH REALLY HAVE EAGLES?
Naturalist Betsy Yankowiak says a pair of mature bald eagles have been nesting in a woods overlooking Eagle Marsh each year since about 2011, hatching and raising about two juveniles per year. Yankowiak said some reports of golden eagles at the marsh might really have been sightings of immature bald eagles. More than 200 species of birds have been sighted at the marsh. brates the new signs that in turn celebrate everyone who has contributed to the marsh and that all-important berm. “We’ve been talking about this berm and this separation between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi watersheds for a few years,” Yankowiak said. “And when people come out they’re like ‘That’s it?’ We were able to build something that has a positive impact for our two major watersheds in the country, and it blends in with the landscape so well.” She has told the story often, both the time line and the detail. She still
smiles as she explains the purpose, as she will do again at the ceremony dedicating the signs from 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 8. The celebration also will officially open a new entrance to the wetlands. Parking for the Eagle Marsh Gateway event is available at Summit Brands, 7201 Engle Road, and nearby. “It’s a really great way to have one place where we can all celebrate wetlands conservation,” she said. “It makes sense that it’s Eagle Marsh because if you get away from the East Coast and the West Coast and the Great Lakes, we are the
Fresh food every weekend Fort Wayne Farmers’ Market to be open throughout winter at Lincoln Financial Event Center at Parkview Field By Whitney Wright wwright@kpcmedia.com
COURTESY PHOTO
Customers at a previous winter’s farmer’s market at Parkview Field decide between wines.
continually become more popular over the years, providing fresh and local produce and meats every summer to the area. Upon the market’s success, those on the market coordinating team — a small group of roughly five volunteers
who meet weekly to have open discussions and make decisions about the market — decided it was time to try to run the market one weekend each month outside of the normal summer See FRESH, Page A15
3306 Independence Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Times Community Publications/INfortwayne.com
Fort Wayne residents will have access to an authentic farmers’ market every weekend through the winter for the first time this year. The Fort Wayne Farmers’ Market will continue running from October until May in its winter location at Parkview Field. More than 37 vendors are likely to participate each weekend at the winter market and will provide products locally available in the winter months, some of which may be grown in aquaponics, high tunnels or hoop houses. Products available may also be ones grown in the summer or autumn and stored in the winter. The Fort Wayne Farmers’ Market has
PHOTO BY GARTH SNOW
Dan Decker and Dan Baker of Birkmeier Monument Co. lower a limestone marker and two metal plaques into place, marking the Eagle Marsh Gateway on Engle Road in southwest Fort Wayne.
largest urban wetlands restoration in the entire country. You don’t find a community reclaiming 716 acres — soon to be 756 acres — in an urban zone. And it’s
remarkable. If you go out to Eagle Marsh it doesn’t feel like you’re in the city, but we have an Interstate highway, a wastewater treatment plant, residential, busi-
ness, senior living, the landfill and a gravel pit. Lutheran Hospital is just a mile away. So we have an incredible infrastructure See MARSH, Page A13