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Access Boating Fishing Swimming Trails Off-Road Vehicles Natural Areas and Aesthetics Shipwrecks and Other Cultural Opportunities Camping Access Opportunities Lake Michigan, encompassing 234.5 square miles of the northwest corner of Indiana, and several of its tributaries, are navigable waterways. The state holds ownership of these waterways, subject to the federal navigational servitude. Assuming lawful access to a navigable waterway is obtained, the public may generally use the waterway for recreational enjoyment. To assist in identifying which waterways are navigable, the Indiana Natural Resources Commission developed a roster in 19926. The roster was updated in 1997 as the Roster of Indiana Waterways Declared Navigable or Nonnavigable7. Included for the Lake Michigan watershed of Northwest Indiana are the Grand Calumet River, Little Calumet River, Trail Creek, Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal, and Portage Burns Waterway (Burns Ditch). The "ordinary high watermark" is the limit of state (and federal) jurisdiction. For Lake Michigan, that delineation is set at elevation 581.5 feet, I.G.L.D. (1985).8 For other navigable waterways, onsite factors are used by the federal and state governments to determine the ordinary high watermark.9 These factors and precedents concerning the determination and delineation of navigable waters are reviewed in a previous chapter, Lake Michigan and Navigable Waterways.10 A public beach in Indiana includes the portion of the Indiana Lake Michigan coastline lying lakeward of the ordinary high water mark, as well as those held in parks or other public ownership. The presence of a wide diversity of natural physical shoreline characteristics practically renders a physical description of the term beach meaningless.11 Natural beach and dune features may consist of wide and narrow sand beaches at adjacent locations along the shoreline. Cobble beaches or hard clay layers may be exposed at the base of an eroding dune at waters edge after a storm event. Wind erosion can destroy large areas of terrestrial vegetation resulting in large bowl shaped blowouts extending far inland from the waters edge. Man-made structures on the coast further complicate the use of a description of a beach based on physical features. Groins, jetties, rock revetments, wood or concrete or sheet steel seawalls, and other means of altering the natural shoreline occur at many locations along Indiana's Lake Michigan coast.
The opportunity to access the coast or the tributaries is conditional upon the ownership of the shoreline of the lake and tributaries (above the ordinary high water mark). Approximately 21.8 miles of shoreline are heavily developed and have historically prohibited public access at these points, with the exception of limited fishing access in some areas. The remaining estimated 23.2 miles of Indiana shoreline are mostly beaches. The Indiana Dunes State Park and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore provide most of the public access to beaches. The shorelines of Ogden Dunes, Dune Acres, Porter and Beverly Shores are included in the National Lakeshore. Approximately 5.6 miles of shoreline are public beaches owned and maintained by local units of governments in Hammond, Whiting, East Chicago, Gary and Michigan City. The beach frontage along the Town of Long Beach is controlled by individual riparian owners. Duneland Beach, is owned and controlled by the Duneland Beach Association. The shoreline mileage of these two communities is estimated at 3.05 miles. To provide public access on private property would require resolving issues concerning user rights and liability. Most likely, the review of these issues by the appropriate entity would need to be conducted on a site-specific basis to assess the needs and requirements of the landowner as well as the public. Legislation may be warranted to provide the landowner with relief from concerns for personal liability or incentives to encourage public access on private property. One example of a cooperative effort to provide public access to utility-owned lands was the entry of an agreement between the National Park Service and NIPSCO for management of the 90-acre NIPSCO Greenbelt. The agreement was to provide access, in association with operation of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, for resource management and interpretation by the National Park Service, as well as for the development of public trails. NIPSCO would retain ownership and maintain the site in its natural state. If NIPSCO proposed a different use, it would notify the National Park Service and Congress at least three years before undertaking that use. Another example of access through private land is provided by the Town of Ogden Dunes and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The Burns Small Boat Harbor located at the mouth of the Portage Burns Waterway was constructed as a joint venture between the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission. Public access is available on the west arm of the Small Boat Harbor breakwall; however, there is no direct access from US 12 to the breakwall. The National Lakeshore has a walking agreement with the Town of Ogden Dunes. The National Lakeshore property is located just west of the Burns Small Boat Harbor and just east of Ogden Dunes. Parking is not available in Ogden Dunes, necessitating the walking agreement from the National Lakeshore, through Ogden Dunes to the breakwall.  Burns Small Boat Harbor Access Facilities and Needs Assessment Recently, the DNR Division of Outdoor Recreation completed an inventory and assessment of recreational facilities and needs in the Lake Michigan watershed of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties. The information has been compiled in a report complete with maps indicating locations of recreation and access sites. Federal coastal zone management funding was provided to the division, through the Lake Michigan Coastal Coordination Program, to assess recreation along the shoreline through focus groups and user surveys. Five focus group meetings were held in 1996 in northwest Indiana. The five groups encompassed private recreation providers; public recreation providers; user groups; elected officials; and business and industry. Generally those participating in the focus groups identified a lack of adequate access to the lakeshore. Several common themes were apparent throughout the groups: (1) inadequate information about access to the lakeshore and associate facilities; (2) government inflexibility toward user needs; and (3) need for increased cooperation and coordination of planning efforts between the differing entities along the shoreline. To gather a clear idea of how people are using the lakeshore, a survey was conducted during July 1997 on weekdays, evening, weekends, and the Fourth of July holiday. The survey was administered at six sites: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore West Beach; Portage Public Marina; Whihala Beach County Park; Washington Park Beach; Washington Park Marina; and Hammond Marina. The majority of the questions sought to determine what people actually did when they went to the lakeshore to play. Respondents were asked if they had trouble accessing the shoreline, and what additional facilities might be needed. Finally, they were asked what was most important to them. The top three activities are: (1) swimming (46%); (2) power boating (40%); and (3) picnicking (18%). Nature observation, hiking or walking, and boat fishing were other activities that more than 10% of respondents indicated doing. When asked if additional facilities were needed at Lake Michigan, 68% responded "no, the current facilities are okay." Cross referencing each survey site to a particular activity showed respondents thought access for swimming was adequate at all sites except the Hammond Marina. Access for fishing is adequate at all sites except at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore West Beach, and access for boating is adequate at all sites.12 Boating Lake Michigan provides an exceptional opportunity for boating enthusiasts. At the same time, citizens have raised many concerns with respect to boating on the Indiana waters of Lake Michigan. Boater education, safety, access, and regulation have been discussed, as well as the economic benefits derived from the activity. Although there have been efforts to address the concerns, many continue to be voiced. In 1979, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources conducted a study to assess public access to the Lake Michigan shoreline and analyze the demand and supply of types of access and recreational activities. The study concluded the need for additional boat storage and launch facilities was significant; a shortage existed.13 The total storage capacity (for motorized boats) for the Indiana waters of Lake Michigan and its tributaries, including planned expansion at the time of the study, was 1,540 boats. The total number of boat launching lanes was 18. The report estimated the demand for boat storage for the year 2000 to be 2,832 boats, realizing a shortage of 1,292.14 The number of registered boats in the Lake Michigan coastal counties in Indiana is worth noting. In the Lake, LaPorte, and Porter Counties, 20,900 boats were registered in 1995. The number of boats registered in these three counties alone last year was 10% of the boats registered in the State of Indiana.15  Hammond Marina Boat access is available at points along the shoreline and the Lake Michigan tributaries. Below is a compilation of facilities available at public and private marina facilities located on the Indiana waters of Lake Michigan, Portage Burns Waterway (Burns Ditch) and Trail Creek. The listing was provided courtesy of the Lake Michigan Marina Development Commission.
Other sites offering boat access to the lake include: Lake County
The Commission has been successful in the development of a marina at Hammond, East Chicago, and Portage. Improvements were initiated for the Whiting shoreline and the Washington Park Marina in Michigan City.  Pastrick Marina, Showboat Casino, and Inland Steel (1997). In 1989, State Representative Charlie Brown petitioned the Natural Resource Commission to adopt a rule prohibiting watercraft within 200 feet of the Lake Michigan shoreline between Warrick Street in Gary and the Lake-Porter County line. The petition was based on allegedly dangerous conditions, resulting from "density of watercraft intermixed with bathers. . .aggravated by the presence of a private facility sometimes referred to as the Wells Street Beach."17 A series of public hearings considered prohibiting watercraft in specified areas along the shoreline. Those hearings ultimately resulted in the establishment, by rule, of several "no-boat zones." Most of the legally established "no-boat zones" simply codified sites where boats had traditionally, if not formally, been prohibited. The new site urged by Brown was not included within the prohibition.18 "No-boat zones" were approved for the following areas:
An increase in the use of personal watercraft or wave runners presents yet another issue. A "personal watercraft" is one whose primary source of power is an inboard motor powering a water jet pump that is designed to be operated by a person who sits, stands, or kneels on the surface of the watercraft rather than sitting or standing inside the watercraft.23 In 1995, the Indiana General Assembly enacted new legislation setting forth additional operating and equipment standards for personal watercraft designed to promote public safety.24  Lakestreet Beach in Gary The Lake Michigan Marina Development Commission adopted a resolution in September 1995 regarding boating safety, enforcement, and public use of the lake. The resolution identified boating concerns for the increasing number of boats on the lake, boating related accidents and fatalities, and the enforcement of boating safety laws. The resolution encouraged the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to enhance boater education relative to boating laws governing the Indiana waters of Lake Michigan, coordinate meetings between the various jurisdictions sharing enforcement authority on the Indiana waters of Lake Michigan, and assist shoreline entities with achieving a consistent display of buoys designating the use of specific areas along the shoreline. The Department has worked with the LMMDC to address several of the concerns outlined in the resolution.25 Although several efforts are underway to promote boating safety and education, concerns are still many. The education of boaters regarding safety and legal requirements is encouraged, and several opportunities are provided, but education is not mandated. The understanding of boating operations is complicated by overlapping jurisdictions, different regulations for different types of watercraft, and the special hazards posed by the open waters of Lake Michigan. Recently, legislation was enacted to require a boater to have a valid driver's license in order to operate a boat; however, the requirements for operating a car are not similar to operating a watercraft. Boating Laws on the Indiana Waters of Lake Michigan is a recent effort designed to assist with an understanding of the laws and practices of boaters in Northwest Indiana. Boats that carry passengers for a fee (including major charter boat operations) are regulated by the US Coast Guard and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Law Enforcement. These regulatory requirements are directed primarily toward operational and equipment standards to assist in public safety, including responses to emergencies.26 Fishing A report completed in 1995 regarding the coastal economy in Indiana said that "sport fishermen spend $404 million dollars in the state, $6 million which comes directly from the sale of fishing licenses. The money that fishermen spend on products related to their avocation generates $20 million in sales tax." The report continues with facts on the commercial fishing industry. "[I]n 1988, Indiana fishermen brought in 1.3 million pounds of fish which generated close to $1.7 million dollars for the state's economy."27 Based on state estimates, 45,000 Indiana residents age 16 and older fish for trout and salmon in Indiana.28 A survey of fishing access for Lake Michigan and its tributaries completed in 1979 concluded that "the Lake Michigan shoreline offers a most diverse, abundant and consistent fishery resource, as well as a deficiency of access to that resource."29 The portion of the fishing site survey conducted along the four main tributaries to Lake Michigan evaluated the suitability of the sites for fishing access, fishing quality and fishing pressure. Data collected included the location of the site, stream data, shade cover, bottom types, turbidity and average depth and width. The survey results caused 32 sites to be recommended for priority consideration in respect to development for public access. Several sites provide opportunities for shore fishing along the Indiana Lake Michigan shoreline. There are often concerns, however, regarding the safety of sites and the difficulty in reaching some sites. An important note is portions of Trail Creek and Little Calumet River are closed to fishing between April 1 and June 15 for stocking of salmon and trout. On Trail Creek the closure is in effect from the Franklin Street Bridge in Michigan City upstream to US 35. On the Little Calumet River, the closure is in effect in Porter County from U.S. !2 upstream to US 20. Complete information regarding fishing in Northwest Indiana is available in Fishing Indiana's Lake Michigan Shoreline and Tributaries by the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. The following information identifies where shore fishing on Lake Michigan is available. Lake County
 Hammond Marina Breakwater Porter County
Recently, the Portage Public Marina was completed as a joint project of the City of Portage and the Little Calumet River Basin Commission. Several sources of funding were applied, including the Indiana Waters Program. The program funded 30 parking spaces, 49 boat trailer spaces, a fishing area, and boat launches. Concerned with competition between the new public marina and existing private marinas along Portage Burns Waterway, the Army Corps of Engineers urged a fee be assessed for new boat launches. As a result, the City of Portage set a fee of $3 for the use of boat launches at the Portage Public Marina. The Indiana Waters Program requires that fees collected for recreational activities which it assists in funding be applied to facility maintenance.30 The DNR is authorized to provide for public fishing from the shore of the Burns International Harbor (also called the Port of Indiana).31 Pursuant to this authority, the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife maintains a public fishing facility at the Harbor. "However, if the site of any public fishing area established under this section is subsequently leased to others for agricultural, industrial, or commercial purposes," the Indiana Port Commission "may limit or halt public fishing in that area." The Indiana Port Commission has, by rule, prohibited boat launching from the port area.32  Fishing access site at Port of Indiana Swimming The Lake Michigan shoreline offers an opportunity for recreation unparalleled in the State of Indiana. The expanse of water stretching under an endless sky, ribbons of fine sandy beaches, and the occasional swells provide an experience similar to that found at the ocean. Swimming is an activity that the Lake Michigan resource invites.  Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, West Beach Unit Swimming requires access to the lake. As described earlier, the miles of shoreline providing this type of access is limited. Swimmers must also be wary of boaters, dangerous currents, and water pollution. Public beaches along the Indiana Lake Michigan coastline include:33 Lake County
The National Park Service conducted the "Visitor Access Transportation Study" at which time the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore made shuttle buses available to visitors on an experimental basis. Regrettably, the experiment was not successful. Several obstacles need to be overcome in order to succeed with the concept of shuttle buses. In general, shuttle buses provide limited space for coolers, chairs, and objects for beach activities; a sudden change in weather could leave many riders stranded at the beach while waiting for a shuttle to return to their car. A more inclusive route is often much longer and would require additional parking for cars stationary for longer periods of time.36 Even though the efforts made following the passage of the Clean Water Act substantially improved water quality and have allowed swimming to be enjoyed in Lake Michigan, there are still occasions when swimming is prohibited due to water pollution. The presence of E. coli bacteria in unsafe levels may cause the beaches to be closed periodically to avoid human body contact with the water. Although the E. coli bacteria is not generally harmful in low concentrations, it is commonly used as indicator that other, harmful, organisms are present.37 An annual study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council released earlier this summer provided a summary of U.S. beach monitoring procedures and closings. The report sites inconsistent standards, monitoring, and regulation as contributing to this problem nationwide.38 In the report, Indiana was declared one of only five states to comprehensively monitor its beaches and consistently close beaches when water quality standards for bacteria exceed acceptable limits.39 The Environmental Protection Agency also conducts an annual survey of Great Lakes bathing beaches. For additional information, see the discussion of the Interagency Technical Task Force on E. coli in the chapter, Water Quality. Trails The establishment of trails offer a variety of recreational opportunities for walking, jogging, biking, roller blading, education, and scenic viewing. However, creating trails can also raise several questions among potential trail neighbors, adjacent landowners, and other community residents. Although each situation is unique, questions that are commonly raised have to do with economics, safety, and management.40 Often a concern is that the public acquisition of land for a trail will result in a decrease in the local tax base. In a study by the National Park Service and Penn State University in 1992, Impacts of Rail Trails, this concern is not disputed. However, the study indicates that the loss can be offset by the increased economic activity generated by trail use. Another concern is over the potential for property values to decrease due to trails nearby. Surveys of landowners and real estate agents have indicated that the presence of trails can be positive selling points. One study conducted in 1994 of the Northern Central Rail Trail by PKF Consultants showed that property values were highest next to the Boulder, Colorado Greenbelt and decreased at an average rate of $4.20 per foot from the greenbelt. A 1985 survey indicated that real estate professionals believed the 40-mile Illinois Prairie Path made properties easier to sell and often created a price premium. Another interesting note is that corporations often view trails as amenities that improve and areas quality of life. This view has been found to factor into the decisions made regarding locating businesses.41 Liability and safety are other concerns by those with property near trails or who use trails. In Indiana, some protection is afforded to landowners who are not paid for the recreational use of their land or who are paid on a user's behalf by an agency of the state or federal government. These landowners are deemed not to make assurances that the premises are safe for hunting, fishing, swimming, trapping, hiking or similar purposes.42 The protection is not, however, complete.43 New legislation could encourage trail development by providing enhanced landowner protection. Trail development also needs consider the safety of trail users and those living nearby. Through design, trail providers can factor the accessibility of the trail to law enforcement and rescue personnel. Management of a trail should also be considered during design of the trail. Management should be done early in trail development and done cooperatively to address maintenance, rules and regulations, enforcement, and other associated policies. The National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and city and county park and recreation agencies offer several types of trails for recreation. Trails are available for horse back riding, walking, and bicycling. In addition, the DNR in cooperation with the Indiana Snowmobile Association and local snowmobile clubs offer five snowmobile trails in northern Indiana. Four of the five trails are on private lands leased by the state between December and March. The fifth trail is at Salamonie Reservoir, a DNR property. There are also 16 miles of canoe trails in Northwest Indiana. Six miles of Deep River in Lake and Porter Counties are "canoe trails." Also, ten miles of the east fork of the Little Calumet River in Porter County are designated canoe trails. Mechanisms for the construction of trails for off-road vehicles are provided to the Department of Natural Resources, however, none have been provided to date. Other trails are listed in Table 1 below as identified in the Indiana Trails 2000 inventory. In June 1996, the City of Portage opened the Prairie-Duneland Trail in Porter County. The trail allows recreational use of the corridor abandoned by the Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern Railroad. The Portage Parks and Recreation Department purchased the six-mile right-of-way for $321,000. With the assistance of trail enthusiasts the city applied for a $1.5 million ISTEA grant to develop this recreational opportunity.44 Off-Road Vehicles In 1972, the Department of Natural Resources completed a study of the needs, uses, and difficulties posed by off-road vehicles (ORVs). Included in the study were all terrain vehicles, dune buggies, minibikes, snowmobiles, trail bikes, and four-wheel drive vehicles. The recommendations of the study were as follows: (1) The DNR should not open nature preserves, fish and wildlife areas, state parks, or reservoir properties to ORVs. (2) The DNR should offer to assist private enterprise in planning ORV riding areas, such as eligible surface mined lands, in order to provide for minimal environmental damage as well as quality recreational experiences for ORV enthusiasts. (3) The DNR should assure private enterprise the agency did not intend to develop ORV riding lands which would compete with private enterprise. (4) The DNR should support comprehensive, understandable ORV legislation which is in the best interest of Indiana citizens. (5) The DNR should encourage persons interested in ORV usage to cooperate in trying to find the best solution to ORV problems. (6) The DNR should educate Indiana residents and ORV dealers as to laws which apply to ORV operation in Indiana. (7) The DNR should continue to review studies related to ORVs.45 In 1995, the Natural Resources Commission approved a pilot project for the use of nonmotorized mountain bikes at a facility managed by the DNR. When the pilot project was approved, mountain bikes could be used within the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana and at State properties in some other Great Lakes States. The Commission was informed mountain bikes held a 64% share of new bicycle sales in 1994. The facility chosen for the pilot project was a twelve-mile long trail at Huntington Lake in northeastern Indiana. The period for the pilot project was originally set for October 1, 1995 through September 30, 1996. The NRC called for a DNR report following experience with the pilot project to help the Commission evaluate the environmental, economic, and social issues presented by the use of mountain bikes. In addition, the NRC urged that no change be made to ORV policies "without careful study and deliberation."46 In 1996, the DNR Division of Outdoor Recreation provided an interim report to the Commission concerning the success of the pilot project. The Division reflected heavy rains in 1996 had closed some portions of the trails and limited opportunities for evaluation. Preliminary observations indicated mountain bikes apparently caused somewhat more erosion than hikers but considerably less than horses. The NRC agreed to extend the pilot project.47 In April 1998, the Division of Outdoor Recreation provided a follow-up report. The report concluded, in general, that the impact of mountain bikes on the pilot-project trail was minimal. "None of the points exhibited signs of severe wear, nor did the trail as a whole." Tread depths typically did not exceed one inch deep. Although the designed trail width was between eight and ten feet, a single track developed that was a maximum of one foot wide in places, with this tendency most obvious in grassy areas. The soil held its shape well, with some compacting but not enough to be classified as severe. There was some evidence of vegetation kill, but it was neither severe nor complete, and Kentucky blue grass consistently provided the best vegetation base in both open and shaded areas. Erosion on the trail was more directly attributable to the original trail construction than to the use of mountain bikes.48 With the success of the pilot project, the Natural Resources Commission gave five-year approval to the Huntington Reservoir Mountain Bike Trail. In addition, the Commission directed the DNR to develop criteria by which the suitability of other sites for usage as mountain bike trails could be evaluated.49 Natural Areas and Aesthetics The natural resources of Northwest Indiana are remarkable. It was on the shores of Lake Michigan in Indiana that Professor Henry Cowles documented and explored the science of ecology.50 A study by the Nature Conservancy disclosed the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore ranks third among all national parks in plant diversity.51 Several areas in Northwest Indiana have been set aside for enjoyment and educational opportunities of the area's natural attributes. See, for example, the educational sections in Water Quality and in Wetlands and Drainage.
Shipwrecks and Other Cultural Opportunities Northwest Indiana today offers glimpses into its unique history. The successes of growth and development are evident in some of the elaborate buildings with architectural styles left standing from the early twentieth century. The lure of Indiana's sandy shores also brought many wealthy people from Chicago who built grand summer vacation homes. Access to large quantities of water drew major industries to the shoreline. Tributaries used by Native Americans and early French-Canadian fur traders included ports for commerce on the Great Lakes and eventually international shipping. Shipwrecks; architectural designs of homes, churches, barns, and towns; and lighthouses are a few of the resources that still allow residents and visitors to experience a different time or culture.52  Historic lighthouse in Michigan City A preliminary inventory by the DNR Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology estimates that as many as 50 shipwreck sites in the Indiana waters of Lake Michigan. The earliest of these vessels dates from 1857. Camping Camping is available at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Dunewood Campground. The site is located just south of the intersection of US 12 and Broadway Avenue. The campground provides 79 campsites, 54 are conventional drive-in sites and 25 are walk-in sites. Restrooms and showers are available, but there are no electrical hookups. Camping is also available at Indiana Dunes State Park, located at the northern extremity of State Road 49 in Porter County. Camping reservations can be requested by an individual at least 21 years old for any of 118 Class A and 168 Class B sites. A Class A site features an electrical hookup, picnic table, parking, drinking water, restrooms, and showers. A Class B site does not provide an electrical hookup but is otherwise similar. The camping facilities are also supported by a camp store.53  |
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