BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:icalendar-ruby CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:Nearly 4\,000 acres permanently protected as new fish & wildli fe area in southern Indiana X-WR-TIMEZONE:Indiana (East) BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T114125Z UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_48285596108308 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241210 DESCRIPTION:Busseron Creek to offer prime spot for outdoor recreation and s upport for national security interests\n\nThe Indiana Department of Natura l Resources (DNR) has closed on the acquisition of 3\,950 acres of forests \, marshland\, and upland habitat in Sullivan County\, which will be known as Busseron Creek Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA).\n\nThe permanently conserve d land\, once part of the former Minnehaha FWA\, was protected through a c ollaboration with the Conservation Law Center and its Southern Indiana Sen tinel Landscape initiative\, and The Conservation Fund. Additional project support came from The Nature Conservancy in Indiana.\n\n“Powered by par tnerships\, the permanent protection of Busseron Creek Fish & Wildlife Are a is a win for conservation and a win for Indiana\, returning nearly 4\,00 0 acres of land for all Hoosiers to enjoy\,” said Dan Bortner\, DNR dire ctor. “Whether you enjoy hunting\, fishing\, or viewing Indiana’s magn ificent wildlife\, we look forward to welcoming Hoosiers and visitors alik e to Busseron Creek when the property opens to the public in 2025.”\n\nD NR paid $10.8 million for the property\, a total that includes funding sup port from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Program. The U.S. Navy paid an additional $910\,000 to support a conservation easement on a portion of the land\, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation provided an additional $600\,000 competitive grant through Walmart’s Acres for America program. \n\n“This project exempl ifies what can be accomplished when organizations unite under a shared vis ion. Protecting this land secures environmental benefits for generations w hile strengthening national security and the region’s resilience\,” sa id Michael Spalding\, Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape coordinator for the Conservation Law Center.\n\nThis land will provide key habitat for wil dlife including turkey\, deer\, waterfowl\, rabbit\, and quail. DNR will w ork to establish hunting units\, parking areas\, and access trails before opening the FWA. The property will be a prime spot for wildlife viewing\, hunting\, trapping\, fishing\, and foraging.\n\nFor more than 30 years\, D NR leased this property\, operating it as Minnehaha FWA. In 2016\, the pro perty owner declined to renew its lease with the state\, and Minnehaha FWA closed.\n\nIn 2022\, a small parcel of this property was listed for sale\ , signaling the potential for securing the entire holdings. In partnership \, The Conservation Fund and the Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape initi ative negotiated with American Land Holdings of Indiana\, a subsidiary of Peabody Energy\, to purchase the full 3\,950 acres to maintain the ecologi cal integrity of the land. The Conservation Fund’s pre-purchase of the p roperty for future public ownership allowed DNR to officially purchase the property this month.\n\n“The Conservation Fund was glad to partner with Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape to secure this important property for conservation\,” said Emy Brawley\, vice president and regional director for The Conservation Fund. “Protecting a site this large provides so mu ch for so many. From recreation-based economic development to wildlife hab itat to military readiness – this is the business of conservation\, and it’s where The Conservation Fund shines.”\n\n“The Nature Conservancy is proud to have helped set the wheels in motion for this project\, and w e’re honored to have worked with this group of partners\,” said Larry Clemens\, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Indiana. “As with The Nature Conservancy projects throughout the state\, this investment in outdoor recreation and conservation will leave a permanent legacy for the natural heritage of Indiana.”\n\n“Walmart’s Acres for America progr am is excited to be part of the innovative collaboration that made the Bus seron Creek project possible\,” said Ryan Pettigrew\, senior manager\, W almart U.S. Real Estate and Acres for America. “Acres for America aims t o protect vital natural habitat and provide access to outdoor recreation\, and this project will do just that in southern Indiana for generations to come.”\n\nThe property is located near the Lake Glendora Test Facility\ , an area of Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane. The facility’s mission is to support proof of concept testing for risk reduction purposes prior t o full scale or open water testing.\n\nTo provide an undeveloped land buff er near the military facility\, safeguard key natural resources\, and ensu re environmental sustainability near the defense operations\, the U.S. Nav y provided strategic support and funding for a conservation easement on th e Busseron Creek watershed and surrounding lands\, permanently protecting it from development.\n\n“The Busseron Creek Conservation Project and the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program have allowed c ritical mission support and warfighter readiness to continue at Lake Glend ora Test Facility while strengthening our community and conservation partn erships\,” said CDR Luis Martinez\, installation commanding officer of N SA Crane. “We celebrate this innovative and collaborative effort by nume rous organizations to enable military encroachment protections while provi ding community enhancement\, conservation\, and environmental stewardship. "\n\nMore information about Busseron Creek FWA and the land’s history is available here. Photos of the property are available below for download\, and video can be accessed here.\n\n[The reference to any company\, its pr oducts\, or services in this document does not imply Navy endorsement.] LOCATION: SUMMARY:Nearly 4\,000 acres permanently protected as new fish & wildlife ar ea in southern Indiana URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.in.gov/event/nearly-4000-acres-permanently-pro tected-as-new-fish-wildlife-area-in-southern-indiana CATEGORIES:Press Releases END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR