Abstract: The goal of this project was to determine species richness in selected headwater streams in the Lake Michigan Watershed of Northwest Indiana and make suggestions about how best to protect these headwaters and the aquatic life they support. The biological health of headwaters has a great impact on the biological health of downstream waters, including Lake Michigan. The species inventories and suggested protection actions are intended to add value to the protection, restoration and planning efforts of local groups such as the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, Coffee Creek Conservancy, Save the Dunes, and Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission. Seventeen sites were inventoried in headwater areas where there was an interested landowner and where there was either a lack of information about the aquatic species supported at the site or where restoration to enhance the habitat or water quality had been undertaken. Taxa inventoried were fish, macroinvertebrates, and mussels. The condition of the creek was also assessed using the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) and processes that might be expected to have a negative effect on aquatic species were noted. Where we noted problems or potential problems we suggest possible sources and make suggestions to protect the headwaters This shapefile represents the sites sampled for the study and summary information about was found there. The project was funded by the Illinois Coastal Management Program.