DNR sets Wabash, Sugar Creek open houses

Indiana DNR Release:

The Department of Natural Resources will conduct public open houses Jan. 26 and 27 to share information about its Wabash River and Sugar Creek corridor conservation project.

Gov. Mitch Daniels in June announced plans to conserve approximately 43,000 acres along Sugar Creek and the Wabash River in Parke, Vigo and Sullivan counties. DNR partners in the project are The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Resources Conservation Service, and local Soil & Water Conservation Districts.

The Jan. 26 open house will be from 4-7 p.m. at the Vigo County Commissioners Annex Building, 650 S. 1st Street, Terre Haute, and the Jan. 27 open house from 4-7 p.m. at Turkey Run Inn, Turkey Run State Park.

DNR representatives will be on hand to meet the public and discuss the environmental, recreational and wildlife aspects of the project as well as answer questions.

Key objectives of the project are to:

Design an effective model for sustainability of natural resources by connecting fragmented parcels of public land
Restore and enhance riparian corridors
Protect essential habitat for threatened and endangered species
Open public access for recreational opportunities
Preserve significant rest areas for migratory birds, especially waterfowl
Create a regionally significant conservation destination
Provide additional flood relief to current riparian landowners

The state is using money from the Lifetime License Trust Fund and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to acquire land in the area from willing sellers.