Gov. Eric Holcomb, left, talks with civil engineer John Gorczyca of Columbus, after presenting the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for Land Use and Conservation. Gorczyca and the Michigan City Sanitary District were recognized for a years-long project that cleaned up and restored tributaries to Lake Michigan in northwestern Indiana.
Photo provided
A Columbus man who for years has worked on projects to remove pollution from waterways feeding into Lake Michigan was recently honored for his work with an award presented by Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Civil engineer John Gorczyca, who lives in the Ogilville area, has been working on the project for the Michigan City Sanitary District for seven years. In recognition of that work, Holcomb recently presented Gorczyca the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for land use and conservation.
Gorczyca explained the project involved two phases. First, the sanitary district had to design a system to cap and contain pollution that had been leaching from an unlicensed 18-acre landfill that was seeping into Trail Creek.
Gorczyca described the second part of the project, for which the award was presented, as follows:
“The District’s environmental project implemented storm water, ecological restoration and recreational improvements at Michigan City’s Cheney Run, which is a 40-acre site surrounded by wetlands. Cheney Run was a primary source of storm water-related pollution that drains into Trail Creek, a major tributary that feeds into Lake Michigan. Implemented improvements reduced the amount of pollution to the creek and lake, restored wetlands, created a fishing access point and walking trails.”
According to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, “The restoration and sustainable use of Indiana’s natural wetlands not only improves water and habitat quality in the area but also allows for more recreational activities like fishing, boating, birdwatching, swimming, and hiking. The new trails will connect nearby neighborhoods with existing trails. … Additionally, the project protects salmon and trout runs which support the city’s tourism industry.”
Several partners, including the Delta Institute, Alliance for the Great Lakes and V3 Companies, were involved in the project. For Gorczyca, it was a special project after he “fell in love with the lakefront.
“It’s the most fulfilling project I’ve done in 35 years as a civil engineer,” he said.
