Indiana Dunes Administrative History

Expiration of the Advisory Commission

The final meeting of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Advisory Commission took place on September 27, 1985, three days before its Congressionally—mandated expiration date. The Advisory Commission enjoyed a nineteen—year existence. Born with the authorization of the national lakeshore in 1966, Commission membership expanded under the 1976 bill and its lifespan was extended thanks to the 1980 act. The Advisory Commission had unquestionably been a vital tool for park management during the lakeshore's early years. With the planning and development underway as a result of the 1980 General Management Plan, however, the Advisory Commission became less active.

Public comment kept the basic concept behind the Advisory Commission alive. In response, Superintendent Dale Engquist agreed to maintain a less formal means of communication between the National Park Service and Northwest Indiana by establishing a "Superintendent's Advisory Group" to convene in January 1986. The Advisory Group is designed to meet quarterly or as needed with an open meeting format and an agenda devised by Superintendent Engquist. The meetings take place in various locations, alternating within the three—county area each quarter. Unlike the Commission, meetings of the Advisory Group do not require advance notice published in the Federal Register.

Membership in the Superintendent's Advisory Group is limited to two—year terms and can come from nominations from the following groups: all former Advisory Commission members; one member each from Porter, LaPorte, and Lake County Boards of Commissioners; one member each nominated by the Mayor or Town Boards of Beverly Shores, Burns Harbor, Chesterton, Dune Acres, Gary, Lake Station, Michigan City, Ogden Dunes, Pines, Portage, and Porter; and one member each from the tourism organization of the three counties; Save the Dunes Council; Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission; Indiana Department of Natural Resources; Friends of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore; Indiana University Northwest; Miller Citizens' Corporation; National Audubon Society, Central Midwest Regional Office; Sierra Club, Hoosier Chapter; and Izaak Walton League. [15] The Advisory Group held three meetings during 1986, with the initial session occurring on April 25 at the Bailly Ranger Station. [16]

Progress of the Superintendent's Advisory Group in its first year was slight as the informal group was still learning its role. Advice to the superintendent had been more free—flowing from the Advisory Commission. Although Superintendent Engquist intends to maintain the Advisory Group as long as interest in it continues, it could eventually be abolished just as its counterpart was at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan. [17]

Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education

In late November 1984, solicitation for bids was held to construct the long—awaited Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education. To be built in the Miller Woods area close to Gary, the facility's planners envisioned a 7,000—square—foot structure including audio—visual and office space, assembly rooms, and a partial basement. External support structures included board—walks, a forty vehicle parking lot, 500 feet of roadway, and a vehicle storage building.

On February 28, 1985, the contract was awarded to the H. Winters Construction Company of Gary for $1,621,175.40. Construction began in April with an initial target completion date in late spring 1986. Bids for the second phase of construction—trails and site development—opened in late December 1985.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Douglas Center came on May 29 off Lake Street in Gary. Following speeches by Midwest Regional Director Charles Odegaard, Mayor Richard Hatcher of Gary, and conservationists who worked alongside the late Senator Douglas, a luncheon took place at the Marquette Park Pavilion. [18]

The dedication of the Douglas Center came on September 14, 1986, with Park Service Director William Penn Mott, Jr., Congressman Peter Visclosky, Senator Danforth Quayle, and Gary Mayor Richard Hatoher attending. Many of Senator Douglas' friends, former associates, aides, and daughter, Dr. Jean Taft Douglas, also were present. Emily Douglas, widow of Senator Douglas, was unable to attend because of illness. Limited operation of the Douglas Center began immediately following the dedication, but the Interpretation Division devoted the remainder of the year to prepare for full operation in January 1987. Fortunately, the Service's 1987 Fiscal Year budget included a $150,000 add—on appropriation for operating the Douglas Center. [19]

These significant events mark a conclusion to the "renaming" controversy which was centered on Paul Douglas's role in the affairs of northwest Indiana. Thanks to the 1980 expansion bill, the lakeshore was dedicated to Douglas's memory and the West Unit was renamed the "Paul H. Douglas Ecological and Recreational Unit" with an official plaque placed there commemorating Douglas's contributions. In a more substantial manner the 1980 act also provided for the Douglas Center to educate thousands of school children in Indiana and Illinois about the environment. The students themselves joined park planners in designing the Center and a two—year public involvement program resulted in donations to fund exhibits. With Douglas's beloved dunelands thus preserved by the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, the Douglas Center will help schoolchildren—the future leaders of the nation—to understand and appreciate their unique surroundings for generations to come.

The 1986 Expansion Bill

On January 23, 1986, Congressman Peter J. Visclosky of Indiana introduced H.R. 4037 in the House of Representatives to expand the boundaries and raise the land acquisition ceiling of the national lakeshore. Utilizing its ten—year plan, the Save the Dunes Council worked diligently with Visclosky to put together a viable expansion bill. Visclosky's original 753 acres grew to 863 acres by August 11 when the House approved the measure. On August 26, Superintendent Dale Engquist and Assistant Superintendent Glen Alexander hosted a tour of the lakeshore by staff members of U.S. Senator Danforth Quayle of Indiana who were compiling a similar expansion bill which Senators Quayle and Lugar introduced in the Senate on September 11. With uncharacteristic speed, Senate hearings began eight days later and both houses concurred on the amended measure by mid—October. On October 29, President Reagan signed the bill which became known as Public Law 99—583.

More than 900 acres were added to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The land acquisition ceiling increased by $3.5 million and the development ceiling went from $11 million to $20 million. P.L. 99—583 mandated that the National Park Service prepare a feasibility study within two years on a Service—owned and operated parkway on U.S. Highway 12 and options of using the Little Calumet River to link western and eastern portions of the lakeshore. [20] The new land additions were scattered "bits and pieces" designed to round—out the lakeshore boundary and correct land use and management problems. One addition involved a ten—acre parcel directly across from the proposed entrance to the East Unit Transit Center where a potential visual intrusion could come in the form of a private campground. The bill included the entire NIPSCO/South Shore Railroad corridor, but prevented Park Service acquisition during the time of continued industrial use. Because the corridor also contained the Calumet Trail, the Service could now assist the State in maintaining the recreational pathway. In addition, segments of the Little Calumet and Salt Creek were incorporated in order to lessen management difficulties. [21] An addition to Hoosier Prairie was officially included and a buffer zone was attached to the Heron Rookery. [22]

High Lake Levels and Shoreline Erosion

When Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was authorized in 1966, Lake Michigan had already begun rising to new record levels. In the early 1960s, however, Lake Michigan had achieved record low levels with the beneficial result of wide, spacious beaches ideal for recreational purposes. From 1964 to 1974, however, the lake level rose an additional five and a half feet to score a new high level mark. The severe storm in 1974 forced National Park Service managers to approve the first solid coastal shore protection structure in the form of the 13,000—foot—long rock revetment along Beverly Shores' Lake Front Drive. The first soft shoreline protection structure came the same year with beach nourishment fill deposited in front of Mount Baldy. In both cases, Congress allocated funds to the National Park Service which, in turn, channeled the money to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to monitor the impact and effectiveness of the erosion—control measures.

In 1975, the Corps appointed the Great Lakes Coastal Research Laboratory (GLCRL) School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University as the monitoring agency. The university group began a series of studies on the lakeshore erosion problem. Throughout the next decade, however, the level of Lake Michigan continued to achieve record highs. In 1983, the Park Service recognized the need to develop a comprehensive plan for decision making on present and proposed coastal developments. The Service again provided funding to GLCRL to conduct a three—year study. The result was the June 1986 "Executive Summary: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Shoreline Situation Report." The Shoreline Situation Report is a significant document in that for the first time park managers have a database for long—term monitoring and development of a shoreline plan upon which to base future policy decisions.

Erosion became so severe by the mid—1980s that homes and Lake Front Drive itself was imperiled. Central Avenue Beach was closed to the public because the relentless waves had carried away most of the sand cover leaving behind a dangerously slick clay ledge. Thankfully, Lake Michigan began a steady decline in March 1987. By the end of the year, the lake level dropped two feet. While the whims of Mother Nature decreased the immediate pressure of the erosion problem, park management realized it was unlikely the problem would simply fade away. With good baseline data now available, however, the proposed coastal developments and/or the reoccurrence of high water levels will not be so baffling to confront and, hopefully, to solve. [23]