The Richardson Preserve is located off Highway 35 mid-way between the cities of Michigan City and LaPorte at 5265 N. Pawnee Trail in Springfield Township, LaPorte County. It is significant in its size and relatively undisturbed natural condition. The site is open to the public for specific uses, including hiking, photography, and nature study. Visitors are asked to respect all natural features, take no samples (e.g. rocks, soils, plants, etc.) from the property, and to respect the privacy of the Foundation’s land management stewards who currently live within the preserve boundaries. Continuing work on the preserve involves ecologic restoration activities like invasive species control; surveys of flora, fauna and mycota; various scientific studies and monitoring; and developing education programs and tools.
Notable Features:
A glacial contact boundary from the last major glaciation (about 11,000 years ago) cuts across the preserve. The immense slab of flowing ice transported soils from Canada and rich till was deposited at the toe of the glacier. As the glacier retreated back north, sandy soils were deposited. By examining the topography and the soil types, geologists can map where the giant glacier covered part of the preserve and where it stopped its advance to the south.
The property represents a relatively intact high-quality forested area, which is rare in the Indiana coastal region. The wooded areas are in various stages of succession and cover both uplands and lowlands. Several emergent wetlands dominated by sedges and grasses also exist on the property. These wetlands are fed by streams, springs, and seeps. At least two clear, cold, sand-bottom streams flow through the site and support a rich and stable community dominated by native plants.
There is enough heterogeneity in the landscape to support at least six types of plant communities, which in turn provide habitat for a diversity of fauna. Close to 300 plant species have been observed at the Preserve, with about 80% of those species being native to the region. While only cursory surveys for fungi have been undertaken, at least twenty species have been recorded. This relatively large area of contiguous natural landscape provides excellent habitat for a variety of animals such as insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. Both migratory and non-migratory bird species use the property. Over 105 different bird species have been documented at the Preserve. Common observations have included hawks, hummingbirds, owls, sparrows, warblers, and several types of woodpeckers.
