Eco Logic - Marian College EcoLab Marian College

Marian College EcoLab Marian College
Marion County, 50 acres The Marian College EcoLab is a portion of the Riverdale Estate on the Marian College campus and is used for environmental education. The EcoLab contains 55 acres of wetlands, fens, and lowland forest habitat and is home to several types of animals including beavers, deer, fox, mink and more than 140 species of birds. More than 260 species of native plants including 26 sedges have been observed in the EcoLab. Located within the city limits of Indianapolis, the EcoLab contains approximately 1.5 miles of trails along with interpretive signs on some of the trails to provide more information about the significant historical and natural features of the landscape.
Dr. David Benson, director of the Eco Lab project, contracted Eco Logic to develop and implement a vegetation control and establishment program on 40 acres of riparian, floodplain and upland forest. These areas were heavily disturbed and the understory was dominated by Bush Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and as well as other common invasive species, Buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.), Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora), Privet (Ligustrum vulgare), and Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). The flood plain forest on site contained woody invasive plants that were cut down and removed from the site. The stumps were treated with Garlon AG200, according to the label specifications for cut stump treatment in the dormant season. Effective follow up control was achieved with foliar herbicide treatment as specified by the product’s label. Eco Logic designed and installed a native seed mixture based on wild rye (Elymus spp.) grasses. This seed established well and has been beneficial to the management of other invasive species such as Garlic mustard (Alliaria petoliata). The healthy stand of grasses that has been achieved on the site also provides effective erosion control.	Click on the butterfly to learn more about Dr. David Benson’s research assessing the quality of the restoration efforts at Marian College.

For a map of the EcoLab at Marian College please visit our page on Cold Spring School.