Portage Manor Ecological Study

Accessing the Ecological Health of the Former County Home and Farm — South Bend, IN

When St. Joseph County leaders permanently closed the county home in July 2023, they began the process to determine the future use of the approximately 110-acre former county farm. The county contracted us to perform an ecological study, which we conducted over five months in the spring, summer, and fall of 2024. The result was a 172-page document detailing the plants and animals (including breeding birds) observed over 48 miles of meander surveys. This document will help guide county leaders in their decision-making process as they navigate the future of the publicly-owned land.